W.I.N. 2010 Conference blog
- If you'd like to send photos or writeups about your experience at WIN, please send an email to Lisa R. Tucci at WIN -info at winconference dot net
Please note: everything in RED is a live link to someone's website!
A toast to another successful WIN conference!
Post-Conference Workshops - The Day After
For those of us who just can't get enough of WIN, Saturday brought a few extra workshops where women could really roll up their sleeves & get some extra training. For the team, it was a day spent packing up the materials, typing in the questionnaire forms, hanging out - at last able to have some time to chat - and not be on the run.
Thankful that the morning sessions didn't start so early, I got to go to Diva Dancing. Then, the choice of four more magnificent workshops, crammed full with women still eager to learn: Writing&Publishing a book (Jo Parfitt-USA/Netherlands), Writing your own Mission Statement (Helen Eriksen-Denmark), Unleashing Potential (Lois Todd-USA), and Speak up, Speak out (Susan Macaulay-Canada).
Afterwards, I caught groups of women having lunch with old friends & new, and even though Paris beckoned, we still couldn't leave the hotel. Laure Capelle (France), founder of the Brilliance Kingdom, was sitting with her mentor from Switzerland - After meeting post-WIN thru WIN contacts last year, she had promised me a coaching session this year! And so, perched in the quiet egg-chairs near the bar, she took me back in time and on a beach...It was remarkable the effect of her work, and she told me that working with kids from the School of the Second Chance, how remarkable transformation was taking place.
Eventually making my way back days later to Rome by train, with my bags, my books, my materials, my dog...a Peruvian woman helped me off the bus and with my bags. She said as she grabbed the dog & a bag and walked with me home (we discovered we lived on the same street), she said, "We women - we have to help each other out."
A perfect ending to a perfect week at WIN.
Yours faithfully,
Lisa R. Tucci / Art&Media Communications
http://www.touringtracks.com
http://burntbythetuscansun.blogspot.com
Photos by nancy fina http://www.nancyfina.com
Day 3 - The WIN Gala Evening
Off we were across town, over the beautifully lit bridges, past the Louvre, the Opera, and into the Cercle National. They've probably never seen so many women all at once. But, climbing the staircase, we were serenaded by a chorus of women singing those wonderful French tunes. Too bad, for their sing-a-long, the women of WIN were too busy networking to sing-a-long!
Again, the dinner brought new faces, old acquaintances together at once. But, the one traditional face we all hope to see at every WIN gathering, the outrageously fun, beautiful & talented performer, Dawn Yarbrough, lit up the room - with her new look! Decked out in her best Moulin Rouge threads, and backed up by an amazing Latino band, we knew things would get rocking....and, to look over and see many of the WIN Board miming the Village People's Y-M-C-A well...Need I say more?
As Dawn says, 'Have plane, will travel' - she's always ready to light up your special events!
Day 3 – Late Afternoon - Closing Session
As we approach the end of the conference (with some exciting workshops scheduled for Saturday's post-conference, for those of us WIN junkies, who just can't get enough...), many of those who were not out in the networking area – doing just that – and I spotted, as each day went along, more & more women – connecting and regrouping or meeting the sponsors at their stands and eating more delightful treats from Unilever -- were busy filing into the SEWA Beats drumming & networking session.
Drumming & networking?
Yeah. This is precisely what WIN means when they say, “Networking with purpose & joy”. And, judging from the smiles on people’s faces, well, joy & Esprit de corp was definitely in the air, even when hundreds of hands hurt from all the drumming.
It was a fitting introduction to the beautiful ray of light, Maggy, who would grace our conference with her presence, her children, her mission, her words...
There are no words to describe the difference that one woman made in the lives of tens of thousands of war orphans. She only asks that we invest in this little corner of humanity – put their incredible talent and brainpower to work – somehow. Together, we could raise Burundi up from the depths of poverty – and its status as the poorest place on Earth (clearly rich in every other way but GDP). If only we saw the potential she sees in all of her children's faces. She left us with the music of one talented musician from her House of Peace, who, by the force of pursuing his passion, he is truly living again, and regaining his sight.
But perhaps it is not he who is truly blind…
Find out more about Marguerite Barankitse, Founder of Maison Shalom
We wiped our tears, then headed out to toast the conference & all of us present and a week well done. And then to get ready for the Gala Evening - and a well-deserved party!
Day 3 – Afternoon workshops
The best way to describe the flurry of afternoon activity is by way of my very own tag cloud of the afternoon, in which the sessions dig in a bit deeper & get a whole lot more personal:
Interactive – Power - Expats – Inspiration - Executive Presence – Women (of course) – Dynamic - Leading – High Mobility Living - Savvy – Career – Passion - Family – Success – Men - Feminine – Connection - Leadership – Enneagram Lens - Wisdom – Inner Critic – Finances - Strategies - High Impact - Security
In all of the workshops, women would learn skills, simple tools, or thought processes to break out of old habits and into a newfound future. Go through the WIN Book & feel free to contact any of the speakers…Not only – their websites are choc-a-block full of fun, free info – research – docs – podcasts – for all of us looking for a new way of seeing ourselves & our lives.
You can find the whole agenda on the website, and then check out each presenter in your book or online - just search out the enterprising women who would welcome the connection!
I managed to make the Working Forum on Mentoring & Networking – with two women offering their game plan for effective mentoring / two others for effective networking. They then broke into groups to come up with game plans along with the participants in each, presenting their official results by the end. Kristin walked in right then, to pull the pointers off the wall - for our 'continuing the conversation' at WIN.
She was then gifted with a beautiful shawl from India’s Rekha Mody, Founder of Stree Sahakti – The Parallel Force & Global Women’s Forum. Rekha is a force to contend with--despite all the odds she faced as a woman in India, she serves as a master networker for all those around her. Modest to the extreme, she did let it drop that her daughter, studying in Chicago, would soon be greeting President Obama on his next visit there. All because of the drive of yet another woman who refused to 'accept the unacceptable.'
Rekha said about the power of mentoring that it was the YWCA (Young Women’s Catholic Association) that showed her she could be or do anything. Just like Christine, our opening speaker, whose family promoted her love of the outdoors as a child, and Irene (HSBC) who was told “she could be anything she wanted to be…
Well, she heard from her mentors,
“I was born to be a leader.”
Thank goodness she listened.
Day 3 – Morning workshops
The choice was unbelievable – Nine workshops by women, for women, and all to improve my presence, my presentations, my work life, me. I just wanted to be Hermione Granger at that moment -- and be in three places at once. Here’s my little ‘tag cloud’ of the morning:
Polish Perspective – Heart - Abuse of Power – Diva - Positive Presence - Building a Professional Network – Power - Life Lenses - Enthusiastic – Feminine – Successful – Conscious - Leader – Soul - Entrepreneur – Positive Influence – Authentic – Being your own best business card – Freedom Path – Success - Women - Money - Clarity - Purpose - Peace.
I’d love to hear your comments/input on each of the sessions, so please email them to me for posting to the blog!
Anyway, since I’m not Hermione, and was not in Gryffendor but on the WIN Team, off I went to the Working Forum on Women Empowering Women Worldwide.
Here we heard from women from across the globe who are making a difference – in places where just to be a working woman is an exception. Their influence, felt in communities as far afield as Armenia, Nigeria, Egypt, France & India, is truly felt in a domain such as WIN. When sharing their stories, we all have something to learn; and maybe something to offer them in return, as we all get uplifted when we give women a lift up.
On the way out, I ran into our indefatigable photographer, Nancy Fina – although a professional fashion photographer – her photos so amazing they look like a wholly modern update of Old Master paintings – she said she wouldn’t be able to catch all these lively women in action! One look at 1/10 of the pics she shot, and I can tell you…It was entirely false modesty – I’ve never seen such amazing, dynamic women, such great photography – in a conference setting, no less where we have no control of the lights. Watch this space for more from Nancy.
Overheard
“I just love how almost everything here, no matter how big – they continue to bring it back to ME”
Day 3 –Growing as Individuals
We already shared a vision of the future in our Day 1 session of mega-trends, careers, working women & more. Day 2 brought the focus down to our careers and steps to get ahead. Day 3, it was time to bring WIN into our own selves, and how – by starting with us we can affect our outside world. This is a day when we celebrate YOU.
The tools employed to get us there were: Music – Listening – Transition – Wisdom And by the end, it all came together - all rather seamlessly....
We started out with Miha Pogacnik’s trademark session for ‘listening to the spaces’ and building up yourself & your organization by taking heart of the fluidity of life, of work, of your own thoughts. Through his quips & quotes we all had some laughs too. Our seemingly growing sub-theme to the conference ‘learning the art of listening’ for Miha is all too important: “We’re born with hearing – but we all have to learn to listen”.
To best sum up his work, I’ll also quote the Tao: It’s the spaces between the notes that make the music. Something to take to heart.
Prof. Nuria Chincilla (Spain) offered up more of her wisdom on the work/family balance. She is one of the foremost experts on the topic, as Director of the Center for Work & Family at Barcelona's IESE– and at WIN, she had more than one platform to offer her wise words & sensible stats to all & sundry – She reminds us of the importance of family-responsible employers, and that maintaining the status quo is not sustainable. So, let’s all step up to the plate (men&women) for the good of all humankind.
[The IESE is also offering - exclusively to WIN participants - a full tuition scholarship for the AMP Program Barcelona 2010/11. If you want to apply, send your CV to:
infogmp AT iese DOT edu SUBJECT: WIN CONFERENCE 2010&IESE ]
She was followed by two more wise women, founders of The Wisdom Connection – They offered up an array of beautiful pointers for Feminine Leadership. Their words was soon counter-balanced by an engaging sociologist, Prof. Michael Kimmel (USA), talking about less-wise men – and what it would mean if they wizened up. Like many of our speakers, despite the pathetic portrayals he offered up in hilarious cartoons, he too, is optimistic for men to embrace their nurturing – caring – or feminine sides – Why should they wait for grandfatherhood to take care of their loved ones, volunteer, and to stop & smell the roses?
Then, the music started - Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ - and we knew that things were going to get shaken up (from our own bootys to our brains!). While we were on the topic of Wise Women, Prof. Lyly Rojas started out with honoring the great visionaries, pioneers, courageous, audacious & outstanding women of our day. While she displayed their photographs, their names speak for themselves: Benazir Bhutto – Anita Roddick (a 'mere' teacher who showed through her work, that she had a lot to teach us all) – and then a photo of the International Council of 13 – The Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers -- shamans whose work is healing our planet, in every way possible. Lyly then brought up the subject of Kristin’s Conference – Realizing Visions – with Clarity, Enthusiasm & Care – [and we had a cameo appearance by little Trevor]. She asked us all to think of a vision we’d like to see happen – I was personally at a loss. But ‘went with the flow’ - urged on by the 'magic' that Kristin told us to expect during the week...
Lyly then went on to risk, and, without saying so, the benefits in every failure. The ‘for every door that closes another one opens up’ seems almost tired and hackneyed, but not if the concept is presented by the inimitable Lyly Rojas. You feel it at work. Risk-taking & Caring, for many, it can be on the same continuum.
After the session, Irene Mugambi (Kenya), one of many managers sent by Thomson Reuters, came up and told me my vision (well, reiterated one I’ve long nurtured but never took the risk: ‘Why don’t you write books about your dog?’ And my vision for (finally) releasing ‘Travels with Trevor’ was born!
Continuing into the networking area, I had a book suggestion for her: Prof/Dr. Allan Afuah’s : The African Paradox – Is China the Solution? A research-based economic model for pulling Africa up and out of its poverty. She covers the financial/economics markets there, and was interested in reading it…She’ll find a copy in her mailbox when she gets home.
Day 2 –Afternoon Plenary Session
The afternoon session brought onstage four prominent women who not only have carved out successful careers, leaving their footprints on that ol’ sticky floor, but who manage men & women both – often tens of thousands of them in their respective organizations. The session was moderated by IHT’s correspondent for work&careers, from Germany, Katrin Bennhold.
We heard from Beatrice Bauer (Italy), Professor of HR Mngt at Milan’s Bocconi University
Pascale Dumas (France) from HP
Rebecca Shambaugh (USA), President/CEO of Shambaugh USA
and Amanda Sourry (UK), Chairman of Unilever UK/Ireland
We then broke for the Networking Coffee Break – I’d love to hear your stories of networking explosions that happened in & around the conference! Email the WIN Office and you’ll appear on the Blog….
You know how it goes, you say one thing, one person knows another, pulls her into the conversation & before long, everyone has something to offer and new professional & personal friendships are forged…At WIN, this is simply 'par for the course.'
So, let me know who you networked with, and what you networked about – we’d all love to hear about it! (Secret: We’ll be posting some of WIN’s most successful success stories from the last 13 years…We want to toot your horn & show everyone that WIN is the place to truly network!).
Back in the WIN office, drama kept unfolding behind the scenes. Turns out some of our delegates -- many of whom area scholarship winners - were not able to secure entry into France. The French authorities turned down many of the young women – probably fearful they would not go back to their country post-Conference. Kristin was working on this, along with Katia & the WIN Office Team – Little did those authorities know that these women are some of the most enterprising in Africa & beyond – with careers, families & NGOs to run & return home to – their presence was sorely missed.
Meanwhile, I got a chance to share a few laughs with Workshop Presenter, Geraldine Brown (Ireland) – MD of Domino Perspectives. When she’s not busy helping companies with their diversity issues, she offers advice both as a Minister and on ‘Stepping into your Power” – her recent ebook. She told me that she’ll soon be uploading her podcasts on her subjects. My iPod is already itching to load ‘em up, so check it out here.
After the break, the Corporate Forum vied for delegates' attention with the Entrepreneurial Forum, the latter moderated by the inimitable Lynne Franks. Each panelist offered a brief background on her Company & her roots, before breaking into groups to discuss a few key issues in which our select/successful Entrepreneur has gained tremendous insight & experience.
Lynne brought to the forefront her book & SEED Activity, while showcasing the luxurious B-Hives opening for women to connect, grow & do business in the UK. SEED = Sustainable Enterprise & Empowerment Dynamics based on work Lynne did, long before sustainability & diversity were in the public lexicon…Now Lynne is pioneering new paths for women with the HSBC Initiative, the European Women’s Business Partnership.
Protima Chakraborty (Bangladesh) showcased her country’s way out of poverty & into sustainability while repurposing their native Jute plant – everyone was amazed to see even her cooking pots made from basket-weaving -- that slow cook a meal after first heating on the fire - reducing the need for wood. Her young daughter in the audience looked on proudly at her mom, in what to me was the singular example of truly ‘passing the baton.’
Rosanna D’Antona (Italy) discussed communications issues for entrepreneurs & getting the message out, while Gisele Ruffer (Switzerland) of Delance watches talked about managing a business. To top it off, we heard from the intrepid Graziella Zanoletti (Italy-Switzerland) who has managed to take her Company to the next step – first making connections in business through Elite Car Rentals, but now through her foundation, Friends of Humanity, devoting her time & energies to Human Trafficking and other Humanitarian issues. She remarked that her time here on earth was to be “A Cosmic Vacation,” but with all of her myriad passions, we’re all certainly glad she didn’t take that prediction to heart.
We also got the opportunity to hear from Geologist & Gender Ambassador, Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie (Cameroon), CEO/President of the SWEET Africa Foundation - Society for Women Empowerment Education & Training (as well as Executive Director of the Cameroon Vision Trust) but unfortunately, her colleague, Audrey, was one of those who got left behind and couldn't be with us.
The workshops broke for some Diva Dancing, where in our diverse crowd, all the fab divas truly wanted to Strut their Stuff! Hopefully, once home, hopefully, they’ll still be ‘shaking it’ even when sitting at a cubicle!
The night ended with a truly enchanting evening on the boat rides along the Seine…I’m sure to most it was nice to get out of the hotel & into the fresh air…I’m only sad to say I wish I’d had been there!
Another outstanding WIN workshop
Standing Room Only!
Day 2 –Workshop Series II & Working Forum on Women in Media & Society
Again, the focus was on career – I admit, I got a bit distracted down in the workshop area, enticed by all the people selling products in the hall / Women’s watches from Delance Swiss Watches offered by Owner Giselle Rufer, also a speaker on Women's Entrepreneurship and Farah’s silk scarves & handbags from Kashmir Krafts, and the umpteen books on offer penned by our illustrious speakers.
I checked out the message boards, the coaching sessions, the mentoring cards. All this to say, I arrived a bit late to the Women in Media Forum.
Unfortunately, Italian & long time Friend of WIN, Lorella Zanardo, who shook the Italian Media with her exposè on how women are portrayed in Italian media [as an Italian resident, I can attest they could use a bit more shaking, but hey, it’s a very good start]. While we’re really off the charts there in Italy, you can still find much of the same portrayed elsewhere.
You can see Lorella's shocking documentary in English here: "Il Corpo delle Donne"
And, my own commentary on it here from my own blog, Burnt by the Tuscan Sun about Bods&Burkas in Europe.
Back in the Forum, one presenter commented that she recently evaluated 10 press releases (from her own organization) she found – much to her surprise - that she had quoted all men only on all of them (!) She felt that it is the men who must ‘put themselves in the limelight’ more often than women – so it’s also up to us to pick things up.
In the meantime, playing hooky back out in the lobby, I found Financial Time's Women on Top sections and IHT’s front page articles from this year with their focus on – Working Women. They’re paying attention, ladies, now, let’s really turn their heads – and raise our visibility -- but because of our accomplishments and not our bods…
Later that evening at a friend’s house, while discussing the media & models (both working in women's fashion media), I learnt that just a few years back, the popular German magazine Brigitte stopped using emaciated young girls as models altogether. They now take ‘women off the streets’ to pose – totally natural & no air-brushing allowed. Now, if other countries can just follow suit…
Overheard
“I love how almost everything here at WIN, no matter how big – they continue to bring it back to ME.”
Day 2 – Dedicated to the Future of Work
Roberta Cocco, an Italian woman who has made a very successful career for herself within Microsoft, demonstrated that despite all of the odds (working in a a male-dominated field, male-dominated company, a male-oriented society – (Italy ranks 72nd of developed countries on gender equality), having three children and lots of gorgeous blond hair), you can truly make a difference: within your community, your organization, and, I’m fairly certain that as a role model for her children, within her family.
She started with a promise – that perhaps technology could help women in both their professional & personal lives. She also had a premise – that women’s issues are societal issues – and if you improve one, you will improve the other.
I’m reminded of a beautiful quote I read many years ago by a young African man –
“If women were made a lot more comfortable, this would be a more comfortable world.”
Roberta began with taking a risk, a passion, & a commitment by a Company who eventually showed they cared. In a very Italian way, she explained what she was up to – the creation of Feminine Future – www.futuro@lfemminile.it And then she basically let her superiors know that they could either be with her on this endeavor, or else, her grass roots group would do it – anyway.
Microsoft has since parlayed the success of this initiative within the Italian company, in Europe, in other Companies in a sort of exchange, within the community, and now, with its webinars & other online events, within the web community at large. Their events, Women & mobile Tech, Web @ Femminile etc. have attracted tens of thousands of participants both live & online.
We next heard from Dick Benschop of Royal Dutch Shell – a Company with a long history of acknowledging the women in their midst & their great contributions to the organization. He first addressed the idea for energy diversity along with Corporate diversity (although after Avivah’s talk, perhaps the word was already going out of style…Talk about 18 months being the future…In today’s session, it was more like 18 minutes!).
The financial crisis – the oil crisis – these issues cast a long shadow over our upbeat WIN Conference. But everyone involved offered solutions. It was the first time, however, that it had been brought to my attention how climate / weather / and environment (from recycling to sustainability to the mismanagement of our resources – including the man-made accidents) had been brought up so often & so prominently at WIN. While many cos. today try to feature sustainability – again & again CLIMATE made its entrance onto the stage as if an uninvited guest who just wouldn’t go away…
Summing it up, we now understand the Three Important Game Changing Ws to watch out for in this new decade: Web – Women – Weather (climate change) – and how they’ll most certainly impact all of our futures.
After hearing from other illuminated Corporate sponsors, IBM – who was one of 5000 chosen (along with 199 others) to go to underdeveloped countries and help out…She provides one way to answering a number of questions: Who am I? How can I give back? How can add meaning to my life? According to Celia Moore (UK) men are listening. We could all listen more, too.
And finally, the two presenters from sponsor, Medtronic (Sharrolyn Transfeldt-Josse (USA) & Fiona Pattiselanno (Netherlands), spoke about their Company's their initiatives for the future, and then off it was for more Networking in the foyer.
“Just give them chocolate – and they’ll be happy”
Marriott Head Chef to the Food&Beverage Director when discussing what to feed 750 women descending on Paris…Funny, he was right on.
Day 2 – Dedicated to the Future of Work
Nadya Day - making sure your day gets off to a good start
Before starting each plenary session, WIN also offers – year after year - a special workshop for the participants: Nadya Day's Mind-Body Awakening. And, with the excitement of the first day, the constant networking, the partying afterwards in Paris, the room was still packed with women looking to Awaken their bodies & minds.
Nadiya also launched at WIN, her Body-Mind Energy Workout Challenge - If you'd like to join in it, please contact her on her website.
Looking at the WIN Conference book for the day, appropriately I find an ad from sponsor Guardian Wealth Management: RELAX – we see financial security in your future… ! I’m wondering if that was planned….
Moving into the Plenary Session, the day is dedicated to A vision for the Future – Company. Not only are we getting to look in a crystal ball as to what’s coming next, once again, we will leave energized & enthusiastic which – if you read the day’s headlines seems much rather bleak. These experts not only provide innovative solutions, but they give us tools for being part of the change currently transforming our workplace & consequently our lives.
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox (Canada) – her Company, 20first - starts out with a single phrase to sum up the last 10 years and the next 90: “The 20th century is OVER.” With a slide that goes from Pyramids to Pomegranates, she shows that the hierarchies of the past have been transformed to a network-based society. With women making up close to 60% of college graduates in the West, 50% in China, Companies that state: “We only attract the best talent” and yet have only 17% in upper managerial positions are simply, lying. We need to call them out on it – don’t accept the unacceptable.
To illustrate her point? Avivah asks for a raise of hands: How many of you drive cars? (nearly the entire room) – How many of you carry purses? (everyone).
So – with women making 80-90% of the purchase decisions in the household, when are the auto companies going to give us a car with a place where we can put our purses???!!!
To that, she adds, near-naked women on car tops, this way of transmitting a marketing message only to men – is outdated & outrageous and it can’t last much longer…
So, how do you bring this into your corporate life? STOP FIXING THE WOMEN!!!
We don’t need assertiveness training, we don’t need to learn how to be like men…and we don’t need to fit into the 20th c. model. And for the women? She offers, don’t try fixing the company yourself – keep living your authentic lives – as we mobilize as a group, what’s going on on the outside, will (eventually) motivate that inside group to change. (Although all the speakers admit change is slow-going…)
And, then, Avivah provokes everyone in the room coming from Diversity & Inclusion Depts., HR, Companies with Women’s Initiatives….
- Stop calling it DIVERSITY & including WOMEN as a subgroup to Diversity Training…We are not an unknown, mysterious thing…After all, how much research & resources have companies dedicated to new markets like China & India…
Let’s be clear: Women are NOT a minority –– Women represent a much larger market than those two countries combined – and yet we’re still ignored. As employees & as customers - Women represent a Massive Global Opportunity for companies worldwide.
<i>You can read more of the research behind Avivah’s work on <a mce_href="http://www.20first.com" href="http://www.20first.com">her website</a>.</i>
Overheard…
“This is my first time to WIN – and it’s the absolutely the first time I’ve ever been to a conference that didn’t address just the business problems/solutions but started with an internal journey – it’s absolutely amazing.”
Networking Dinner
Co-hosted by Amy Carroll, Carroll Communication Coaching, the night gave us French entertainment...and 6 degrees of separation networking encompassing the entire room. But the highlight was Diane Morris' announcement: Her organization, The International Alliance for Women presented Kristin Engvig their annual prize; recognizing Kristin for developing women over 13 years and making that difference.
From the TIAW website:
THE AWARD There are women throughout the world whose actions, efforts and inspiration have truly made all the difference in the world to the economic empowerment of women. The TIAW World of Difference Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to one exceptional woman who has repeatedly demonstrated the power within every individual to change the world we live in for the betterment of women and who has truly “made all the difference in the world” on an international level over many years.
Women on Boards
Well, the statistics are in, the changes are being made, but not fast enough. So, how DOES one motivate businesses to step up to the plate & give themselves a homerun, bases loaded? Countries worldwide are tangling with the concept – seeing that companies who don’t take on women are going to trail behind. We’re reminded again that it’s not about women once again – it’s for the sake of society as a whole.
Companies with women in upper management are just different. Businesses are more profitable, the workplace is more enjoyable (we had heard in the plenary that most heart attacks occur on Mondays), families work better, society functions and then we can all get into doing more and better things. If more women stuck with their companies and to career paths, in Italy alone the GDP would shoot up 20%, unemployment would be down, and pretty much, we’d all live happily ever after.
This session brought those people working toward women on boards around the world with those studying the tangible results of this effort on companies in specific and on society as a whole. Diane Morris from the International Alliance of Women moderated the session, with excellent cases and country data made by colleagues Monica Pesce (Italy), Mirella Visser (Netherlands), Marie-Claude Peyrache (France) & Jan Elsner (Australia).
Many don’t like quotas, but governments are tossing the idea around just to give a quick kick to the system. Australia seemed to really be onto a 2-tier solution: allowing companies to set voluntary targets and voluntary checks but then the govt. required them to report those results at year end. Brilliant.
Speaking with Prof. Morten Huse (Norway-Italy), a system like that would probably not work as well in a place like Italy (where I live), and so going straight for a quota would be the optimum solution. Again: It’s not about the woman, the Company, the Community. These ripples or splashes today will be a Tsunami of benefits to all of society once it is in place. Think about it: Your company is more profitable, your employees happier, day care is in place, children better educated, perhaps you’ve gone green. You’re busy showing that a little CARE in the Board Room today, might take care of our planet tomorrow.
The group could go on all night, so they decide to reconvene at lunch, swap more ideas, and compare notes seeing how much we all learned at the session.
Where do women network, exactly?
Breaking out of the plenary, plenty of time to meet & greet – pick up an International Herald Tribune – another early sponsor of WIN. Everyone had shivers up their spine; not only for what we heard, but how we felt – the room was cold. It seems that even in conventioneers, the hotel is geared toward the warmer half of our species…So, up the temperature had to be set.
Meanwhile, when 500+ women leave a hall, where do they head? Well, over for coffee & treats in the networking area (and I personally thank the hotel for always including chocolate of one form or another…I feel like Marie Antoinette) and a whole lot of animated conversation. And then into the bathrooms. Where more networking often takes place for women. Think of the time efficiency! While men chase a little white ball for hours on end across a huge green area & network, women head out of the stalls, and in the space of a few moments of refreshing lipstick, are exchanging comments, ideas, and business cards and discussing everything from hair color to Heads of State.
I ran into Jo Parfitt, (Summertime Publishing/Career in a Suitcase) author and workshop leader on getting that book done. I’ve met her at past WIN Conferences, and pretty soon we were talking about a mutual contact in Holland – and once again swapping stories.
What with the line forming however, women soon found themselves crashing the men’s bathroom. Except that a man was in it. Not to be deterred, the women stepped to the side to give him his space, the conversation lowered into embarrassed hushed whispers, but kept right on going. Then, upon completing HIS business, turned, with an ear to ear smile across his face and quipped, “I have so much to say about this scenario, I don’t know just where to start. So, I’m just going to leave it at that.” And off he went. The Marriott later posted a sign that BOTH bathrooms would be left to the women delegates.
WIN Delegates network in the strangest places
Delegate Jason Womack - Author of The Promise Doctrine - networking in the 'John'
Global Picture – Setting the Stage
Our world today does not seem like a pretty sight, but listening to these speakers, you are filled with positive expectation. Sustainability – Conscious Capitalism, Climate, Women, Peace. Everyone across the stage portends an end of the old ways of doing – not just business – but pretty much everything. As Graeme Codrington Trends Analyst quipped after showing us fax machines & playing the buzzing sound we used to hear for connection in the internet to describe the fast-moving world we live in, “When are things going to go back to ‘normal’? Pretty much, never. Again.” Many speakers reiterated this sentiment – Going back to the status quo is NOT an option (don’t accept the unacceptable, women!)
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence isn’t turbulence.
It’s using old logic.”
Peter Drucker
I find that since we love to name decades & generations, we might as well call the next ten years of transition, “Been there. Done that.” Once again, don’t accept the unacceptable. This seemingly perfect storm of climate change, financial meltdowns, political disintegration, combined with the democratization of pretty much everything because of the web, they just can’t get away with it anymore.
And so, here we are, on the cutting edge of something big. All it takes is all of us in the room, more and more enlightened men, companies who want to do the right thing – thereby decreasing the salary disparity of top brass to bottom rungs, making companies places where people of all kinds want to work, finally paying attention to the more-educated, equally talented, and greater authority on purchase decisions, families, and so on.
In short, these speakers all came to a unified agreement: This is not about women, your company, your community. It’s all about society – and how we behave today is affecting generations to come. What are we doing, exactly???
Related Links:
http://www.cc-institute.com
http://www.tinyurl/tideschange.com
http://www.astorybeforebed.com
http://www.tomorrowtoday.uk.com
Firms of Endearment: How World Class Companies Profit from Passion & Purpose
The Rule of Three: How Competition Shapes Markets
Forthcoming: A Roadmap for Conscious Capitalism
Reaching New Heights
Our opening speaker is internationally renowned Alpinist, Catherine Destivelle. Although her realm is mountaintops (or mountain faces, rather), she started out with a promise: “You’ll find out that we have a lot in common.” But after seeing the footage of her ascents, all I know is that I found I had a fear of heights.
Her vision began as a young girl – although living in Paris, she always wanted to be Heidi of the Alps. After seeing her ascents, you realize that if Heidi had been created today, she’d most likely be an adventurer like Catherine.
Catherine explains that to take on a challenge as great as climbing 1800 meters by gripping a 1cm crack in the rock, takes Skill, Preparation, Strategy, Commitment - and although alone on the wall - a team as passionate as you providing tremendous Support.
And, one might add, not being afraid to take Risks. Although one error in her field, could make the difference between life & death, Catherine doesn’t feel that therein lays the risk. She stated – incredibly – that she does not take big risks – meaning, no gambling with fate. If a climb is too dangerous, no matter what the preparation, she won’t do it.
Fade to mountain top: How far up do you want to reach?
Opening Day…And We’re Off!
What international business & networking conference usually has a Grand Piano on stage on opening day? Over 750 delegates from 70+ nationalities, from Australia to El Salvador, Nigeria to Canada (and everywhere in between) filed into the plenary room – lights down, a mountaintop peeking out of the clouds on screen. Diana Baker (Australia), Concert pianist is joined by Soprano Vanessa Le Charles and Mezzo Soprano Marie Kalinine (France) to gift us with two French pieces before descending the stage, walking out arm & arm…
... leaving the floor to the incomparable Kristin Engvig, our Founder & Conference host.
This year’s theme is Realizing Visions – with clarity, enthusiasm & care. And with nearly 8000 women having taken part in WIN Conferences these 13 years, we wonder just how many of those women transferred their vision into reality & transformed their lives & who knows? society as well. WIN started as a vision 13 years ago, and is now at the forefront of a “massive, societal shift.” So, while we’re busy transforming our world, Kristin asks us all 'not to accept the unacceptable’ (a buzz phrase to be repeated throughout the sessions), to remain committed, stay enthusiastic & curious, and … why not? Take Care. While attending a recent business, conference, Kristin heard this word, ‘Caring’ being disparaged time & again. So, she asks all present to please “elevate this word - Caring”.
Perhaps if the old guard had been more caring, our financial markets wouldn’t have melted down, our countries would be flourishing, unemployment would be reduced, and, the Gulf of Mexico & almost every other body of water out there would nourishing species & lives in 2010.
In closing, we’re invited to ‘expect magic’ from this gathering. Together, we will reach the summit – and judging from the opening speaker, this is one woman who took these words to heart…
The pre-conference buzz
The buzz was already in the air, with women congregating in the entrance hall, as we readied the registration. Journalists and a select group of speakers were convening in the Press Conference Room, where we hoped the media would gain a better grasp of the answer to the important questions, “Why Women?” “Why Networking?” and “Why Here at WIN?”
Our lead sponsor, represented by Irene Dorner, President/CEO of HSBC USA articulated the importance of networking & women’s presence and remarked how the shift to Women holding the reins is already taking place. And for her, there was no better place to start the HSBC ‘walking the talk’ than at such an important networking conference than at WIN. As President of HSBC Malaysia, she saw first hand & continued to point out that developing countries have – surprisingly - much more gender equity in workplaces than in the ‘developed’ world. And while India started out 5000 years ago, with a great tradition of women leadership for 2500 years or so, for the last 1000 years things got turned round. For Rekha Mody, Founder of Streeshakti The Parallel Force (and WIN Scholarship attendee), India will be looking to lead, but with support & bonding with Europe. Developing contacts - Networking in an arena like WIN is of course key to this strategy.
Prof. Rajendra Sisodia brought up the importance for society today and future generations the necessity for a more conscious capitalism. No longer based on the command & control paradigm, but something much more enlightening. His organization's purpose is fully aligned with the raison d’être (we're in Paris, after all) of the entire WIN concept. Rajendra studied companies that behave consciously – and who don’t want to leave a cost on society in their wake - The companies in his book, Firms of Endearment, outperform all other leading firms 9 to 1. He states that the future for all of us (and the sustainability of the planet) will be organizations built on LOVE and not through FEAR. What a way to view the world… I felt optimistic about our planet for the first time in a long time.
Rajendra even had an answer for that: Mother Nature & Father Greed have seemingly released their forces on the Earth. For Rajendra, WIN paves the way out.
But the most exciting news coming out of the press conference was the announcement by HSBC – in partnership with SEED, of the launch – here at WIN – their new global initiative to assist Women-owned businesses…While it’s still in its infancy, HSBC is already setting its sights on going global after their European launch.
Day 2 of pre-conference prep…
We discuss in our early morning meetings how important it is to have everyone on deck to pitch in, smile, and be engaging. It’s like planning a wedding for 750 guests. And so we start with the ‘gifts’ to all of the delegates, men & women – gift bags, actually.
Each year, WIN commissions FAIR TRADE bags to stuff to the brim with all of the goodies & materials from our sponsors. They’re made in Cambodia from recycled plastic food bags, from a Swiss design – partnership. And of course, they’re made by women. Check out the website here.
Even Trevor, the WIN mascot lends a paw in set-up
Everyone on the team dons a bright red silk scarf so that people can know who to ask for questions – these hand-delivered from our favorite delegate, Farah from KashmirKrafts.
In the meantime, sponsors set up their stands (and I’ve got my eye on the Ben&Jerry’s ice cream), a beautiful grand piano was delivered and played upon – a wonderful touch to each opening day setting the mood for the entire conference.
Over 120 speakers are also expected, many of them attending our VIP cocktail and early bird dinner. So, in the afternoon Joanne Freeman (Canadian in Switzerland) founder of SWIMUpstream gathered the speakers together for what promises to be the start of the creation of a network of amazing speakers – lecturers on topics ranging from creative writing to women’s leadership to cross-cultural coaching, from entrepreneurship to global leadership…So, off they were to meet each other, finding out where each one came from, and set the game plan for outstanding workshop facilitation.
Later in the evening, WIN hosted a VIP cocktail, joining sponsors, women’s business groups, and other guests outstanding in their mission to keep women up & coming & networked. No sooner had I walked in the door when I met Rosa Rossignol, the Paris Alumni Club President for Milan’s Bocconi University, one of the original sponsors of WIN – 13 years ago – and still going strong. We exchanged cards as I represent the University of Michigan’s Alumni in Italy – and we arranged to swap ideas and meet up with her counterpart in Rome – the very essence of what WIN is all about.
A few steps away, we meet up with Nancy Gomez from Fusio Sport. She works in France for a French-Spanish concern, coming this way via Chile. Almost everyone you meet at WIN is hyphenated. Women on the Go are truly on the Go! It seems everyone you meet is an expat; having moved with their corporations or families, or, like me, just for the experience of living abroad. So, at breakfast you meet Nathalie (French) living in Spain, Elizabeth (Canadian) living in the USA, Alejandra (Uruguayan) living in Switzerland and our team leader, Bryony (Dutch) living in Italy.
But Nancy tells us she works with nearby Sonia (a French Global Private Equity Advisor in France!) and both are at WIN for the EVE-olution Foundation; a group dedicated to promoting women, largely in poorer countries. She is working on an incubator project that will take place during the Milan EXPO 2015, WomenExpo. Again, we arrange to speak about this in greater detail, while I put her in touch with Anna Persson, of 360º Entrepreneurship, a former WIN Staff Member who is now working on developing women in Italy – and who is based in Milan.
Retiring to the early bird dinner where we shared laughs with old friends, and met up with some new arrivals, we return to our rooms, exhausted but fully exhilarated.