News: There's No Glass Ceiling for Women Entrepreneurs

Where is the glass ceiling when you’re a woman entrepreneur of a multi-million dollar company? A Compensation Survey of members of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) suggests that there is none.

Highlights from the survey are as follows:

• More than half of respondents (56%) believe their salary is the same as their male counterparts.
• Over half (53%) of respondents believe their total compensation is the same as their male counterparts.
• More than half (57%) of respondents routinely investigate and adjust salaries to ensure gender pay equity for positions of equal qualification and responsibility.
• Over half (51)% plan to increase their salary and/or their bonus, benefits, commissions, partnerships distributions, or compensation.
• Being able to provide themselves and their employees equitable compensation for work performed was an important issue for respondents when they started their companies.

Learn more here.

Event Reminder: Women's Summit (October 17)

The Women Presidents' Organization has agreed to partner with the University of Chicago Women’s Business Group to support the second annual Women’s Summit, to be held on October 17, 2006 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. This year's theme is: "Creating a Shared Vision."

The Women’s Summit will provide a venue for diverse leadership from corporations, law, medicine, economics, public policy, education, journalism, science, technology and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area to join together. In addition to celebrating successes and connections, we will develop a collective vision for increasing the contribution and success of women and minorities to the community in which we live and work.

In honor of this occasion, Cherie Booth, QC will be the featured speaker at the event. Her husband, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, has given his wife credit for being "... an enormous source of strength and an extraordinary person in her own right. I never know how she manages with all the different things she does -- the work, the family." ~ The New York Times.

The Summit will start with facilitated visioning sessions to explore important topics for women today. Each session will have a thought leader with expertise on the topic and a professional facilitator. You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas and get involved. Our goal is for the community to come together, create a shared vision, and shape our future.

The breakout sessions will be followed by a networking opportunity, and by dinner and the keynote address.

"The Women Presidents' Organization is delighted to be a part of the UCWBG's Women's Summit. And with the United Kingdom being such a strong and loyal ally to the United States, we are thrilled to have Ms. Booth share her wisdom with us." -- Laurel Delaney, Chicago Chapter Facilitator

All Women Presidents' Organization members will be entitled to the member rate ($125), so please click the appropriate option -- Friends of the Summit -- when registering.

For more information and to register please visit:
the UCWBG's website.

Article of Interest: Women Entrepreneurs Reach for $1M Level

And when they arrive, WPO supports their very next step.

Read more >> here.

FYI: Activities Offered By The National Women's Business Council

Areas of interest and activities going on through the NWBC:

• NWBC Public Policy Web Cast
• Council Meeting
• USHCC Conference
• OPIC Global Markets Workshops
• Longaberger Interviewed in SCORE Newsletter
• New WOB Legislation
• Center Releases New Data
• National Preparedness Month

Check out further here: National Women's Business Council -- ENGAGE!

Sound Advice: Recommended Reading on Sales and Marketing

Most entrepreneurs recognize that marketing is integral to the success of their business. WSJ's StartupJournal spoke to Michael Port, 35, the author of "Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling," for a list of his favorite marketing and sales books. Mr. Port says that he is surprised by the small business owners that he meets who don't read consistently.

"There is no better way to continuously invest in your professional development than reading," says Mr. Port.

Below are some of his top picks, comments on each and an understanding as to why we featured a picture of Elvis:

Top Picks

Thought Piece: Dream It. Do It.

You've come a long way baby and this thought piece will prove it. How many of you have gone from rags to riches by following your dream and doing something about it?

Take a peek at the childhoods of 14 self-made members of the Forbes 400 who did just that. Find out if your dreams, mistakes, routines and motivations are the same as these world elite entrepreneurs.

Read more here >> Secrets Of The Self-Made

Thought Piece: How Strategy Guru C.K. Prahalad Is Changing the Way CEOs Think

Against all logic.

Take a cab ride through Bombay, and these are the scenes that will likely strike you first: raggedly dressed homeless families sprawled on blankets amid shacks. Traffic hopelessly clogged with every manner of soot-belching vehicle and wooden cart. Gaunt hawkers and beggars tapping on your window at red lights. For foreign visitors, such jarring images of poverty and desperation are hard to shake.

View those same streets through the eyes of C.K. Prahalad, however, and they become a beehive of entrepreneurialism and creativity.

Read more >> Business Prophet.

Article of Interest: Origin of Million Dollar Ideas

Million dollar business ideas have no boundaries, age limits, race restrictions, time lines, or economic class. They can occur when you least expect them. And searching for the million dollar business idea is less a product of business planning and market research and more born from observation and frustration.

What else can we tell you? How about a big hint: The final and most important connection between a million dollar idea and a regular idea is the response of the marketplace. Even if others see it as a great idea, the consumer must want to buy it.

Read more >> here.

Event of Interest: WBDC's 20th Anniversary Conference (September 27-28)

Save the date: September 27-28, 2006 at Navy Pier in Chicago. To download the 2006 Conference brochure and to register, visit: Women's Business Development Center's 20th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference

The Women Presidents' Organization is a proud partner to the WBDC in Chicago. Please stop by our Booth No. 527. See you there!

Article of Interest: What Makes A Good Leader?

When discussing business leadership, the distinction between good management and good leadership is often made.

Managers are thought to be the budgeters, the organizers, the controllers — the ants, as one observer puts it — while leaders are the charismatic, big-picture visionaries, the ones who change the whole ant farm. But such a construction, those interviewed for this Harvard Business School Working Knowledge article agree, erroneously leads to a bimodal way of looking at something that should really be evaluated on two separate scales.

Read more ... here. And what do you think?

Happy Labor Day

Labor Day is a celebration and a tribute to the contributions of workers who have made our country stronger. Enjoy.

P.S. I took this photo near my home.

Publication of Interest: Harvard Business Review OnPoint

Over the weekend I bought the new executive edition of the Harvard Business Review and read it cover to cover. It's packed with all sorts of novel ideas and approaches on how best to grow an enterprise, including:

• how to reconceive your business's profit drivers
• how to stake out new market space where competitors haven't ventured
• how to expand your core business into related markets in predictable, repeatable ways
• how to execute a great strategy
• how to use the specific management tools that are tied to long-term growth

You can find it online below (for purchase) or visit your local Borders or Barnes & Noble; they both carry it on their periodical stand.

"Growing Your Business: Strategies That Work for Small and Midsize Companies."

Event: The Executives' Club of Chicago Women's Leadership Breakfast (September 26)

We are proud to be a partner on The Executives' Club of Chicago Women's Leadership Breakfast series. The next one is Tuesday, September 26 (7:00 a.m. registration) and hosted at the downtown Chicago Hilton. The theme is: "Executive Presence: How Savvy Are Your Business Skills?"

To learn more about the program and to register: Download invite here (PDF file).

Online registration closes September 22.

Event: Women's Summit (October 17)

The Women Presidents' Organization has agreed to partner with the University of Chicago Women’s Business Group to support the second annual Women’s Summit, to be held on October 17, 2006 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. This year's theme is: "Creating a Shared Vision."

The Women’s Summit will provide a venue for diverse leadership from corporations, law, medicine, economics, public policy, education, journalism, science, technology and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area to join together. In addition to celebrating successes and connections, we will develop a collective vision for increasing the contribution and success of women and minorities to the community in which we live and work.

In honor of this occasion, Cherie Booth, QC will be the featured speaker at the event. Her husband, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, has given his wife credit for being "... an enormous source of strength and an extraordinary person in her own right. I never know how she manages with all the different things she does -- the work, the family." ~ The New York Times.

The Summit will start with facilitated visioning sessions to explore important topics for women today. Each session will have a thought leader with expertise on the topic and a professional facilitator. You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas and get involved. Our goal is for the community to come together, create a shared vision, and shape our future.

The breakout sessions will be followed by a networking opportunity, and by dinner and the keynote address.

"The Women Presidents' Organization is delighted to be a part of the UCWBG's Women's Summit. And with the United Kingdom being such a strong and loyal ally to the United States, we are thrilled to have Ms. Booth share her wisdom with us." -- Laurel Delaney, Chicago Chapter Facilitator

All Women Presidents' Organization members will be entitled to the member rate ($125), so please click the appropriate option -- Friends of the Summit -- when registering.

For more information and to register please visit:
the UCWBG's website.

News: Women-owned Firms Increase Nearly 20 Percent

Women-owned firms increased nearly 20 percent, while all U.S. firms grew by seven percent over the latest period studied (1997 and 2002), based on a report released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The report uses newly released U.S. Census and other data to describe women's contributions to the economy. Statistics documented in the report include:

• Women owned 6.5 million or 28.2 percent of nonfarm U.S. firms in 2002. More than 14 percent of these women-owned firms were employers, with 7.1 million employees and $173.7 billion in annual payroll.

• Women-owned firms accounted for 6.5 percent of total employment in U.S. firms in 2002 and 4.2 percent of total receipts.

• Of all women business owners in 2002, 85.95 percent were White, 8.43 percent African American, 8.33 percent Hispanic, 5.25 percent Asian, 1.23 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.18 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (total does not add to 100 due to some double counting across ethnic groups).

The report Women in Business: A Demographic Review of Women's Business Ownership was written by Office of Advocacy senior economist Dr. Ying Lowrey.

For a copy of this study (PDF file), click here.

Should you need further information, please feel free to contact Ying Lowrey at: (202) 205-6533.

Article of Interest: Business Plan For Your Bright Idea Must Be Clear, Not Long

Question: How long should a business plan be for a subscription content Web site that already has some advertising revenue?

Answer: It is said that Mark Twain once apologized for the long length of a letter to a friend. As the story goes, if he had had more time to improve the clarity of his writing, the letter would have been shorter!

The same holds true for business plans. It's not the length that matters, but the quality of the content that keeps reader attention. Straightforward, hyperbole-free prose is the way to go.

Read on for a few other suggestions.

Study of Interest: U.S. Leads In High-Potential Entrepreneurship

As first reported in the Babson Women's Business Blog.

U.S. entrepreneurs are in a league of their own when it comes to building innovative businesses that keep the economy dynamic and productive, according to the seventh annual U.S. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). GEM is directed by Babson College and London Business School.

More than in any other nation, U.S. entrepreneurs are motivated by opportunities in what GEM researchers call ‘high-potential entrepreneurship’ -- fast growing, new ventures involved in the latest technologies and knowledge-transfer businesses.

High-potential entrepreneurs (HPE) are the innovators who keep the U.S. economy competitive in the global marketplace. HPEs increased U.S. productivity levels more than 100% in recent years.

Who are U.S. HPEs?

• Young males
• From upper income groups
• Motivated by opportunity
• Have almost no fear of failure
• Social beings who benefit from a deep network of entrepreneurs and angel investors
• Skillful in choosing opportunities from the business, not the consumer sector
• Believe they have no competitors
• Think differently than the general population.

Are you an HPE?

Find out here and learn more about the study's findings.

Survey of Interest: Small Business Owners Happier On Their Own

Sole proprietors, who make up three-fourths of all small businesses, lack the time and resources to focus on generating new business, according to a new survey from Visa USA and SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education.

At the same time, the vast majority says they are happier now than they were at their previous employer, despite working as hard or harder.

Find out why here.

Article of Interest: SCORE Programs Educate Small Business Owners

When we hear the word "business," most of us tend to think of giant corporations and Fortune 500 heavyweights like IBM, Ford or GE. While these large high profile companies account for billions of dollars in this country's gross domestic product, the fact is that small businesses make up a sizeable and vital component of our nation's economy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses employ half of all private sector employees, pay more than 45 percent of the total U.S. private payroll and have generated anywhere from 60 percent to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the past decade. They also contribute to more than half of the U.S. nonfarm private gross domestic product (GDP).

But why is it that a significant number of these small businesses don't make it past the first few years of existence?

Find out here: SCORE programs educate small business owners, help them avoid failure

Visit SCORE's website.

Article of Interest: Business Owners Say Certification Helps Them Stand Out To Major Buyers

Dena Van Winkle never doubted the benefits of certifying her small business as woman-owned. The designation could open doors for contracts from corporations and government agencies seeking greater diversity among suppliers.

Read the article here: Minority small-business owners say certification helps them stand out to major buyers


Are you certified? We can direct you to the appropriate people. Just drop us an email.

Be Creative: Draw On Your Friends For Inspiration

Every once in a while you have to take a time out for yourself and your business. How else can you be creative? Hopefully, this is one of those moments. Enjoy.

Imagination Cubed

News: Introduction of Women's Small Business Ownership Programs Act

Today, Women Impacting Public Policy, the nation's largest bi-partisan women's business group, expressed their support of "The Women's Small Business Ownership Programs Act of 2006," introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). The bill, S. 3659, which will amend Section 29 of the Small Business Act, is designed to encourage women small business ownership by revitalizing programs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) geared toward women-owned businesses.

Read more here: WIPP Applauds Senators Snowe and Kerry for Introducing Women's Small Business Ownership Programs Act.

Report of Interest: Women-Owned Million-Dollar Firms

In case you missed it, find out the economic impact (clout) that women-owned million-dollar firms have on our country's health by reading a study conducted by the Center for Women's business Research : Women Demonstrate They Have What It Takes to Build Million-Dollar Firms.

Article(s) of Interest: Is It Time To Sell Your Business?

When launching companies, entrepreneurs tend to peer out into the future and set out general plans on how and when to sell their company. It's not a decision any entrepreneur takes lightly. At the same time, selling your company at the right price and for the right reasons can mean you've truly succeeded in your business.

Here's when I think about selling. When:

1. I launch a new business -- I begin with the end (exit strategy) in mind.
2. I get tired of the same old, same old (which everyone experiences from time to time but not all the time).
3. I or someone else dear to my heart gets sick.
4. Someone makes me an offer I cannot refuse.
5. The going gets tough -- selling is an easy ticket out.
6. It just feels right.

What about you? When does it hit you that you might want to sell your business?

Find out more here with this wonderful collection of articles and tools that focus on strategies and tasks involved in preparing for and finalizing your company's sale.

Article of Interest: Web Sites Can Help You Find the Information You Need

The Internet is an information tool for business. You are a busy entrepreneur or you're a busy aspiring entrepreneur. In either case, you want to gather information quickly, so you can move on to the business of planning your business success.

Today, you don't have to necessarily go to the library, or visit resource centers to gather information in person. You can simply log on to the Internet to find everything you need -- from how to register a company trademark to filing corporate taxes. It's all there 24/7.

And if you want to just take the pulse of the small business economy, download the Office of Advocacy's recent report here.

Article of Interest: Are Women Entrepreneurs Better?

"As the economy heats up, it’s sobering to think that the real competition for talent isn’t other firms -- it's the business and ideas incubating inside women’s minds." -- Margaret Heffernan

This is a fantastic commentary by Margaret Heffernan that is published in Forbes on why so many women are leaving corporate America for entrepreneurship. Read it here and get ready to kick ... or should I say ... change how the world does business.

PPT of Interest: What Is Strategy?

I recently had the great honor to attend the World Business Forum (WBF) in Chicago and listened to leading authorities talk about everything from what makes a great leader to how to position your company for globalization. Here's a listing of a few of the speakers:

• Rudy Giuliani
• William Jefferson Clinton
• Kenichi Ohmae
• Colin Powell
• Marcus Buckingham
• Michael Porter
• Michelle Peluso (thank goodness a woman made the cut!)

If you don't what the word "strategy" means and how it applies to your business, I urge you to download Michael Porter's PowerPoint presentation for the World Business Forum here.

Shhhhhhhhhh ... only attendees to the forum know about its availability. Go for it now. Find it featured in the top left hand corner of the WBF site. Michael Porter is the expert on competitive strategy.

News: More Accolades on the Chicago Conference!

Reflections on the WPO Annual Conference

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending my first national WPO (Women Presidents Organization) annual conference in Chicago and wanted to pass on what a great experience this was.

All too often, as business owners and managers, we become tied to the daily demands of the job and fail to take the time to recharge our minds. This opportunity to get away not just for breakfast, lunch or even a one-day seminar, but to spend three days talking with very dynamic, creative women from all industries was a wonderful experience.

I would encourage everyone to find an organization that truly challenges them with new ideas and to attend the national conferences. The new ideas and reinforcement I gained in the value of our own programs has tremendous value to Cebic Technologies and ultimately for our customers.

Sincerely,
Beate Hybinette (WPO member)
Cebic Technology, Inc.
www.cebic.com

Article of Interest: Lookin' Good

Entrepreneurship is more common among black women than among women in any other demographic. U.S. Census figures from 2002 show that the majority of black business owners are women; when all races are taken into account, the rate of female ownership drops to 37 percent.

Nationally, businesses owned by black women grew by 55 percent from 1997 to 2004, six times the rate of all U.S. firms, according to the Center for Women's Business Research, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C.

Wilma Goldstein, an administrator with the U.S. Office of Women's Business Ownership, isn't sure why that is, but says it doesn't surprise her, given the support networks that black women traditionally have formed within families and communities.

Read the article about black-owned businesses (photo: owner of Indianapolis-based Unik Boutique) that are blossoming into behemoths here.

News: WPO President Receives Distinguished Service Award

What does the top of the ladder to success look and feel like? Our founder Marsha Firestone will give you an idea. Read about her recent Distinguished Service Award here. Congratulations Marsha! We are very proud of you.

Story of Interest: Bliss in Bag

Her husband had left her. Taking off on his motorcycle -- the one that reminded her of their discovering Bob Dylan together -- he took up with a folk singer with long red hair.

Forty years later, Ray still visibly recoils from the memories. It’s hard to say what makes that time so especially raw, whether it’s the heartbreak of his leaving or the facts of what he left behind: She was pregnant.

She had no one to lean on: Her parents had died, and she had grown up an only child in a California home where, she says, “we were really, really poor.” Her father was an opera singer turned B-movie actor. After he got a job with the Census Bureau, the family moved to the Washington area. Ray graduated from the University of Maryland but couldn’t find a well-paying job. It was a time of “stone fear,” she recalls. “That’s when I knew I was in trouble having an English degree.”

But she could work. And work more. And work harder. So she did.

“I had to make it,” she says. Read Tony Ray's story here.

And the question you may ask, "Is she is WPO member?" Not yet. But she could become one real soon.

Commentary of interest to those who attended the WPO Chicago conference

Many of you probably missed this because we were well on our way to enjoying the Chicago conference but here's an interesting commentary by our keynote speaker Gary Hamel that was published by the WSJ on April 26, 2006. Click on "Google's novel management system."

News: Babson Women's Business Blog Just Went Live!

The Babson Women’s Business Blog is dedicated to a cause about which they are very passionate: the advancement of women and business. Their new blog just went live.

Catch it here.

News: Women Build Million-Dollar Firms

Women are demonstrating their strength, business savvy and financial sophistication by building substantial and growing businesses that generate one million dollars or more (think WPO members) in annual revenues.

Women-owned businesses that generate a million dollars or more in revenue distinguish themselves through their use of multiple funding sources, sophisticated financial management practices, and utilization of technology.

Read about the study here: Women Demonstrate They Have What It Takes to Build Million Dollar Firms

News: Crain's Largest Women-Owned Firms 2006

And three are WPO members! Review the list here.

Survey: Oppenheimer Funds

Women Business Owners Are More Willing to Take Financial Risk at The Workplace Than at Home

We are proud to have Oppenheimer Funds as a corporate sponsor to the Women Presidents' Organization. Some interesting survey highlights:

• Women entrepreneurs are in control of business and household finances
• Women business owners are key decision- makers at home and the office.
• More than half of women business owners responded that they are responsible for saving or investing for retirement in their household, developing and maintaining the household budget and paying the bills.
• Nearly forty-percent are solely responsible for buying and selling stocks, bonds and mutual funds for their households.
• Forty-five percent are the primary investment decision-makers in their businesses.

Read more about Oppenheimer's survey results here.

News: WPO in The Wall Street Journal!

As featured today in The Wall Street Journal, Personal Journal section, "Moving On" by Jeffrey Zaslow. Read it here:

A New Generation Gap: Differences Emerge Among Women in the Workplace

News: Chicago Conference a Huge Success!

Let's celebrate!

Here's what people are saying:

"The Chicago conference was the best one I have ever attended. The warmest of the hospitality, the beauty of the city, and the content of the conference made for such a memorable event." ~ WPO Canadian member

"What an awesome conference! Congratulations to all involved. Each year the bar of excellence keeps getting raised." ~ WPO facilitator

"I just want you to know that all of my members had a wonderful time and each one said the value was there and that they would be back. You and your chapter members did a remarkable job. You should certainly be celebrating the success of the conference! Thank you." ~ WPO facilitator

"I have been to many conferences in my lifetime, but this was the "Best of the Best" and fabulous. The energy, knowledge and collaboration from everyone was terrific. Thanks so much letting me be a part of it!" ~ WPO member

"The conference was great fun and a unique experience." ~ WPO member

"Thank you for all your amazing work to produce such a wonderful convention. The programs, the fellowship, the activities and meals were all terrific." ~ WPO member

"How happy and proud you must be. What a success! I heard nothing but positive things about the conference from all the attendees. The attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the event. Thanks so much for putting your heart and soul into the conference." ~ WPO member

News: Chicago Is My Kind Of Town and Now It Will Be Yours!

See you at the WPO conference Thursday, April 27th at 1:00 p.m. CDT at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel.

Can't wait!


All the best,
Laurel

News: Mary Cantando's Book Launch!

The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) and Kaplan Publishing invite you to the book launch event for:

"The Woman's Advantage: 20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes To Grow Your Business" by Mary Cantando, WPO Board Member and Facilitator at the Women Presidents' Organization Annual Conference, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Versailles Room

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
"Using The Woman's Advantage to Grow Your Business"

• Panel discussion featuring Mary Cantando, Taryn Rose, and Marnie Walker
4:00-5:00 p.m. CDT in the Versailles Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago

• Cocktail reception
5:00-7:00 p.m. CDT in the Versailles Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago

BY SPECIAL INVITATION ONLY. Further information can be found at:
www.WomansAdvantage.biz

News: Last Day to Register For the Conference!

Register here by close of business CDT today, April 19th!

News: 2006 WPO Annual Conference Workshops

We have six incredible workshops that will be conducted at our conference held at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago April 27-29, 2006. Here they are:

1. Building Bridges to Financial Freedom - Don't Lose It Once You've Made It
2. The Seven P's - A Bridge to High Workplace Performance
3. Building Bridges to the World - Global Opportunities and Challenges
4. Growing with Gusto
5. Pump Up Your Sales Pipeline
6. Savvy Tax Strategies

You can choose to attend one workshop for A.M. and one for P.M. on Friday, April 28th. Don't miss it!

Register here!

Registration officially closes Wednesday, April 19th at 4:00 p.m. CDT.

News: We Interrupt Our Conference Update ...

to feature our very own founder, Dr. Marsha Firestone!

5 Growth Tips For Women In Business

Breaking the $1 Million Ceiling

More News: WPO Conference Keynote Speaker Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera – is a co-anchor anchor of “Worldwide Exchange," CNBC’s first global daily business news program utilizing the resources of CNBC, CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia. Prior to “Worldwide Exchange," Caruso-Cabrera anchored CNBC’s “Wake Up Call."

Caruso-Cabrera reported for NBC News from Baghdad, covering the recent elections and its impact on Iraq's post-war economy and has also traveled to Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela to report on and produce groundbreaking stories about the economies of those countries.

Caruso-Cabrera joined CNBC in 1998 from WTSP-TV in St. Petersburg, Fl., where she spent four years as a general assignment reporter. Prior to joining WTSP-TV, she was a special projects producer for Univision, where she won an Emmy Award for a five-part series on children with AIDS, as well as an Emmy nomination for a report on sexual abuse by clergymen. At Univision, she gained extensive experience covering Latin America. She began her career in 1991 as a stringer for The New York Times, reporting on education issues.

Caruso-Cabrera writes a personal finance column for Shape en Espanol focusing on issues of particular importance to Latinas. Previously, she was a monthly contributor to People en Espanol.

No one personifies anchoring better than Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. Read her bio here. Read more news about her here.

Not registered for the conference yet? Do it here -- now! Again, the dates are April 27-29, 2006 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago.

News: WPO Conference Keynote Speaker Cathleen Black

Cathleen Black – dubbed “The First Lady of American Magazines” and “one of the leading figures in American publishing over the past two decades” by the Financial Times – heads Hearst Magazines, a division of Hearst Corporation and one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines.

She manages the financial performance and development of some of the industry's best-known titles: Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper's BAZAAR, Marie Claire, Popular Mechanics, Redbook, Town & Country and our very own O, The Oprah Magazine, -- 20 magazines in all.

She also oversees 145 international editions of those magazines in more than 100 countries. Most recently, she oversaw the launch of three new magazines, SHOP Etc., Weekend and Quick & Simple, Hearst’s first weekly magazine in the U.S.

No one embodies the magazine business like Cathleen Black. Read her bio here. And read WPO news release here.

Not registered for the conference yet? Do it here -- now! Again, the dates are April 27-29, 2006 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago.

News: WPO Conference Keynote Speaker Gary Hamel

Women Presidents' Organization
"Building Bridges to Opportunity" Conference
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Chicago April 27-29, 2006

We will be spending a great deal of time blogging (and bragging!) about our Chicago conference which is poised to exceed expectations by empowering and educating all who attend. However, you cannot attend this special event unless you are a woman business owner who runs a million or multi-million-dollar business! You do? That's great, then sign up here.

What's so special about WPO conferences? Plenty but first, let's focus on what a Chicago WPO member had to say about one: "Hands down, this is the most important women-centered networking and educational event I participate in every year. You'll walk away with usable information and new relationships you can count on forever.” Can't beat that.

But wait ... that's not all. This time we also have a Wal-Mart keynote address by Gary Hamel (pictured). He is the author of "Leading The Revolution," "Competing for the Future," and Founder of Strategos and the Woodside Institute, is considerd to be one of the most brilliant minds on business strategy, and will open our eyes to a whole new way of looking at our world of business. Find out more about Gary here. And catch our news release here.

More information forthcoming on the other two spectacular keynote speakers ...

News: WPO Annual Conference in Chicago April 27-29, 2006!

"Building Bridges to Opportunity"
Register now (agenda included) for the WPO 2006 Chicago Annual Conference!

News: WPO Member Wins Enterprising Women of the Year Award!

The Enterprising Women of the Year Award, presented by Enterprising Women Magazine, honors the country's finest women entrepreneurs and their successes. The winners are also recognized as leaders who have had a profound economic impact on their community.

Seventeen of this year's award winners are also members of the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO).

Read the exciting news here and find out who won the award ... hint ... it's a Chicago member!

News: Enterprising Women to Honor Women Entrepreneurs

Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, has announced that the 2006 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration will be held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Feb. 24-25. The two-day tribute is designed to honor women entrepreneurs who are recipients of the 2006 Enterprising Women of the Year Award -- many of whom are Women Presidents' Organization members. Congratulations!

Find out about the categories and winners here.

Article of Interest: A Woman President's Sweet Smell of Success

In Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur's knack for decision making and her drive to move forward blend into the sweet smell of success. This is an exceptional article on how to be truly successful in business today. The potential for success is within each of us. Here are five tips mentioned in the article:

1. Be brave. "Don't be afraid to take risks or be the first to try something," says Belasco. "Don't be afraid to say no or yes."

2. Be committed to excellence. "That means excellence in your relationships with customers and employees, as well as in your product or service."

3. Be flexible. "[This includes] watching trends, changing what you do, trying new ideas. Also, be flexible with your customers -- give them anything you can. And be as flexible as you can with your business."

4. Be involved. "If you're an entrepreneur, you need to be involved every step of the way, from the customer to the product to the service."

5. Be a family. "Hire smart. Hire people you'd want [to be around], since you're going to spend so much time with them."

News: SBA Unveils New Business Web Site for Women

New SBA Web Portal MY BIZ for Women Offers Women Entrepreneurs New Online Tool for Business Start-Up

WASHINGTON (January 25, 2006) – The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the launch of MY BIZ for Women, a new online tool designed to provide comprehensive business information and assistance to women entrepreneurs.

MY BIZ for Women is designed to be the first step for all women business owners, providing one-stop access to information for women entrepreneurs highlighting the best resources the government has to offer. The Web portal provides information on starting and growing a small business, gaining access to capital and contracting opportunities and links to other government agencies and SBA resource partners offering business counseling, a state-by-state listing of SBA’s Women’s Business Centers and other resource information.

The Web site can be found at: SBA - My Biz for Women

Article of Interest: What Women Entrepreneurs Want

In MiamiHerald.com

Women entrepreneurs want the same things men want -- access to capital, training and markets. But women with businesses of $1 million or more are twice as likely as male counterparts to seek advice from a mentor and they want to be taken seriously. That's why women's business networks matter.

So if you run a $1 million plus business, make joining WPO your priority in 2006.

Read the article here, "What Do Women Want?"

Blog of Interest: Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki

As Managing Director of Garage ... Guy Kawasaki says, "Let the good times role!" So Happy New Year and when time permits, check out Guy's new blog. If you don't know who he is, you better get with it and get going!

Best wishes for a BOLD 2006 filled with delights in every direction,
Laurel

Articles of Interest: Trends for 2006

Get ready. Get excited. It's time to paint a vivid picture of what could be for next year. Here are a couple of places to look the future in the eye:

Hottest Trends and Best Business Ideas for 2006

Where is the trend or opportunity that offers great business potential in 2006? Read the interviews here to find out what some of the greatest minds are predicting.

Top Ten Workplace and Workforce Forecasts for 2006

Five Trends to Influence Communication for 2006

And there's more ... 10 Most Enduring Ideas (Concepts) published by strategy+business. This one is definitely worth a look.

Article of Interest: Defining a Dream

In Entrepreneur

As the busy founder and president of Latitudes International, a private-label designer and manufacturer of fragrance products such as candles, potpourri and room sprays, Jill Belasco may not be stopping to smell the roses every day. While some would have found the twists and turns of her entrepreneurial ride too tumultuous to stomach, and her unexpected obstacles insurmountable, Belasco and her business have emerged successful.

Find out how and why here.

News: Minority Executive Scholarships For Business Owners

In Indian Country News

More than a great idea and hard work are needed to run a company: it takes money, training and a break or two. In the cutthroat world of commerce, minority-owned businesses must compete with companies with deep pockets, managed by Ivy-leaguers trained at the finest schools.

To offset this extra burden, companies like Bank of America pay attention not only to the diversity within their own work force, but also in the companies with which they do business. Bank of America's supplier diversity program not only encourages and supports contracts with diverse suppliers, it also helps fund the Dorothy B. Brothers Minority Executive Scholarship, providing minority business owners with access to high-caliber management education. These scholarships help those business owners formulate and implement business strategies to achieve a competitive advantage, and to manage their company's growth in order to successfully bid, win and manage larger contracts.

To qualify, all you need is at least three full-time employees and sell between $500,000 and $50 million a year. For more information, visit here.

Article of Interest: Little Girls and a Little Business

In Wisconsin State Journal

Anna Brunner, 13, a 7th grader at Whitehorse Middle School, never thought of herself as "a business person." But when her best friend, Tess Burat, joined a group called Girls' Biz, Anna did, too.

Ali Gee-Lewis heard about the program from her mom. "I wanted to learn how to be an entrepreneur," Ali said. "I like to solve things ... and make money."

So it's never too early to recruit members for the Women Presidents' Organization!

Event: The University of Chicago Women's Business Group Presents Their 5th Annual Networking Event (11/17/05)

I encourage everyone to attend "Linking Professionals to Nonprofit Boards" on November 17th from 4:40 - 8:00 p.m. at the Mid-America Club. This networking event, now in its 5th year, allows professionals who would like to explore board service with a not-for-profit organization to meet representatives from over 50 nonprofits who are interested in adding members to their boards. This is one of the most significant ways that we can help women to raise their profile in the community and bring their expertise to bear on significant community concerns.

UCWBG is a Community Partner to the Women Presidents' Organization (Chicago).

For more information and to register, please visit:
http://www.ucwbg.org/

News: WPO Partners With ATHENA International

I had the great privilege to meet with ATHENA International Executive Director Dorothy Huisman last week along with her spirited team. In case you don't know about ATHENA, it is a global organization which supports, develops and honors women leaders. They also inspire women to achieve their full potential, creating a balance in leadership worldwide.

In the course of our discussions, we determined that the Women Presidents' Organization and ATHENA International will work together as often as possible on all fronts concerning the advancement of businesswomen around the world.

Please join us in welcoming ATHENA International into the WPO fold as a "Community Partner" and take a moment to visit their website. They have so much to offer.

I will be attending the ATHENA Chicago Award Luncheon on November 7th, honoring individuals who demonstrate excellence in their business or profession, provide valuable service to the community and actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential. I hope to see you there.

Website of Interest: SCORE For Women Entrepreneurs

In SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business

Research indicates that mentoring is one of the most crucial and important factors in business success -- especially for women-owned businesses. SCORE counselors can help you understand the resources, opportunities and allies available to assist you as you build and grow your business. Working with a SCORE mentor dramatically increases your chances for success.

WPO is referenced under the resources for women business owners section.

Find out here how SCORE can help you run and grow your business.

Article of Interest: The Pros of Running Your Business Like a Girl

In MSNBC

In her new book, "How to Run Your Business Like a Girl," Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin turns the idea of doing something "like a girl" on its head by exploring common female traits and how women entrepreneurs -- and all entrepreneurs -- can use them to their advantage when running a business.

In her interviews with women business owners she found that women tend to use three unique strengths more than their male counterparts: trusting their intuition, focusing on relationships, and putting more emphasis on life balance.

She also states: "Don't think you have to do it all by yourself. The fun part of being an entrepreneur is you get to run the business by yourself, but that doesn't mean you can't have a huge group to support you [Laurel here ... that's what WPO is all about!]. People love to help startups, and you'll only be a startup for so long," she says. "Call people you think won't give you the time of day -- heroes in your industry or people who've done things that are meaningful or impressive to you -- and ask for help. People like to be the expert and mentor other people."

Read the entire article here.

News: WPO Founder Dr. Marsha Firestone Quoted In USA Today

In USA Today

Read the fabulous article here.

Event: Women's Leadership Breakfast (November 4, 2005)

The Executives' Club of Chicago
Women's Leadership Series Breakfast and Panel Discussion
Friday, November 4, 2005
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E. Wacker Drive, East Tower
Grand Ballroom, Gold Level, 7:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Theme: "Dropping In/Dropping Out: Stepping On or Off The Career Ladder."

WPO is a partner to this series.

Click here for further information or to register (deadline October 21).

See you there.

Article of Interest: Readers' Most Admired Entrepreneur

Within the WPO community, we know hands down that our most admired entrepreneur is our founder, Dr. Marsha Firestone. But outside of WPO, find out who readers' voted for.

News: WPO Chicago Conference April 27-29, 2006

For Immediate Release Contact: Patty Briguglio (919) 233-6600

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) Announces 2006 Conference
Chicago to Host National Conference for Presidents of Multimillion-Dollar Corporations

New York – The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) has named Chicago as the location for its 2006 annual conference, to be held April 27 – 29 at the Ritz-Carlton. With approximately 1000 members and 55 chapters located throughout the U.S. and in Canada, the WPO has experienced rapid growth since its inception. The annual conference offers WPO members the opportunity to share experiences in business with other successful female entrepreneurs from all over the country and Canada, as well as gain important information from interactive seminars and speakers.

Read the entire news release here.

Event reminder: Women's Summit (October 6, 2005)

It's not too late ... don't miss out!

The Women Presidents' Organization has agreed to partner with the University of Chicago Women’s Business Group to support the Women’s Summit, to be held on October 6, 2005 from 3:30 to 9:00 pm.

The Women’s Summit, the first of its kind, will provide a venue for diverse leadership from corporations, law, medicine, economics, public policy, education, journalism, science, technology and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area to join together. In addition to celebrating successes and connections, we will develop a collective vision for increasing the contribution and success of women and minorities to the community in which we live and work. A portion of proceeds from this event will go to support "Junior Achievement" in its pursuit of building the free-market leadership of tomorrow.

In honor of this momentous occasion, Mrs. Katerina Chumachenko Yushchenko, accomplished Chicago GSB alumnae and First Lady of the Ukraine, will be the featured speaker at the event.

The Summit will start with four facilitated visioning sessions to explore important topics for women today. Each session will have a thought leader with expertise on the topic and a professional facilitator. You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas and get involved. Our goal is for the community to come together, create a shared vision, and shape our future. The topics to be discussed include:

• "Mentors -- A Lifelong Strategy for Success"
• “Positions of Power – Women in Policymaking Roles”
• "Entrepreneurship"
• "Women in the World – Visioning for the Future"

The breakout sessions will be followed by a networking opportunity, and by dinner and the keynote address.

"The Women Presidents' Organization is delighted to be a part of the UCWBG's Women's Summit. In our brave new world, we all care about not only how the world works but how we can work together to make a better future for generations to come." -- Laurel Delaney, Chicago Chapter Facilitator

For more information and to register please visit:
www.ucwbg.org/files/womenssummit.html or click here.

All Women Presidents' Organization members will be entitled to the member rate ($100), so please click the appropriate option when registering.

News: WPO Member Receives Entrepreneurial Award (September 14, 2005)

One of our WPO members has just been selected as the 2005 recipient of the Women's Business Development Center's (WBDC) "Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year Award." Ms. McNally will be honored at the WBDC Hall of Fame Awards luncheon attended by the mayor and governor as well as over 1,000 women business owners and community leaders. The WBDC Hall of Fame Awards luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in the Grand Ballroom on Navy Pier.

Read more about the honor here.

I will see you at the luncheon!

Best wishes,
Laurel

Event reminder: WBDC Conference (Sept. 13-14, 2006)

Join us (as we are a Community Partner to the WBDC) for a national two-day conference and business opportunities fair for today's woman business owner presented by the Women's Business Development Center.

The Women Presidents' Organization will be exhibiting at Booth No. 534 -- please stop by and visit. Adriana Pentz, Event Coordinator for WPO and one of our members will be woman-ing the booth and talking us up! You won't want to miss meeting them and getting additional information on WPO.

September 13-14, 2005 || Navy Pier || Chicago, IL

For more information or to register online for the WBDC conference visit:
WBDC online or call WBDC at 312-853-3477 (Ext. 24).

Hope to see you there -- Booth No. 534. I plan to attend the luncheon on Wednesday, September 14th to see one of our suburban chapter members accept her much-deserved entrepreneurship award. And don't forget to watch for our upcoming ad in the Chicago Sun-Times!

Article of Interest: The 100 Most Powerful Women

In Forbes.com

In addition to WPO members, take a good look at some of the "other" powerful women in the world. Hint: Our very own Oprah is featured as one of the Top 10!

Event: Women's Summit (October 6, 2005)

The Women Presidents' Organization has agreed to partner with the University of Chicago Women’s Business Group to support the Women’s Summit, to be held on October 6, 2005 from 3:30 to 9:00 pm.

The Women’s Summit, the first of its kind, will provide a venue for diverse leadership from corporations, law, medicine, economics, public policy, education, journalism, science, technology and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area to join together. In addition to celebrating successes and connections, we will develop a collective vision for increasing the contribution and success of women and minorities to the community in which we live and work. A portion of proceeds from this event will go to support "Junior Achievement" in its pursuit of building the free-market leadership of tomorrow.

In honor of this momentous occasion, Mrs. Katerina Chumachenko Yushchenko, accomplished Chicago GSB alumnae and First Lady of the Ukraine, will be the featured speaker at the event.

The Summit will start with four facilitated visioning sessions to explore important topics for women today. Each session will have a thought leader with expertise on the topic and a professional facilitator. You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas and get involved. Our goal is for the community to come together, create a shared vision, and shape our future. The topics to be discussed include:

• "Mentors -- A Lifelong Strategy for Success"
• “Positions of Power – Women in Policymaking Roles”
• "Entrepreneurship"
• "Women in the World – Visioning for the Future"

The breakout sessions will be followed by a networking opportunity, and by dinner and the keynote address.

"The Women Presidents' Organization is delighted to be a part of the UCWBG's Women's Summit. In our brave new world, we all care about not only how the world works but how we can work together to make a better future for generations to come." -- Laurel Delaney, Chicago Chapter Facilitator

For more information and to register please visit:
www.ucwbg.org/files/womenssummit.html or click here.

All Women Presidents' Organization members will be entitled to the member rate ($100), so please click the appropriate option when registering.

Event: The 19th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference (September 13-14, 2005)

Join us (as we are a Community Partner to the WBDC) for a national two-day conference and business opportunities fair for today's woman business owner presented by the Women's Business Development Center.

The Women Presidents' Organization will be at Booth No. 534 -- stop by and visit!

September 13-14, 2005 || Navy Pier || Chicago, IL

Featuring:

• Women's Forum Luncheon, September 13
• Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, September 14
• Women's Business & Buyers Mart
• Workshop/Panel Discussions
• Ask the Experts
• Corporate Connections

WBDC Co-Presidents:
Hedy M. Ratner and S. Carol Dougal

For more information or to register online visit:
WBDC online or call WBDC at 312-853-3477 (Ext. 24).

Hope to see you there -- Booth No. 534. And watch for our upcoming ad in the Chicago Sun-Times!

News: Prague Wants To Host World's Women Entrepeneurs Congress in 2007

In Prague Daily Monitor

Prague is one of the candidates to hosting the World Women Entrepreneurs Congress in 2007, President of the association of Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Cheryl Womack told a news conference yesterday.

For more information, visit, The Czech Republic's English-language electronic newspaper.

Article of Interest: Nearly 40 percent of all business owners are women

In San Antonio Express News

If you need a boost, you'll find it in this powerful article, "Nearly 40 percent of all business owners are women."
Here are five great clips from it.

• "There came a time where I knew that I needed to call my own shots and be my own boss."

• "But it's accurate to say that more women than ever before are stepping up, taking that risk of going out on their own."

• "Just say what you need, and we can find a woman who does it," said Margot Dorfman, who heads the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. "Business is no longer just a man's profession."

• The reasons so many women are choosing to be their own bosses are as diverse as the women and the businesses they run. Many are fulfilling lifelong dreams. Others simply want out of the corporate rat race. Some know they can do it better than incompetent bosses they've suffered.

• "I love every part of this business, and I mean that. I love to see a plan work." -- "It's beautiful, like a birth."

Update: WPO Annual Conference in Chicago (April 27-29, 2006)

Please note the new date for our conference in Chicago:

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- April 27-29, 2006.

We were unable to reserve hotel space for the previous date, hope this new date works for you.

If you are interested in becoming a conference sponsor, please contact me, thank you!

News: pink

You read it here first: pink ... a new magazine for professional women! I bought a copy last week at Border's in Evanston, devoured every word and subscribed the same day. I am totally impressed by its clean design and edgy, informative and relevant content. Our WPO Director of Communications, Sherrie Gottlieb, attended the pink launch party June 14th and said it was fabulous. Pick up a copy. You'll be glad you did.

I like it so much, pink has become one of our proud National Partners!

News: WPO Founder Quoted in The Wall Street Journal (6/14/05)!

In The Wall Street Journal (6/14/05)

WPO founder Dr. Marsha Firestone is quoted (front page of the Marketplace section, Page B1) in Carol Hymowitz's column, "Women Often Discover Their Business Talent After Kids Are Raised."

If you are pressed for time, here's Marsha's quote: "A lot of these women have worked for big corporations, but at 40 or so when a lot are stuck in middle management they start thinking, "I can have more influence and a bigger piece of the pie doing it on my own," says Marsha Firestone, founder of the Women Presidents' Organization.

Congratulations to Marsha and her WPO team. I am so proud to be a part of this organization and so are the members!

Article of Interest: Tech Spending Top Small Business Concern

In Inc.com

A new survey of the nation's small business owners says that today's entrepreneurs are actively planning to boost their tech spending to cut costs and grow their businesses -- no matter what kind of business they happen to be in.

Another key finding uncovered by the survey was that community involvement -- not profits -- was the chief reward for entrepreneurs running their own businesses, especially for women-owned businesses, the fastest-growing group of small business owners in the country.

"Women have growing power economic power and influence, so it is not a surprise that women-owned businesses are on the rise," said Karen Kerrigan, CEO of Women Entrepreneurs, Inc. "The results of this survey confirm what we are seeing among the growing ranks of women entrepreneurs that are looking to adopt technology to strengthen their business."

To read the complete article and to get the full survey results, visit Tech Spending Top Small Business Concern.

Report: Women In The Economy Update June 2005

In National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA)

The number of women entering the American workforce has risen in recent decades, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In 1970, about 43 percent of women aged 16 or older worked; the number rose steadily until stabilizing around 60 percent in 1999, where it has hovered since.

The number of self-employed women and women entrepreneurs is also on the rise.

• Between 1976-2004, the percentage of women who were self-employed increased 1.2 percentage points while the number of self-employed men fell.

• According to the Center for Women's Business Research, the estimated growth rate in the number of women-owned firms between 1997 and 2004 was nearly twice that of all firms (17 vs. 9 percent), employment expanded at twice the rate of all firms (24 vs. 12 percent), and estimated revenues kept pace with all firms (39 vs. 34 percent).

• In addition to joining the workforce, women have made significant inroads into higher paying careers, thus increasing the contribution of working wives to family income.

• Both husband and wife had earnings from work in 58 percent of married-couple families in 2003, compared with 44 percent in 1967.

• In 1973, wives' earnings accounted for 26 percent of their families' income; by 2003, that share had grown to 35 percent.

• The proportion of wives earning more than their husbands also grew; in 1987, 18 percent of working wives whose husbands also worked earned more than their spouses; in 2003, it had grown to 25 percent.

Source: "Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2005.

For text and more on women workers, visit here.

Article of Interest: Crazy Like An Entrepreneur

In Business Telegraph (U.K.)

Being entrepreneur Anita Roddick, founder of Body Shop International

An entrepreneur has more in common with a crazy person. That's what I've learnt. When I could articulate entrepreneurship not as a growing business but as a sort of obsession it all made sense to me.

Entrepreneurship is obsessive and it does have certain core components: it's got to have a work ethic -- that's why immigrants make terrific entrepreneurs, and why middle-aged, middle-class, wealthy people don't.

You've got to have an obsession with freedom; you're almost unemployable and you therefore set up your own skill base to cover that. You cannot stand hierarchy -- especially female entrepreneurs, who'll try to break it down at any given point.

I've learnt that you have this umbilical cord with your business; so you really don't know what life is and what business is -- it's all blended together. I've also observed that entrepreneurs, when they leave their company, can either end up in mental institutions or committing suicide because their reason for being is their company.

To read more of this breathtakingly insightful article on what it's like being Anita Roddick and the lessons she has learned, visit here. You might also check out her latest brilliant creation Take It Personally.

Reminder: Springboard Enterprises Venture Forum 2005 -- Call For Applicants!

WHO: Springboard Enterprises and Northwestern’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs in Technology

WHAT: Present At Springboard Enterprises Midwest Venture Forum 2005 – Call For Applicants!

WHEN: On or before June 24, 2005 (actual forum takes place September 28th in Chicago)

WHERE: Apply online at Springboard Enterprises

WHY: Springboard Enterprises Venture Capital Forum recently announced its return to the Midwest and a call for fund-worthy women entrepreneur applicants. Springboard Enterprises provides women-led high growth companies with access to investment capital and entrée to a community committed to helping them build enduring businesses. Springboard has showcased 317 women-led enterprises at 14 forums across the country. Springboard portfolio companies have raised $3 billion in equity capital, grants and strategic investments to date.

Update: Athena Award Event

I was delighted to have had an opportunity to attend the ATHENAPowerLink program Thursday evening at L8 on Ontario Street.

Pamela B. Strobel, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Exelon Corporation and president for Exelon Business Services Company, and Shelly Sun (who I went to see receive her award), founder and president of 24-7 Brightstar Healthcare, were honored May 12th by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) as it celebrated the importance of business advisors and mentors.

The event called, "It's a Two-Way Street!" was the CEC's second annual networking reception for its ATHENAPowerLink program, a mentoring program that connects women business owners with volunteer advisory panels of business professionals recruited to meet the specific needs of their companies.

To learn more about what went on, visit the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce newsletter feature on it which includes a great photo!

Separately, tomorrow I plan to post an update on Springboard. Watch for it.

Update: Women-owned businesses

What a week it has been for powerful events! I attended the Women's Leadership Exchange on Tuesday and sat in on the Make Mine a $Million Business program for the sole purpose of prospecting for new WPO members. To qualify for WPO membership, you must be a woman president who has guided a business to at least $2 million in annual sales (or $1 million for a service-based business). It looks like nearly all of the women who pitched to win a business loan will qualify for membership in a very short period of time! We can't wait!

According to OPEN from American Express, just 3% of women-owned U.S. businesses generate more than a million dollars in annual revenue, compared to 7% of men-owned businesses in the same category. In addition, women-owned businesses total more than 459,000 in Illinois, representing 50% of all privately held firms in the state, according to the Center for Women's Business Research.

The recent OPEN Small Business Network Monitor survey of women-owned businesses in the Chicago area indicates that women entrepreneurs in Illinois are optimistic about their business future -- 68% have a positive outlook on the economy and business growth.

As soon as I catch my breath, I will report on the Athena Award event that I attended on Thursday night.

Event: Discover Your Authentic Leadership (5/20/05)

One-Day Interactive Workshop for Women

Friday, May 20, 2005
8:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Mid-America Club, 80th floor, 200 E. Randolph
 
Presented by: Kathy Flanagan, Executive Consultant
Leadership Communication Inc.
 
Many successful business women encounter significant obstacles and roadblocks to authentic leadership, most of which are invisible -- embedded in the expectations of our dominant corporate cultures.  The higher you go in the organization, the more intense these challenges become. At the top, traditional views of leadership are more firmly entrenched and there are fewer female role models and colleagues to provide support.  Many women try the doomed strategy of adopting the male model or they become disheartened and reluctantly limit their aspirations and potential. 
 
In this one-day workshop, you will develop a personal leadership agenda that will enable you to increase your effectiveness at work, in your community and at home. In addition, you will learn:

• Why adopting the male model of leadership won’t work for most women.
• Strengths of your personal leadership style.
• Compelling concerns that drive you to succeed.
• Personal expression that gives you more power and influence.
• Ways to generate conversations that build shared action plans and commitment.
• Significant opportunities for you and your organization that emerge when you are truly authentic.

Act now, because there is only room for a a few more registrants. The early bird (before May 1) registration fee of $295 includes meeting materials, continental breakfast and lunch in the Grill Room of the Mid-America Club.

For further information, call 312-659-2789 or email kathleen.flanagan@leadershipcom.com.   

Event: Springboard 2005 Midwest Venture Forum

A program that has helped women secure over $3 billion worth of venture capital is recruiting Midwestern women entrepreneurs for a six-week "boot camp" in which they will polish their pitches and, hopefully, find investors.

The Springboard 2005 Midwest Venture Forum, co-hosted by Springboard Enterprises and Northwestern University's Center for Women Entrepreneurs in Technology (CWET), is a six-month program that offers women-led companies a combination of intensive training as well as networking opportunities.

To learn more, visit Fundraising Forum Seeks Women Entrepreneurs.

Event Reminder: Women's Leadership Exchange Conference (5/10/05)

Don't forget! Register for the 3rd Annual Women’s Leadership Exchange (WLE) Conference in Chicago, May 10th at McCormick Place. See you there!

WPO Annual Conference 2006 Is In Chicago!

Greetings all,

I have fantastic news. The Women Presidents' Organization annual conference will be held in Chicago April 20-22, 2006! We can't wait and are so excited about bringing the event to sweet home Chicago. If you pre-qualify for membership (see sidebar for How To Join), now is the time to get in on the ground floor and become a part of a sensational peer-to-peer advisory group.

There will be more news and I will share it with you as it becomes available -- so be on the look out!

If you would like to receive additional information about the Women Presidents' Organization, an application to become a member or to learn about available sponsorship and hosting opportunities for the 2006 conference, please contact me ldelaney@globetrade.com or 773-381-1700.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

WPO Annual Conference in Toronto a Huge Success!

I just returned from the Women Presidents' Organization annual conference held in Toronto. What an exhilarating and productive event! We had more people than ever attend this amazing affair. Here's a PR clip on one of our cause-related workshops held as our grande finale on Saturday morning (4/9). Proof is in the photo!



And out of the conference came additional exciting news which I will announce on Friday, April 15th. Watch for it but in the meantime, reserve these dates on your calendar: April 20-22, 2006.

Event: Women's Leadership Breakfast (4/14/05)

Mark your calendar for the next Women's Leadership Breakfast, Thursday, April 14th starting at 7:30 a.m. The topic this time is "Community Involvement: The True Rewards." The Women Presidents' Organization Chicago chapter is a co-sponsor to this wonderful series.

For further information and to register, visit The Executives' Club of Chicago.

See you there!

Report of Interest: OPEN Small Business Network Monitor (3/29/05)

In OPEN Small Business

Small business optimism has risen sharply, according to the OPEN Small Business Network(SM) 2005 Semi-Annual Monitor from American Express.

Eighty-five percent of small businesses report seeing growth opportunities for their companies over the next six months, up significantly from 72% in the spring of 2004 and 56% in the spring of 2003.

Here's what else the report states:

"Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges to starting and growing their companies," said Sobbott. "For example, our findings show that women respondents are more likely to report cash flow concerns. So they're turning to a variety of sounding boards for strategic guidance. Mentors, as well as networking organizations (Laurel here ... WPO is one!), serve as powerful resources who are helping women find the right answers."

Article of Interest: Best Practices For Driving Business Growth

In e-magnify

Members of the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) are highly successful women presidents who have guided their companies to at least $2 million in gross annual sales (or $1 million for a service-based business). Four Pennsylvania WPO members shared some of their best practices for driving business growth during a panel discussion moderated by WPO President Marsha Firestone at Seton Hill University's annual Building a World-Class Business Conference held March 15, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Book of Interest: Bad Leadership

I decided to start sharing some of the business books I have read lately that have enabled me to develop and to help others advance both personally and professionally.

First though, I want to explain how I learned of the book I'm about to recommend. I was looking for a good speaker on leadership for the WPO Chicago chapter members and emailed the ultimate leadership guru Warren Bennis to ask him for a recommendation. He came right back and suggested Barbara Kellerman -- Research director of the Center for Public Leadership and lecturer in public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government -- and also indicated she had just (October, 2004) authored a good book called "Bad Leadership."

I bought the book, read it and found it fascinating. Kellerman was a keynote speaker at last year's WPO annual conference and she's no stranger to fierce intellect and a strong sense of purpose. I hope to bring her to Chicago soon to talk about leadership principles but in the meantime, read on.

"Bad Leadership" is an intriguing book for its explanation of why we have bad leaders, how you recognize them (seven types) and how to rid ourselves of or from bad leadership. It's an easy, fresh read. I highly recommend it.

To learn more or to order "Bad Leadership," visit our national partner, 800-CEO-READ.

News of Interest: On Leadership and Entrepreneurship

From the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor

Below is an excerpt -- and a great tip -- from the National Women's Leadership Summit, which was sponsored by the Women's Bureau and We, Inc. (one of our national partners):

... To become a profitable entrepreneur, it is important not only to market a quality product or service, but to develop a network of people -- including bankers, lawyers, and accountants -- to assist the business. One way to make contacts is to serve on corporate boards, including the paid Boards of Directors of Fortune 500 companies. The panelists encouraged women to gain strong leadership, organization, and communication skills, as well as the ability to analyze financial data in order to be good entrepreneurs and corporate board candidates.

Article of Interest: Whatever the business, hard work is a keystone

In The Christian Science Monitor

Sometimes, when Ada Torrado unlocks the door of the bakery that bears her name -- Ada's Creations -- she thinks about how far she has come since leaving the Dominican Republic and immigrating to Providence, R.I., with three small children. Ms. Torrado is among a growing number of female immigrants starting businesses in the US and just take a look at what they are focusing on:

• Koreans often open dry-cleaning establishments, green grocers, or nail salons.
• Chinese women might open a restaurant or a gift shop.
• Some Latinas operate beauty shops or run child-care and elder-care centers.

In 2000, 8 percent of employed immigrant women were business owners, compared with 6 percent of employed native-born women, according to a report from the Immigration Policy Center in Washington. The largest group -- 41 percent -- comes from Latin America and the Caribbean. Thirty percent come from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

To read the entire article, visit: Her American Dream ... "Comes True"

Report of Interest: The First GEM on Women's Entrepreneurial Activities

New Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report On Women's Entrepreneurial Activity Released Today (3/8/05).

Forty-one percent of entrepreneurs are women, according to a cross-national study of thirty-four countries. The first Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report on women’s entrepreneurial activity was released today by The Center For Women’s Leadership at Babson College.

The GEM 2004 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship provides an in-depth global look at women’s entrepreneurship and highlights the important role that women play in developing and developed economies.

”The GEM study on women’s entrepreneurship emphasizes the critical role women have in new venture creation and provides insights to inform policies focused on increasing and extending the scope and reach of their entrepreneurial activities,” said Dr. Nan Langowitz, Director of the Center for Women’s Leadership at Babson College. “These findings support our goal of understanding, featuring and supporting the entrepreneurial efforts of women worldwide. ”

To download the powerful report, visit:
GEM on Women's (Global) Entrepreneurial Activities

Event and New Partner ... POWER: Opening Doors For Women (5/26/05)

We are pleased to announce our new partnership with the Women's Networking Community (WNC) and it's right in time with their upcoming event, "POWER: Opening Doors for Women," celebrating an evening of networking opportunities for Chicago-area women of all ages and business levels on Thursday, May 26th. Information is as follows:

Marshall Field's
Narcissus Room, 7th Floor
111 North State Street

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- Kick-off networking reception.
7:30 p.m. -- Fifteen (15) simultaneous, topic-specific dinner parties in private homes/venues.

$180 Reception, dinner and sponsorship of a College-student.
$130 Reception and dinner.
$80 Reception.

The evening begins wtih a kick-off reception, followed by fifteen (15) simultaneous dinners in private homes/venues around the city hosted by some of the most influential women leaders.

For information call: Deirdre Joy Smith 312-985-7773 or register here.

The Women Presidents' Organization (Chicago) is a proud partner of the event. I hope to see you there!

Article of Interest: Engendering Female Entrepreneurs

In BusinessWeek.com

BusinessWeek Online reporter Stacy Perman recently spoke with Marilyn Kourilsky, a professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, director of the Institute for the Study of Educational Entrepreneurship and author of "The New Female Entrepreneur," about barriers female entrepreneurs continue to face and the ways in which they can break through them. Here are two important clips from their conversation:

Q: Why then, do you find that so many women want to start their own companies?

A: They have a real passion, and they don't want to work for someone else. It's the only way to really make it. Even with all the new successes cropping up the ladder, they still perceive that there's a glass ceiling and that the best way is to start a business of their own.

Q: What are the biggest male misconceptions about female entrepreneurs?

A: They don't think women are in for the long haul, like they are. They're seen as doing something as a hobby rather than something they need to do for their family. There's this whole culture: For instance, if you're in a group and a woman comes up with an idea and then a male rephrases it, it's accepted as his idea. I don't think women support women (Laurel here ... absolutely not true: Just look at the power of the WPO network!) the way men support men.

The whole attitude toward gender is not changing as fast as it could, but we're still making progress. There was a time when women said they wouldn't go to a woman doctor. Now they make sure they do. I foresee a time when women entrepreneurs say they'd rather deal with a female vendor or entrepreneur.

Well ... what do YOU think? Agree? Disagree?

Event: The Future of Digital Media Distribution (2/28/05)

It's not too late! Check out the next IIT Thought Leader Seminar, "The Future of Digital Media Distribution," where Thomas Curran, founder of Digital Media Project, will present his views on the current state and the future of digital media distribution, including broadcasting and Internet. I hope you can attend this provocative seminar on Monday, February 28 at 4:30 p.m. on the IIT main campus. The seminar (brought to you by Ed Kaplan Entrepreneurial Studies Program, IIT) and following reception are free and open to the public.

Article of Interest: More Women Seek Business Ventures

In HispanicBusiness.com

Tricia Hensley had a good job keeping the books at her husband's granite countertop company, but it wasn't her passion.

The former accounting major wanted more in a career -- she wanted her own business. After looking into several franchising opportunities, she turned to her passion for fitness and opened Figures! Fitness for Women, a women-only gym on Evans to Locks Road.

"I had helped my husband's business for three years, but that was his. I wanted something that was mine," she said.

Ms. Hensley personifies a national trend -- more women are seeking their business independence and starting their own ventures.

Read the complete inspiring article here.

Roadmap To A Million Dollar Business: Marsha Firestone, Ph.D.

In E-magnify's newsletter, Seton Hill University, The National Education Center For Women

Great interview with the Women Presidents' Organization founder Dr. Marsha Firestone! Be sure to check out.

Member News: All About Careers Featured in the WSJ!

From the Wall Street Journal Online

All About Careers, a Chicago start-up, was featured in Joann Lublin's column in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, February 1st. Media staffing concern president Laurie Kahn talked all about her job-search workshops (you heard it here first November 5, 2004). Congratulations to Laurie! We are very proud of you.