Dear WBC Movement,

Happy Black History Month!  As you know WBC is committed to equal position, pay and power for all women in business and track our progress against our 2023 targets for all women including Black women and women of color.

WBC is now 80+ Partner Organizations welcoming The Score Foundation and WeConnect who focused on women entrepreneurs and Open Comp working towards equity in business including compensation. As well we are over 450 strong in our Advisory Council and continue to build our movement as we address topics like equity and diversity in the staffing industry and our work on Ally of Her.

This month we are hosting two webinars with the one on Women in the Workforce Repairing the Broken Rung on February 22nd, where you'll learn more about the latest innovations in the workplace impacting both processes and perceptions of women and why the clock is ticking for organizations to change their practices to ensure all employees have pathways to advancing. The second webinar will our first Companies of Purpose roundtable of the year, focusing on the topic of Understanding DEI Strategies on February 28th. This discussion will dive into DEI strategies and best practices for today’s environment.

In March we kick off Women's History Month with our Partners making History webinars where we showcase our key partners across our 9 Action initiatives. We will also publicize our Collaboration Report on our progress since September 2022 and host three in person events on International Women's Day March 8. Keep reading below for more information.Thanks for all your input and commitment to March and Women’s History Month and big salutes to all for the March 1^st kick off with Partners and March 8, 2023, International Women’s Day as we note below.

Also, on March 16th the Staffing Industry Group led by TechServe Alliance is hosting a webinar, Gender Equity Progress in the Staffing Industry where you can see the latest data on diversity in the staffing industry. Note that in January we launched the Fundamentals of Capital series. Click here to learn more about how to access capital as you build your business.

Thank you again for your partnership and all that you do to drive equal position, pay and power for all women in business.

Read more below for information on our upcoming events, the latest data, and our new champions! 

Edie Fraser and Gwen K. Young

Sanofi

ACLI 

Akamai Technologies

American Family Insurance Group

Aramco

AT&T

Bank of America

CBRE

Chart Industries

Cisco Systems

Dealer Tire and subsidiaries

Diligent and Diligent Institute

Diversified Search Group (DSG)

General Motors

Genworth Financial

Grainger

IBM

IMPACT Group

INSPYR Solutions

Knock

Kolar

Modere

My PowerPak

NewsCorp

New York Life

Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures (NREUV)

Northrop Grumman

Omega World Travel

P & G

Paul Hastings

Pinnacle Global Network

Raytheon Technologies

SNT Biotech

Sodexo

Specialist Staffing Group

Storyville Gardens

Sunny Days

Syndio

Synergy

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

University of New Mexico

USAA

Verizon

Wells Fargo

WilmingtonTrust/M&T Bank

Zoetis

WBC welcomes Aramco, Bank of America, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Paul Hastings, and Synergy to the Companies of Purpose Program!

Registration is live for the February 28th Companies of Purpose Roundtable: Understanding DEI Strategies. Register here now. This roundtable will feature Sanofi’s Global CIO, Lakshmi Eleswarpu; Akamai Technologies’ Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement, Khalil Smith; SNT Biotech Founder and CEO, Shital Daftari; and University of New Mexico’s Anderson School Professor Audrey Iffert-Saleem.

These leaders in their fields will join this virtual roundtable to discuss their DEI strategies and the data demonstrating their commitment to purpose and real change in their companies.

January 2023 Women Joining Public Boards Report

Join us for the next session of our #WBCFasterTogether Series today, February 16th at 12 pm. Next week we will be hosting Laura Moore, Managing Director of Strategy & Policy, National Education Equity Lab to talk about bridging the Education Equity Gap and creating a pipeline of diverse leaders. Laura will be joined by our Co-Host Linda Peek Schacht.

RSVP here.

Join the WBC for our “Women in the Workforce Repairing the Broken Rung.” panel on Wednesday, February 22nd at 11AM EST!Our panel comprises top HR experts and business leaders, including:

• Dr. Velma Deleveaux, Managing Partner, Veaux Solutions LLC
• Dr. Nkem Okeke, Founder & CEO, Medicalincs
• Monne Williams, Author, McKinsey Report
• Dr. Rosina Racciopi, President & CEO, WOMEN Unlimited

Within organizations, HR (or any concerned business leader) has the opportunity to influence the organization on how it prioritizes the advancement of women in their workforce. Learn more about the latest innovations in the workplace impacting both processes and perceptions of women in the workplace and why the clock is ticking for organizations to change their practices to ensure all employees have pathways to advancing. Hear the latest research, best practices and client stories on how organizations are building pathways for all women in their organization.

Register here.

We are excited to celebrate Women’s History Month with you! As an unprecedented alliance of 80+ women’s business organizations and hundreds of business leaders building a movement towards equal position, pay, and power for all women in business, Women’s History Month is another opportunity for us to connect with those who share in WBC’s mission, vision, and commitment. 

In March we will be collaborating with our champions, partners, supporters, and sponsors to highlight meaningful conversations around women with a focus on business and entrepreneurship through in-person events, social campaigns, and webinars, including a full day of programming for International Women’s Day on March 8th! Please see our IWD programming below.

Our International Women’s Day will start by supporting one of our partner organizations, Enterprising Women! The Enterprising Women Foundation will host a Washington DC Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum at Bell Multicultural Center, Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3105 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20010.

The event features a dynamic panel of women entrepreneurs who are also WBC in the Advisory Council champions:

• Edie Fraser, CEO, WBC (moderator) 
• Shiva Davoodpour, Owner & Principal, CID Engineering, Inc
• Dr. Velma Deleveaux, Managing Partner, Veaux Solutions, LLC
• Stephanie Eidelman, CEO, iA institute
• Theresa Harrison, President, George Street Services
• Jeannette Lee, CEO KeyLogic
• Dottie Li, Founder/CEO, Transpacific Communications
• Dr. Gina Merritt, Principal, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures
• Dr. Nkem Okeke, President/CEO and Owner, Medicalincs
• Ilene Rosenthal, CEO, Footsteps2Brilliance



The event, which is one of eight forums hosted in March and April by the EWF, is chaired by Enterprising Women Foundation National Co-Chairs Edie Fraser and Dr. Faye Coleman and led by Monica Smiley, Founder and President of the Enterprising Women Foundation, a sister nonprofit to Enterprising Women magazine. 

Following the panel of women CEO leaders in STEM-based fields, 25 women leaders will provide small-group mentoring to 150 high school girls who attend Bell Multicultural High School. The program concludes with a one-hour financial literacy program developed by Duke University and NOVA, with a grant provided by the Institute for Consumer Money Management (ICMM).

Our next event will be the Celebration of the Women Cyber Governance Leaders in-person luncheon and live-streamed panels by WBC from 12:00 - 2:00 PM ET. 

This lunch event showcases specific leaders in the Women Cyber Governance Collaborative cohort and offers an opportunity to celebrate their certification and leadership. As the need for cyber expertise in the boardroom grows, director cybersecurity competency is required and WBC is working to ensure diverse leadership with this expertise.

WBC has amassed a cohort of 96 women who excel as experts in the domain of cybersecurity, leading to the creation of the Women Cyber Governance Collaborative (WCGC). WCGC is a partnership between WBC and DDN with sponsorship from the Gula Foundation. WCGC is a cohort of women with the capability to effectively govern the real and growing risks to organizations from cyber threats. 

The two panels will demonstrate how we can fill the demand for cyber expertise coming from business and accelerated by proposed SEC rule changes, which would require director cyber expertise disclosure. Please join WBC as we discuss these pressing issues with experts about how to equip and build out diverse cybersecurity leadership from the C-Suite to the Boardroom.

Our esteemed panelists for the Cybersecurity Expertise and Business Success panel include: 

• Gwen K. Young, COO, WBC (Moderator)
• Ana Dutra, WBC Board Director, CEO, Mandala Global Advisors
• Esther Aguilera, CEO, Latino Corporate Directors Association
• Barbie Bigelow, CEO, Emerald Partners LLC
• Theresa Harrison, President, George Street Services, Inc.
• Bob Zukis, CEO, Digital Directors Network

Our distinguished panelists for the Building Diverse Board Leadership include:

• Marta Ronquillo Newhart, Former CCO & Brand Officer, Westinghouse and Page Board of Trustees (Moderator)
• Dr. Velma Deleveaux, Managing Partner, Veaux Solutions, LL
• Ozzie Meza, VP Member, and Talent Services, Latino Corporate Directors Association

Our next event to follow directly after is the WBC Leading Corporate Purpose from Talent to Brand to Community in-person and live-streamed panels from 2:30 - 4:00 PM ET. 

The event will be a 90-minute long panel discussion focused on the role DEI plays in purpose from talent to brand to community. The panels feature acclaimed entrepreneurs and corporate leaders driving purpose in their organizations.

Our acclaimed panelists for the Corporations Driving Purpose panel include:

• Edie Fraser, CEO, WBC (Moderator)
• Ann Addison, Chief Human Resources Officer, Northrop Grumman
• Gloria Bohan, President and CEO, Omega World Travel 
• Joanne Dowdell, Senior Vice President Global Government Affairs, News Corp
• Carla Grant Pickens, VP Human Resources, Global Operations, Platforms & Delivery, IBM Consulting
• Lynn White, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff, Genworth

Our notable panelists for the Entrepreneurs Driving Purpose panel include: 

• Sharon Reynolds, President & CEO, DevMar Products, LLC WBC Board Director, (Moderator)
• DeLisa Guerrier, Co-Founder, Developer, Storyville Gardens 
• Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, Ph.D., Founder of Masaya Medical; Board Director and lead Scientific Officer of Flora Growth
• Dr. Gina Merritt, Principal, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures (NREUV)
• Dr. Rachel Talton, CEO, Synergy 

We will conclude our International Women’s Day programming with the WBC Women Leading Law in-person and live streamed panel from 4:30 - 5:30 PM ET.

This hour-long roundtable will address the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the legal profession. We'll host leading representatives who will talk about DEI and ESG work within the legal industry and their work with clients.

Our influential panelists from this event include:

• Gerri Mason Hall, WBC Board Director, former VP Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, NetApp, (Moderator) 
• Farah Bhatti, Shareholder/Partner, Chair of Internet, E-Commerce & Social Media Industry Group, Buchalter 
• Heather Choi, Partner, Chief Diversity Officer, Baker Botts LLP
• Tara Giunta, Partner, Paul Hastings 
• Karen Kaplowitz, Senior Advisor, Seramount Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity Initiative 

We look forward to greeting you all! Please register below to receive detailed information on the scheduled WBC events.

Read this feature from Bloomberg Opinion: When ESG Investing Looks an Awful Lot Like Gambling by Merryn Somerset Webb

PARTNERS ORGANIZATIONS

100 Women in Finance

50/50 Women on Boards

Ascend

Astia

ATHENA International

Beyond Board

C200

Catalyst

Diversio

Diversity Woman Media

Ellevate Network

Enterprising Women Magazine

Equal Rights Advocates

European Women on Boards

Forte Foundation

Forum of Executive Women

Founders First

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media

Gender Fair

Global Women 4 Wellbeing (GW4W)

Golden Seeds Venture

Him for Her

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)

Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC)

How Women Invest

How Women Lead

Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF)

Integrating Women Leaders Foundation

LATINAStyle

Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA)

Linkage

National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)

National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC)

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

NextUp

OpenComp

Paradigm for Parity (P4P)

Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN)

Score Foundation

Seramount

SheEO

She Community Norway

Springboard Enterprises

STEMconnector / Million Women Mentors

The Black Boardroom Initiative

The Bow Collective

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC)

The Forum of Executive Women

The Lodis Forum

The WIT Network

TheBoardList

Thirty Percent Coalition

TONE Networks

30% Club - UK

30% Club - US

Watermark

WeConnect International

WeTheChange

Women Corporate Directors

Women Elevating Women

Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD)

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)

Women Impact Technology

Women in Fund Finance

Women in the Boardroom

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)

WOMEN Unlimited

Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Women’s Forum of New York

RESOURCE PARTNERS

Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index

Bolster

CEOx

DDI

Digital Directors Network (DDN)

Equilar

Executive Women's Forum

Forté Foundation

Global Women 4 Wellbeing (GW4W)

Just Capital

Linkage

The Lodis Forum

TONE Networks

Women Impact Tech

Thank you to our 80 WBC Organization Partners and all you do in leading and supporting the Nine Action Initiatives and helping us achieve our 2025 targets.

Together, we continue to build women’s leadership across all sectors and industries. 

• Management Academy is currently enrolling for the next cohort
• Executive Academy is currently enrolling for the next cohort
• Emerge Academy is currently enrolling for the next cohort
• Board Bound Academy is currently enrolling for its first cohort
• College Mentoring Program is currently taking mentorship program applications
• Save The Date: ITSMF S1-23 Symposium and 2nd Annual Technology Leaders Awards|May 4-6, 2023| Hudson Yards, New York, NY

Mark your calendar to attend the 21st Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference, one of the most prestigious award programs for women entrepreneurs worldwide. The event will be hosted at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, Florida on May 21-23, 2023. 

Register and learn more at www.enterprisingwomen.com.

The Forum will be hosting its annual Leadership Symposium on March 30, 4-7 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  We will welcome Tara Schuster as our speaker. 

As the former Vice President of Talent and Development at Comedy Central and current best-selling author of Buy Yourself the Lilies, Tara brings an equal mix of empathy, passion and humor to the topic of self-care and mental health.

During an unforgettable evening, Tara will lead the audience through actionable and practical tools to bolster self-care through healing, growing and glowing, so you can be your most authentic self. Learn more about the event at Foewevents.com.

Ellevate Network, the largest community of women+ at work, has opened registrations for its 7th Annual Mobilize Women Summit set for June 7th, 2023.

"Mobilize Women is one of my favorite projects to work on, not only for sentimental reasons, but because it's one of the main ways we unite our members across the globe and corporate allies in the quest to make the workplace and world more equitable and inclusive." Said Maricella Herrera, CEO, Ellevate Network.

Reads the official press release here.

We are proud to announce that Lisa Buckingham will join us as President of Ellig Group.

Says Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, “Lisa is a dynamic, committed leader who has worked extensively with boards of directors and across the C-suite, and whose purpose-driven values are aligned with Ellig Group’s core mission of changing the face of corporate America.”

“It really is all about talent in this incredibly competitive market, and having the access and experience to get the right person in the right role. Ellig Group differentiates its search practice by including coaching over the first 100 days. That transforms organizations and the success of our candidates,” says Ms. Buckingham.

Ms. Ellig continues, “I’m delighted to welcome Lisa as we expand our range of executive and board search activities and increase our focus on advisory services and assessments. As a trusted advisor to boards and CEOs, our team brings tailored solutions to enhance cultures, DEI, and business growth.”

Previously, Ms. Buckingham served as Chief People, Place, and Brand Officer for Lincoln Financial Group for more than a decade. In this capacity, she led human resources, corporate marketing, enterprise communications, corporate social responsibility, the foundation, facilities, aviation, and corporate strategic real estate. She was a member of the Senior Management Committee, reporting directly to the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Dennis R. Glass.

Before joining Lincoln, Ms. Buckingham held several executive roles in human resources and organizational development at Thomson Reuters. She played a key leadership role in the company’s digital technology transformation and offshoring initiatives to drive global efficiencies and further streamline the company. Her deep professional interests in transforming cultures, companies and lives through innovative talent strategies, career development, and coaching have helped to drive better engagement and DEI, more decisive leadership, and exceptional boards.

Ms. Buckingham earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), recognized as one of the Top 25 Global CHROs by N2Growth and Stanford Graduate School of Business, and was named one of the 50 Boldly Inspirational Leaders by Employ Humanity. In 2021, she received the distinguished HR Executive Award with the co-founders of People + Work Connect, and she serves as Chair of the HR Policy Institute at Questrom School, Boston University.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the LATINA Style 50 Awards and Diversity Leaders Conference. Join us for a one-of-a-kind, dynamic, and powerful conference to commemorate the occasion. We anticipate a full day of networking, including informative sessions, awards presentations, and the 25th Anniversary Gala celebration.

The LATINA Style Business Series is an interactive business development program that brings together Latina business owners with key corporations and government agencies that provide the goods and services needed by these outstanding entrepreneurs. Since 1998, over 40,000 Latina entrepreneurs in over 140 cities have participated in the series! This year we will be making 4 stops that includes San Antonio, San Francisco, New Jersey, & Miami.

On March 29-31, The Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation (LCDEF) will be holding their member and partner exclusive 2023 Spring BoardReady Institute (BRI), hosted by Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina. LCDEF’s premiere BoardReady Institute (BRI) is a comprehensive set of programs uniquely designed to prepare new and aspiring directors for boardroom success. There is no other programming of this scope focused on accelerating the development and placement of highly credentialed Latinos onto the highest levels of corporate governance. The in-person events, BRI Core and BRINext, provide board-level networking, hands-on preparation, high-quality content, coaching, and an unparalleled program experience.

The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) recently released the 2022 End of Year Report, which details the new milestones and growth LCDA made towards accelerating the number of Hispanics/Latinos in America’s corporate boardrooms.

In 2022 LCDA:



• Grew demand by influencing Latino board placements from 2.7% in 2019 to 4.1% in 2022.
• Grew supply through a 46% membership increase in 2022.
• 188 public board appointments filled by a Hispanic/Latino, record number of appointments in the S&P 500, Russell 3000, and Fortune 1000.

WBC partner, OpenComp, is pleased to announce OPEN Summit - a free, virtual event for business & people leaders who care about pay equity — and recognize that, today, transparency means something different to everyone. The March 1st event celebrates the start of Women's History Month and is sponsored by The Josh Bersin Company, OpenComp, and OPEN Imperative.

Speakers include:

• Alyssa Milano - actress, activist, philanthropist
• Antoine Andrews - Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer, Momentive
• Kathi Enderes - SVP Research, The Josh Bersin Company

2023 WBENC National Conference – March 19 – 23, 2023, Nashville, TN – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Join us in Nashville, TN, for the 2023 WBENC National Conference taking place March 20-23, 2023, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. WBENC, along with our 2023 National Conference Co-Chairs, Bristol Myers Squibb, DuPont, EY, Nissan Group of the Americas, The ActOne Group, Ampcus Inc., CSS Building Services, and M. Davis & Sons, Inc. look forward to connecting again in person, building momentum, identifying innovative best practices, learning industry trends and celebrating accomplishments by our WBEs and Corporate Members that further a diverse supply chain and grow business opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

The 2023 National Conference will feature:

• An unrivaled Expo of certified women-owned businesses and those who do business with them
• Productive Meet & Greets
• Dynamic educational programming
• Inspiring speakers
• The Collegiate Accelerator pitch competition
• Women Owned Demo Stations
• Meet Ups
• Celebrations and fun, including karaoke (of course!)
• Countless networking opportunities

WBENC Conference Orientation Sessions Announced!

Be in the know before you go to the 2023 WBENC National Conference by attending one of a number of our upcoming informative National Conference orientations.

Whether you are Registered already or what to see what all the EXCITEMENT is about, by attending one of our WBENC National Conference VIRTUAL Orientations, you can ensure you are in the know about everything happening in Nashville! We have tailored these sessions to our WBEs and Corporate Members. There are multiple opportunities to attend for both WBEs and Corporate Members.

Seramount’s International Women’s Day Webinar

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Seramount! Join us for a program that will be equal parts inspiration and practical tips and tools to empower individuals, ERGs, and communities to do their best work.

This program will feature stories that amplify and uplift the efforts of individuals and companies working to support women and girls both at their organizations and in the communities in which they serve.

Seramount’s Annual Application is Open Until March 10th

Submission to Seramount’s lists and indexes is the first step a company can take to assess the state of its cultural landscape and the success of its DEI efforts. Since 1986, Seramount has surveyed organizations that are committed to women’s advancement, diversity and inclusion, and family-friendly workplace culture. Our lists and indexes set the standard for best practices around workplace policies and encourage the implementation of programs that improve company culture and measure results.

Women’s healthcare is an emerging market for investors to engage in, and is full of disruption and innovation opportunities. Female founders in this sector are showing the potential for significant ROI for investors. The How Women (and Men) Invest in Startups research report commissioned by How Women Lead and How Women Invest is mentioned. Read more here.

How Women Lead and How Women Invest commissioned a research report—How Women (And Men) Invest in Startups— that found when women invest in women-led start-ups it can grow women’s economic power, strengthen the overall economy and narrow the gender wealth gap. Learn more here.

It’s been shown that having a diverse board of directors has many benefits. One big step companies can take to achieve more diversity is to reshape their board recruitment, onboarding and retention processes to be inclusive of minority groups. Executives and experienced board directors including Julie Castro Abrams, CEO of How Women Lead, weigh in on the issue of recruiting and corporate board diversity.

Read more here.

Business Insider surveyed 68 founders about their 2023 predictions, including the biggest business trends and the fastest-growing industries. We also asked what they thought the top challenges for entrepreneurs would be this year. Included is insight from How Women Lead’s CEO, Julie Castro Abrams in regards to funding. Read her insights here.

Yasi Baiani, former Women Leaders for the World Global Advisor, gives insight into Cleo as the SVP of Product & Marketing and her personal journey regarding adequately supporting families and caregivers through benefits packages. Read more here.

MeetHer: Turn Inspiration into Action, March 2, 8am PT

How Women Lead is excited to announce the first Latina Cohort for the Women Leaders for the World fellowship. Please join us to meet the 2023 WLW fellow,—Latina women leaders who are industry disruptors and social innovators at the top of their games in tech, business, politics, social media, philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. And, learn how you can get involved and take action to make an impact for these leaders and in the world.

RSVP at https://www.howwomenlead.com/events-1/meether-turn-inspiration-into-action-with-these-women-leaders-1

Embrace the Power of You, March 7, 9am PT

Tricia Montalvo Timm is a first-generation Latina board director, venture investor and speaker. She is on a mission to inspire anyone who has ever felt like an “other” in the workplace to embrace their true selves, own their identity and achieve success and fulfillment in their life and career.

Join us March 7th to learn how you to can embrace your power in the work place at: https://www.howwomenlead.com/events-1/embracethepowerofyou

Stepping Up for Women's Rights: The Intersection of Venture Capital, Women's Rights and Reproductive Justice, March 8, 9am PT

We are in the 118th United States Congress. The 100th Congress gave us HR 5050 - the National Women’s Business Council and the ability for women to take out business loans in their own name.

How far have we come since? Equal protection for women is precarious and the trajectory is bleak. Is there hope? Hear from two of venture’s visionaries on how Dobbs impacts culture, the economy, and our lives. And hear from women leaders in VC about the power and influence of investing.



Join the conversation here: https://www.howwomenlead.com/events-1/stepping-up

Navigating the How Women Lead Ecosystem, March 14, 10am PT

Are you interested in becoming a part of a growing community and network of senior executive women across the globe?

We invite you to meet our CEO, Julie Castro Abrams, Tuesday, March 14th to learn about our organization’s mission, programs and more! It is your time to get out there and network with other like-minded women who are changing the world to become a more equitable place for women.

Register today and invite other senior executive women to join you at our next tour of the How Women Lead organization at https://www.howwomenlead.com/ecosystemcall

Corporate Board Readiness Workshop: Five Sessions April/May starting April 14

Do you want to be one of the first ones notified when a company is looking for a new board director?

Do you want to network with industry giants and gain personalized feedback on your board search approach? Calling senior executive women! If board service is the next step on your journey, join us for our five-part workshop. Learn from current sitting directors and our moderator Nancy Sheppard on how to position yourself to gain that next corporate board seat. You will:

• Get Your Board Materials and Plan of Action Ready
• Learn Corporate Board Ins and Outs
• Meet and Network with Corporate Directors
• Get Sample Board Materials and Written Guides
• And so much more!
• 
  

Register at https://www.howwomenlead.com/events-1/corporate-board-readiness-workshop-april-may

Research shows women are an untapped source of funding for startups and can lead to a stronger and more equitable economy. The report, How Women (and Men) Invest in Startups provides actionable steps for encouraging female accredited investors to invest in startups and increase capital to female founders. The report is based on a survey of over 600 women and men who were likely to be accredited investors, as well as a literature review.

Funded by Wells Fargo, commissioned by How Women Lead and How Women Invest and produced by Ventureneer and CoreWoman. 

Read the report here.

ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR

Sharon Reynolds

ADVISORY COUNCIL VICE CHAIRS

Margaret Resce Milkint

Kip Wright

Patti Massey

ADVISORY COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS

Anne Chambers

Debra Clary

Emily Fontaine

Patricia Glaser Shea

Judith Goldkrand

Theresa Harrison

Dina Jadallah

Kelly Kolar

Dara Klein

Kimber Maderazzo

Sharon Mahn

Jennifer McCollum

Connie McGee

Carrie Peele

Andrea Simon

Taya Scott

Gemma Toner

Kay Unger

Mary Kay Vona

Johanna (José) Zeilstra

HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

Barbie Bigelow

Pamela Craig

Caroline Frankum

Dan Hesse

Paula Price

Ralph de la Vega

Cindy Kent

Linda Lockhart

Founder &CEO

Global Give Back Circle

Michele Adams

President & CW

Levy Recognition

Stevi Carr Adams

President & Ceo

Levy Recognition

Hedieh Fakhriyazdi

Chief Diversity Officer

White & Case

Gabrielle Christman

Founder & CEO 

Hunter International Recruiting

Jean Wang

President

Quantum, Inc.

Cindy Towers

Co-Founder & CEO

JURISolutions Legal

Andrea Conner

CEO

StevensonConner Global Strategies

Kittie Watson

President & Founder

Innolect Inc.

Gina Merritt

Principal

Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures

Dr. Rachel Yvonne Talton

CEO

Synergy

Sophia Harris

CEO 

Organizational Development

Resource Group, LLC

Theresa Harrison

Founder & President of George Street Services, Inc.

Brooke Foley

Chief Clarity Officer

Jayne Agency

Wendy Chin

CEO and Managing Partner

PureCipher, Creative Technology Group

Dr. Marianne Gordon

Director & Associate Professor

Blue Lights Campaign, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Sharon W. Reynolds named  the 2023 YWCA Academy for Women of Achievement Honoree

This year’s honorees join a prestigious group of 184 women and 33 organizations previously inducted into the AWA. They are leaders in the legal, advocacy, medical, business, education, and philanthropy fields. The selection committee, comprised of business and community leaders and YWCA’s Executive Committee, chose the individual and corporate honorees from an impressive list of nominees.

“The eight honorees for this year’s event have made large strides for women, creating pathways to success in the Nashville community,” said YWCA President and CEO Sharon K. Roberson. “We’re honored to induct these incredible women and this outstanding organization into the academy.”



The Jessie Banks Foundation Hosted Its 18th Annual Scholarship Awards Gala Fundraiser. This year the organization awarded 12 scholarships to well-deserved students from the New York Tri-State area who are entering their first year of college. Three junior scholars were recognized with special distinguished awards and achievement certificates.

Read the official press release here.



You're Invited to the 5th Annual Women of Color Connecting Summit

Save your seat for WOCCON Summit 2023, March 7-9, 2023. This invitation-only convening is for investors, allies, and policymakers who want to deepen their understanding of the problems with the system that continues to keep women of color entrepreneurs locked out.

The Summit will share stories about the unique entrepreneurial journey of women of color, facilitate honest conversations about allyship, and propose solutions that can lead to systemic change. Our goal is to help attendees find a path to taking action to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For information, visit http://woccon.org/summit



Simon Associates Management Consultants has won the

2023 International Elite 100 Award for Corporate Anthropology Consultancy of the Year. Read the official announcement here.

Stephanie Eidelman has been selected along with 99 other women from around the world to participate in the Vital Voices Global Partnership VV GROW Fellowship program. This 10-month program aims to elevate women business leaders as drivers for economic growth and social change in their communities, countries, and the world by helping them grow their businesses and expand their social impact.

Stephanie is focused on this challenge: 80% of household financial decisions are made by women. Yet, women hold only about 24% of leadership positions in the financial services industry. To truly serve billions of people around the globe, we need these voices at the table where product and policy decisions are made.

About Vital Voices

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a non-profit founded on the simple idea that nations and communities cannot move forward without women’s voices in leadership positions. We invest in women leaders who are taking on the world’s greatest challenges – from gender-based violence to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. 

Now celebrating 25 years since its founding, Vital Voices Global Partnership has directly invested in more than 20,000 changemakers across 184 countries and territories since its inception in 1997. Driven by the universal truth that women are the key to progress in their communities and nations cannot move forward without women in leadership positions, Vital Voices has provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, Prime Ministers, award-winning innovators, pioneering human rights defenders, and breakthrough social entrepreneurs, including Amanda Gorman, Malala Yousafzai, and more. In an effort to advance and expand this work, in 2022 Vital Voices opened the doors to the world’s first global embassy for women, the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership —a first-of-its-kind space that allows for convening, innovation, planning, and action — all in the pursuit of tackling the world’s greatest challenges.

On 1 February, CFA Institute announced that more than 100 investment industry firms have so far signed up to its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Code for the Investment Profession in the United States and Canada. In doing so, signatory organizations share a commitment to generating a cycle of positive change, and amplifying the economic, business, and moral case for DEI.

Signatory organizations have the support of an operationalized reporting process that helps them to plan and evidence their progress. As Sarah Maynard, ASIP, Global Senior Head, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for CFA Institute notes: “We’re pleased with the progress of the DEI Code in less than one year. For all markets, we aim to bring a workable international framework that has been created, trialed, and proven to support and drive DEI work in practice.” To view the announcement, visit: Investment Industry Embraces DEI Code led by CFA Institute, with More Than 100 Firms Signed up in Less Than a Year.

4word would be delighted to have you join us for the annual 4word Gala on February 25, 2023, at the Omni Star in Frisco, TX. Our speaker will be the founder of it Cosmetics, Jamie Kern Lima, who sold her company to L'Oreal for over 1 billion and is now the first woman CEO of L'Oreal in over 100 years. Our title sponsor is Toyota Motor North America and the evening will feature an amazing live and silent auction, dinner, and more.  Join us in raising support to help women in the workplace reach their God-given potential with confidence!

Please consider all our Gala sponsorship opportunities and tickets by clicking here: https://4wordwomen.org/events/

To learn more about 4word, what we do, and who we help click here: https://4wordwomen.org/

Independence Blue Cross Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Crystal Ashby joined Campus Philly and the Philadelphia Business Journal for a conversation titled “Why Philadelphia must solve the riddle of Gen Z.”  The event is part of the Campus Philly Corporate Advisory Council’s efforts to examine critical topics in early-career talent requirement.

The February 7 session convened HR executives to talk about the impact of the Gen Z population shift, the impending worker shortage, and how companies in the Greater Philadelphia Region are reacting to and adjusting their recruitment strategies for emerging talent.

Ms. Ashby is a sought after speaker on workplace initiatives and best practices. In fall 2022, she participated in a panel discussion organized by The Philadelphia Citizen about the future of Philadelphia’s in-person work culture. She also shared her expertise at the 2022 B. PHL Innovation Festival on a panel titled “The Future of Work: Where, Why, and How Gen Z Wants to Work.”

The Workplace Equity Communications Playbook

No matter where you are on your pay transparency journey, this playbook offers the strategic advice, real-world examples, and hands-on guidance you need to move forward in an intentional, comprehensive way. It will help your organization identify where you are and where you aspire to land on your transparency journey. And it will help you navigate the current environment of transparency, while also looking around corners to prepare for what’s coming — because more is coming. Get the playbook.

Kolar Design is pleased to announce that President and Founder Kelly Kolar has been appointed Second Vice Chair of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Forum.

Read the announcement here.

Inflation and rising Federal Reserve rates have resulted in scarcity of capital within equity markets. What alternatives are there for your diverse small business clients?

Join Founders First Capital Partners' Head of Investments Casey Estrada along with Veterans Security Operations COO Christian Tomlinson as we walk through the options. 

Founders First's mission is to support businesses led by women, people of color, LGBTQ+, military veterans, as well as inclusive teams and businesses located in low to moderate income areas. We provide revenue-based funding, term loans and business acceleration advisory support to small businesses.

Register here.



Marta Newhart was selected for the Latino Leadership Awards for 2023 for advocacy of Latinos in Corporate America. 

PDJ Announces its Latino Leadership Award Winners for 2023 [CLEVELAND, OH–February 09, 2023] Profiles in Diversity Journal® is pleased to announce the names of the winners of the magazine’s third annual Latino Leadership Award. Our Award recipients demonstrate talent and skill, a dedication to excellence in all they do, a willingness to mentor and support the next generation, and a commitment to the broader community.

“With this year’s Award, we are proud to continue to honor our Latino leadership award winners,” says James Rector, Profiles in Diversity Journal publisher. “We are gratified to be able to recognize these outstanding leaders and the organizations that support their success.”

Each Latino Leadership Award Winner’s abilities, commitment, and achievements will be showcased in Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Q1 2023 issue (available online at http://www.diversityjournal.com) in late March. Award recipients will share their experiences, opinions, and words of advice with our readers.

The organizations that nominate candidates for this Award demonstrate C-suite support of diversity in leadership. Including the Award winners in the magazine enhances the reputations of those organizations that employ, support, and empower these high achievers. 

Read the release here.

National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) is proud to announce that Dottie Li will be providing keynote remarks on Increasing Cross-Cultural Communication in Messaging Capacity during the 2023 Communications School in Portland, Oregon!

Dottie, founder and CEO of TransPacific Communications, will discuss the tools to use to increase your communication capacity which includes translation, interpretation and ASL, and how to get your message out effectively while ensuring that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) is achieved at the same time.

Get to know Dottie and the other speakers here: https://bit.ly/3FNO2DI

Here are some interviews I did recently about the Chinese New Year:

What’s in store for the Year of the Rabbit: 

What is Lunar New Year

What Does the Year of the Rabbit Mean? The Chinese Zodiac Sign, Explained

Dottie honored to participate in the first-ever White House for the LNY celebration. Pretty cool. The President tweeted out a video that has me in it - a few times!  https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1619108158361796608 I taught him how to say Happy New Year in Chinese.

I will conduct training, "Cultivating an Effective Personal Branding" at the Annual Institute of Training Officers Consortium. Add to your schedule here.

Don't Miss: The Virtual 5th Annual Women of Color Connecting Summit

We'd like to invite members of the Women Business Collaborative to register for WOCCON Summit 2023, March 7-9, 2023. It's virtual, so you can attend from anywhere. Complimentary tickets are available for a limited time by registering with Discount Code: wocwbcollab.

This invitation-only virtual convening is one of the premiere annual events for investors, allies, and policymakers who want to deepen their understanding of the problems with the system that continues to keep women of color entrepreneurs locked out. Delve into the unique entrepreneurial journey of women of color, participate in honest conversations about allyship, and be part of proposing solutions that can lead to systemic change. Our goal is to help attendees find a path to taking action to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. To register, https://bit.ly/summit-platform-registration-partner.

Use Discount Code: wocwbcollab.

For information about the Summit, visit woccon.org/summit.

E-Suite Virtual Summit - March 9 - 10, 2023 @ 10 am - 2 pm (ET)

And Still, We Stand!

This year kicked off with layoffs, corporate downsizes, and general plenty of change. Once again, professional women must be resilient through transition. Pathways To Excellence, a Maryland-based nonprofit, provides leadership, workforce, and business development resources to women through the View From the E-Suite: Women's Professional Empowerment live events, including two half-day summits and an 2-day symposium. 

Recognizing the challenges facing women today, the theme for our March event is "And Still, We Stand!". On March 9, we will focus on careers and leadership, with expert presentations addressing strategies for career women who have been affected by layoffs, as well as financial and psychological wellness for working women. Erika L. Davis will share how "Professional Coaching During Transition Can Activate Your Career."

On March 10, we focus on entrepreneurship and business acumen to uncover ways business women can make the most of the current environment. 

See more information or register for the event at: https://hopin.com/events/esuitesummit_0323.

Single-day registrations are available.

Note - Use code WBC20 (all caps) for a 20 percent discount.

Edie Fraser

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected] | 202-296-5222

Gwen K Young

Chief Operating Officer

[email protected] | 857-891-4519

Elizabeth Blockman

Executive Liaison

[email protected]

Dana Boyer

Advisory Council Manager

[email protected]

Holly Fiorillo

Development Manager

[email protected]

Maheen Naeem

Program and Advocacy Officer

[email protected]



A. Walton Smith

Community Engagement & Marketing Manager [email protected]

Sheri Trice

Development & Sales Senior Director

[email protected]

Mazana Bruggeman

Consultant, Graphic Design

[email protected]

Chad Capellman

Consultant, Digital Engagement

[email protected]

Olivia Frederick

Consultant, Web Producer

[email protected]

Lorena Fimbres

Consultant

[email protected]

Marissa A. Martinez

Communications & Fundraising Consultant

[email protected]

Alina Turkevych

Consultant, IT

[email protected]

Debra Woolley

Consultant, Development and Fundraising

[email protected]

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