A Great Business Conference. Am in DC with 3,000 other professional women and men that are advocates of the training and elevating of women into their careers and into the executive ranks. The WFF Women’s Foodservice Forum celebrated twenty years of training with early years at 400 members and attendees at an annual meeting to this week’s highlight of 3,800 members and 3,000 conference attendees.
Women CEO and Expert Voice Leaders. I had the chance to hear Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo CEO and Fortune 500 magazine’s number one women CEO (who modestly pointed out she would rather have the press on the company and on all women then herself as an individual), Expert Voice professional and researchers – Elaine Eisenman of Babson College Exec Dean and member of public boards, Kathleen Matthews of Marriott International Communication and former DC TV anchor, Nina McLemore CEO of company named after her and seasoned business exec, and Mariel Miller, Caliper researcher of common leadership traits of high performing leaders--both in corporate and entrepreneurial settings.
Progress and Potential. Hearing the themes I really felt uplifted at the progress with over 50% of college graduates now being female(approaching 60%) this trend that shows when the “doors are open” that let all go through...you have the driven, try harder women racing through. And with education achievement you will have higher salaries and more ability to reach your defined potential.
With more senior level and executive women you have more women and men mentoring women to their potential, with all of us hearing the trends that 70% of the educated work force, in just three years, will be women and the companies that understand how to attract, retain and motivate women in their work place will have a strategic advantage. You can see examples of success with E&Y’s workplace model changes including attracting older workers and alum relations and Wachovia Bank focused on internal women practices while wooing women clients externally at the same time and consistent in its intent to employees and clients.
Online Tools for Professional Women. Motivating and understanding work life goals for a driven women is an area high on all of our lists look for articles on w2wlink.com. www.w2wlink.com A big voice on work stress is Dr. Kathleen Hall and she wrote Don't Worry, Be Happy and has a site www.thestressinstitute.com that has more tools on this area. To read to hear and process the inner thoughts or thoughts spoken outside of meetings is www.workitmom.com. An article that I read was Office Politics is Not Optional and Tips for Doing It Better. Also How to Feel Great at Work Every Day, Deborah Brown-Volkman’s book that gives you six steps for creating more energy in your career. Check the book out at: How to Feel Great at Work Every Day .
Learn, Grow and Share.The WFF women’s foodservice forum has a committed strategy and plan to build and execute great training. They have regional meetings during the year – more at www.womenfoodserviceforum.com. With over 200 companies and their women employees at this forum you have an efficient and effective training that is targeted to women’s growth and speaks to many leadership areas with a voice of women studies, learnings and case examples. Having built a site and launched last year, w2wlink.com, with seeing a gap in the market of online information for women professionals it is so strong to see the complement of "in person" training and a conference that inspires women to keep growing all year and sharing back in their workplace and to peers. Take a look at w2wlink.com and join a private online networking circle. We have three new circles forming with experts on topics of Innovation, Personal Branding and Strategy. To Learn more on Networking Circles
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