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.