Event of Interest: Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) and American Express OPEN Regional Program in Chicago on October 26

Here's what people have already said about the program:

"I own an advertising agency and have experienced many brand seminars, but Neeli's seminar was like an MBA-level crash course on branding -- amazing -- and I walked away with tools that can be integrated immediately to develop a company's brand." ~ Beth Bronfman, Leibler Bronfman Lubalin Advertising, WPO New York I & Platinum Member
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"I attended both Neeli's workshop at our April WPO conference as well as a special half day workshop this summer she did with my Platinum group. Neeli's wisdom about marketing, brand development and customer service was tremendous, presented with great humor and insight. She gave me a better understanding about brand development and retention globally, as well as steps I might consider to help Adesso's business and brand recognition. So I suggest you run, not walk, to Neeli's WPO workshops this October!" ~ Margaret A. Traub, President & CEO, Adesso Inc

Registration here (http://tinyurl.com/2a4p2tu). Lunch is included. Seating is limited. Better grab your place at the table fast!

See you there!

Article of Interest: Marsha Firestone Quoted in The Wall Street Journal

Women Presidents' Organization (www.womenpresidentsorg.com) President and Founder, Marsha Firestone, Ph.D. (pictured), is quoted two different times in The Wall Street Journal:

Portal Aims to Ease Contract Bids for Small Business

Marsha Firestone states:
In, Enterprise Dispatch, she states:

The new portal initially isn't "going to make a huge dent," because only six large corporations are so far involved, adds Marsha Firestone, president of the Women Presidents' Organization, a New York group made up of mostly small "B2B" companies. "But if it grows and a lot of contracts come out of that, it could," she says.

Further, she is quoted:

'Supplier Connection': a portal for doing business with large corporations - smartplanet by IBM

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Article of Interest: Are You a TED Talk Person?

Do you have brilliant ideas (e.g., you are considered one of the best minds in business), know how to present well and like to share? Then you're poised to become a TED talk person.

Becoming a TED talk person can boost your business and brand's awareness on a grander scale than ever imagined. Plus, you'll be in good company with the likes of Richard Branson, Malcolm Gladwell, Julia Sweeney, Isabel Allende and Chris Anderson (owner of TED) -- to name just a few of the elite business people who have given TED talks.

We're talking radical openness here that the world can tap into. Are you ready? Then read all about the global education brand of the 21st century and see if you have what it takes to participate:

How TED Connects the Idea-Hungry Elite (Fast Company)

Sample TED talk: Sheena Iyengar on the art of choosing.

Illustration credit here.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Cool Tool of Interest: Twitter as a Daily Newspaper

A great way to stay on top of all that is shared by the people you follow is through paper.li, which organizes links shared on Twitter into an easy to read newspaper-style format. Newspapers can be created for any Twitter user, list or #tag.

Samples for review can be found at: The Twitter Fast Company Daily, The Twitter The Economist Daily, The Twitter Entrepreneur Mag Daily and I just created an account under my own name here (as shown above).

It's as simple as 1-2.3 to get started and can be used to get the word out on your business online in a whole new way, especially if you click on the "promote it" button.

Start your business daily newspaper now. Go here.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Cool Tool of Interest: Google Realtime

In case you've been too busy to catch the latest and greatest from Google, they just released a new and improved version to their Updates with Realtime Search (http://www.google.com/realtime), which lets you see up-to-the-second social updates, news articles and blog posts about hot topics worldwide.

Getting public response or a reaction is getting speedier and more efficient all the time. WPO members can use this tool to their competitive advantage by utilizing instant knowledge of what people are thinking, instead of waiting for polls, studies or reports on what the public wants.

Use the results to power up and strategically grow your business.

Give it a try here. We did and found all sorts of interesting real-time news on the Women Presidents' Organization!

Graphic illustration source here.

Article of Interest: Build a Better Whatchamacallit

What does your business have in common with creators of products that grill a burger, catch varmints, and save the earth? Design excellence.

Learn more here:

Build a Better ... Mousetrap

Pictured: Guaraná Jesus is a Brazilian soft drink produced by bv0, a Coca-Cola bottler based in São Luís and one of the winners of the 2010 International Design Excellence Awards.

News of Interest: 7th Annual WPO Chicago 2010 Summit a Huge Success

We are happy to report that our 7th Annual WPO Chicago 2010 Summit held August 12th at Carnivale Chicago and sponsored by Harris N.A. and Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company was a huge success.

Program presenters were as follows:

• Andy Busch, Global Currency and Public Policy Strategist, BMO Capital Markets, Harris, N.A., talked about how the global economic environment can and has influenced small business in the United States and how to use this information to better position your business for future success.

• Donna Westerman, Director Supplier Diversity and Social Responsibility, WW Procurement, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, spoke on the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to WBE’s, why it is relevant and what corporations are expecting of their suppliers.

• Barry Moltz, expert on how to get your business unstuck, talked about how your business can thrive during any economy.

• The Riot Act showcased how improvisation can be used in business to explore serious issues in unconventional ways.

The highlight of the day was a surprise appearance by WPO President and Founder, Dr. Marsha Firestone, who spoke about the global growth of the Women Presidents' Organization. We were honored that she could participate in the most important event of the year for WPO Chicago.

Throughout the program, which ran from 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., we had the opportunity to learn, network, be inspired and grow together. It was in line with our theme: "NEW DECADE: Finding Inspiration, Innovation and Pro$perity." Our long-time friend and colleague, Hedy Ratner, co-founder of the WBDC Chicago, joined us for lunch.

Thank you to our presenters and sponsors for supporting and participating in our program this year and special appreciation to our WPO Chicago Steering Committee Members for their help in putting together this fantastic program. We also wish to thank our national sponsors for their continued support to WPO.

Pictured (top): Room setup before members and guests arrive. Center photo: Lunch part of program. Bottom photo: Dr. Marsha Firestone, President and Founder, WPO, speaking during the Summit lunch.

Photo credits: Laurel Delaney at WPO Chicago Summit, Carnivale Chicago 8/12/10.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Article of Interest: Embrace of Power

As more high-achieving women -- such as the entire WPO membership base spanning across four continents -- grow their businesses to multimillion dollar + levels, they will continue to embrace power to get things done.

Read this controversial piece, "Women and the Uneasy Embrace of Power." Share your comments at the origin site and report back to us with your insights because we always like to hear from you.

The comments (33+) are worth a look.

Article of Interest: Make Changes That Last

Growing your business is not a sprint. It's a marathon that requires a plan and a process involving trials, errors and successes.

After analyzing decades of scientific research and case studies, best-selling authors Chip and Dan Heath have discovered that there are simple things you can do to snap the cycle of busted resolutions (things you should be doing that you are not for whatever reason) which can get in the way of making progress with your company.

Here's a snapshot (adapted from "Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard,” by Chip and Dan Heath):

• Stop procrastinating.
• Make better decisions.
• Give yourself crystal-clear directions.
• Handle big changes.
• Keep yourself motivated.
• Make your environment support your change.

Go here for the entire article.

Are you practicing any of the above as you build your business? If so, we'd love to hear from you on exactly what you are doing and how you are doing it.

Article of Interest: Jump Your Business Ahead

Many business owners feel that summer is typically a slow time of year for their business. Is that you too? Obviously a lot depends on where you live, your firm's sales cycle, whether you market seasonal products (locally and globally) and what else is going on in the industry and economically.

According to Tom Hall, co-author of "Ruthless Focus: How to Use Key Core Strategies to Grow Your Business," with leadership expert Wally Bock:

Summer is a great time to jump your business ahead. If your clients and customers are all taking a break, take advantage of the slow market and get yourself ready for the fall.

How do you get ready? He offers a couple of fun recommendations here.

And be sure to review his thoughts on how to remedy the "I must do it all" mentality for business owners.

What are you doing this summer to stand out from the crowd with your clients and customers? We welcome hearing from you.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Article of Interest: What To Do When Your Company Makes a Mistake

What do you do when you or someone in your company makes a mistake -- whether it be in producing a product, launching an advertising campaign or making an inappropriate off the cuff statement on a national television network?

If you follow the path of Apple's iPhone's debacle, the first thing you do is admit you made a mistake and then claim that you are not perfect.

"We're not perfect," admitted Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, at a press conference today at which he discussed the firm's new smartphone, the iPhone 4. To people who have long ascribed almost God-like powers to Mr Jobs, that may come as a shock. But the ham-fisted way in which Apple has handled a fuss over connectivity issues with its new device has shown that even one of the world's most admired companies can get things wrong every now and again.

Read more here.

According to WSJ's blog Digits, here are five things Apple (or any business that finds itself in a similar situation) should do regarding its flawed iPhone 4:

1. Apologize
2. Put Steve Jobs (President/CEO) front and center
3. Explain what went wrong
4. Offer a real fix to consumers now
5. Explain whether the phone will be changed later

What approach do you implement to recover from business missteps every now and then? We welcome hearing from you.

Related article on the ability to learn from mistakes.

Article of Interest: Are You Rebalancing Your Businesss?

In view of the notion of a potential double-dip recession coming to our economy very soon, whether it happens or not, how do you prepare for such an event?

Are you rebalancing your business in anticipation of a period of greater risk? If so, what steps are you taking to ensure a "steady as she goes" sort of approach to growing your business?

We do know this to be true:

Economic growth is not likely to return in a sudden and massive way. The “New Normal” is viewed as an economy of much tighter regulation, much higher taxes for the wealthy and for corporations, higher government spending, and consumers living with less and enjoying far less opulence than in prior years. It is even arguable that the recovery was merely a stimulus and stability recovery matched merely by an inventory replacement cycle with no follow-on gains.

The Huffington Post defines 'Double-dip' recession here.

As always, we welcome hearing your views and insights on this hotly debated topic.

Article of Interest: Should Your Business Be in the Cloud?

At a recent WPO Chicago downtown II chapter session, one of the questions that came up was: "Will cloud computing impact your business model now or ever?"

The answer: What is cloud computing?

According to Wikipedia:

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand.

Think along the lines of Google Docs (particpate in our test here), Google Gmail or Scribd (example of how I use it for my business) but take it further to consider the implications of its use in other aspects of business.

For example, consider cloud workplaces, cloud research projects or cloud peer groups (we already experience this among WPO Chicago chapter members by using common links through Google Docs where everyone can share, network and edit critical documents).

Needless to say it's something to track and monitor closely as it grows in popularity. You don't want to be caught off guard should our world become more cloud-driven.

The big question we will leave you with is this: Should your business be in the cloud?

Learn more here.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Event of Interest: Edward Lowe Foundation at Big Rock Valley

Having just completed an enlightening business leadership retreat at the Edward Lowe Foundation (ELF) with WPO Chicago downtown III chapter members, it only seems fitting to bring attention to what ELF at Big Rock Valley is most known for: helping business owners reach second-stage growth.

How do you define second-stage growth?

Second-stage companies are those that have grown past the startup stage but have not grown to maturity. They have enough employees to exceed the comfortable control span of one owner/CEO and benefit from adding professional managers, but they do not yet have a full-scale professional management team.

A business typically begins to enter its second stage when it approaches $1 million in total receipts. The transition process can continue until it hits $100 million in receipts, although for most companies $50 million represents the upper limit of second stage. By $100 million, a firm will have to be professionally managed in order to continue to thrive and grow and be in its third stage of development. Employee numbers and revenue ranges vary by industry, but the population of firms with 10 to 100 employees and/or $750,000 to $50 million in receipts includes the vast majority of second-stage companies.

Beyond this, there are other signs that indicate to a CEO that second stage is at hand.

Read about them here.

Where is your business at? What have you done lately to take yourself out of your business and reflect on "next-level thinking" with your peers?

Photo credit: Laurel Delaney, WPO Chicago Chapter Chair

Save the Date: 7th Annual WPO Chicago 2010 Summit

Article of Interest: How to Create an iPhone App for Your Business

Let's face it, we all like to stay ahead of technology plus save money at the same time. Here's a nifty little article, "Why and How To Create an iPhone App for Your Business," that helps you understand the power of providing a useful service to your customers. Remember it all starts with a good idea.

Read more here.

Related resources:

• How to Create Your First iPhone Application (very comprehensive yet easy to follow)
• iPhone Dev Center - Apple Developer
• Creating an iPhone Application

Event of Interest: The Senior Businesswomen's Forum

On June 3rd, many of us from WPO Chicago had the great pleasure of attending Foley & Lardner's event, "Getting Your Message Out In An Over-Messaged World," -- hosted by Miki Vucic Tesija (pictured and a WPO Chicago downtown I chapter member) and Mary Kay Matire, partners at Foley & Lardner Chicago office. They were responsible for the content of this program along with co-sponsor Huron Consulting Group.

We heard from award-winning journalist Anne Kavanagh and award-winning producer Maria Dugandzic on how to make yourself heard in a world consumed with noise.

Foley & Lardner is a national sponsor to the Women Presidents' Organization and also hosts our WPO Chicago downtown II chapter meetings. We are very proud of this amazing relationship -- so "thank you" to everyone at Foley & Lardner for your continued support to the WPO! We appreciate it.

Article of Interest: Making Sense of Twitter

Many business owners are still trying to figure out how to use Twitter to benefit their business. Is that you too? This article, "Reach Customers in 140 Characters, All of Them Free," helps you make productive use of the service.

A couple of highlights on how to get started:

• First of all, listen.
• Do not be boring.
• A live version of a FAQ.
• Create a focus group.
• Soapbox for thinkers.
• Starting small is fine.

Read the entire article here.

Follow us on Twitter @WomenPresidents
Use hashtag #WPO

Event of Interest: Women's Leadership Breakfast 5/25/10

The Executives' Club of Chicago Women's Leadership Breakfast, "Personal Board of Directors: Building Your Powerhouse Network" will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at the The Hilton Chicago, Grand Ballroom (720 South Michigan Avenue) from 7:00-9:00 a.m.

Description:

With all of the downsizing and diminishing job opportunities, we are in a climate that cultivates an "every woman for herself" mentality. In these tough economic times, you can experience bad behavior from BOTH sexes. But there is some heartening news, women are helping women and are concentrating on a new type of networking. This panel will discuss alternatives to hiring a career coach like cultivating your own personal board of directors. Learn how convening individuals from past jobs and professional associations can bring a fresh perspective on individual strengths, values, goals and next steps.

Moderator: Maria Bartiromo (pictured), Anchor, CNBC's "Closing Bell," Host and Managing Editor "The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo"

Panelists: Carol Bernick, Executive Chairman of the Board, Alberto Culver Company; Christy Carpenter, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, The Paley Center for Media; and, Michele Coleman Mayes, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Allstate Insurance Company

The Women Presidents' Organization Chicago is a proud partner of this empowering high-level women's program.

Registration is 7:00 a.m. Seated Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Panel Discussion, 8:00 a.m.

For more information and to register, visit here.

I hope to see you there! Feel free to contact me to arrange a meeting in advance (ldelaney(at)globetrade.com).

Article of Interest: Values-Driven Companies

Whether you run a Fortune 500 company or a vibrant small business, the values you put forth play a vital role in managing and transforming a company.

According to Harvard Business School Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter ...

A new type of 21st century company is emerging that is transforming how business is conducted. These are values-driven companies that define a core set of values and rely on these values in making all strategic decisions. Such companies are transforming themselves, their industries, and the world.

A snapshot of the key concepts includes:

• Ability to change themselves and the world because they put values at the center of their company.
• Gain tremendous advantages.
• Hold true to core values.
• Identify, understand, and stay true to values.
• Operate a business that brings value to the world.
• Influence the behaviors of other corporations and leaders.

For more in depth knowledge, go here.

Are you willing and able to change and bounce back quickly from challenging situations? As always, we welcome your comments.