Jam Sessions

As the world’s population expands and evolves, business professionals are increasingly curious about current and future trends facing global business and wealth management. What can 85 Broads members learn about achieving career success in this rapidly changing field?

Listen to 85 Broads Power Circle member Mary Zimmer, Head of International Wealth-USA and Correspondent and Advisor Services for RBC Wealth Management-U.S, as she discusses high-impact trends and opportunities for women in wealth management roles. Among the topics Mary discusses are the dramatic shifts affecting business and wealth management; where wealth exists now compared to where it will come from in the future; and opportunities that are available for attracting clients. Mary shared her personal background and career path, also focusing on women’s roles in effectively managing wealth.

As a result of her commitment to help advance the careers of female business professionals, Mary was recognized as one of the “2010 Top 100 Under 50” by Diversity MBA Magazine, 2010 “Women Worth Watching” by the Profiles in Diversity Journal, and was selected in 2010 and 2011 as one of the “Top 50 Women in Wealth Management” in an annual list by Wealth Manager Magazine.

The thought of stepping into a leadership role often intimidates women. But, in today’s challenging business environment, shying away from the limelight is no longer an option. In fact, stepping into a leadership role is necessary to ensure success and longevity in your career. In order to grow as a leader, you must learn key skills that will help you to pave your path to promotion and ensure professional success — it’s important that you Show Up, Speak Up and Step Up.

In this webinar, Women’s Leadership Speaker and Coach, Ellie Nieves, shared leadership strategies to help you discover how to establish your credibility in the workplace. Listen and learn to communicate with confidence both upward and across your organization. Explore ways to increase your visibility and establish your reputation as a leader. Uncover how to increase your sphere of influence and gain power beyond your formal authority.

Penny Delgadillo of Microsoft, Jennifer Cattaui, CEO of Babesta and Allison O’Kelly, CEO of Mom Corps, led a discussion on the use of technology for remote working and increased productivity. Each of these women owns a business that is spread among different locations and in some cases different cities, making it a little harder to manage the day-to-day operations. Technology has helped them communicate effectively with their teams, their customers and in many cases, their suppliers.

Their stories are being featured on MyOffice365 over the coming months as well as through various social media channels. We hope you will follow their progress!

In this Jam Session, Harvard JD/MBA, Zuhairah Scott Washington, Founder & CEO of Kahnoodle ([kahnoodle.com]) discussed how her mobile startup is using innovative gamification and positive psychology principles to help committed couples build awesome relationships. KAHNOODLE’s name comes from the verb “canoodle” which means “to show love.” As a newlywed, Zuhairah created Kahnoodle when she realized that the chances of her marriage surviving were no better than a coin flip. Like any other forward thinking woman who sees a problem that needs a real solution, she decided to build her own revolutionary, mobile tool that uses game dynamics, goal setting, and expert tips to help committed couples proactively manage their relationship success. KAHNOODLE’s “patent pending” technology focuses on building empathy and awareness within romantic relationships by making each member of the couple more conscious of their partner’s most important emotional needs and positively affirming them whenever they take action to meet those needs. Unlike other websites and social platforms, KAHNOODLE is designed to enhance not replace in person communication. Listen to this Jam Session to learn more about this innovative company and how Kahnoodle is using mobile technology to better the world – one relationship at a time.

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, led a discussion on the issues of leadership in microfinance. The microfinance sector is evolving, moving from a strictly credit-led approach toward providing a broader array of financial products and services, including savings and insurance to help the poor build comprehensive financial safety nets. This evolution requires visionary leaders that are committed to innovation. Without strong leaders at the helm, microfinance institutions risk losing sight of how to best serve their clients in an increasingly complex environment.

Further, microfinance is one of the few industries built for women. Some of the sector’s early founders were women, and for years they’ve made up the majority of borrowers. But much as in the corporate world, something else has happened as the microfinance industry has exploded: the women who were crucial to its creation have begun to disappear from the top rungs of organizational leadership. It is vital to reverse the trend and help microfinance institutions attract, train, and retain talented women because when a majority of your clients are women, it makes sense for women’s voices to contribute to strategic decision making and the creation of the next generation of products you will offer.

The numbers are skewed: Only 10 percent of venture capital goes to women CEOs and fewer than 20 percent of high-growth CEOs are women. Yet, women represent half of all today’s PhDs, college graduates and MBA applicants. What gives? Lesa Mitchell, Vice President, Advancing Innovation, of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has declared this to be the “Decade of the Woman Entrepreneur.” So how can 85 Broads members support this challenge?

Sharon led a discussion about how can you engage in a global conversation and community that seeks to change these numbers within the decade – once and for all!

Have you ever wondered if family structure can affect the way that people deal with people and power at work? Did that office bully push people around on the playground as a kid? Was today’s overachiever yesterday’s anxious child? In her new book, Power Genes: Understanding Your Power Persona and How to Wield it at Work (Harvard Business Press, June 21, 2011) executive coach Maggie Craddock identifies the link between family history and professional performance. By teaching us how to work with The Power Grid, a matrix that compares our internal emotional reactions with our external behavioral responses, Craddock shows us how our emotional history plays into the spontaneous “power reflexes” many of us exhibit when grappling with the give and take of power on the job. She also discusses ways that learning spot the power styles of others has helped her clients manage teams more effectively.

Recognizing the four core power styles that Craddock’s work identifies – the Pleaser, the Charmer, the Commander and the Inspirer – will give you a unique way of looking at the people you work with and show you how to kick old habits so you can use your signature power style more effectively.

Listen to Mom Corps NYC President Stephanie Harbour as she shares her experience bridging the gap between employers and job seekers in today’s flex-hungry climate. Stephanie discussed how the availability of non-traditional work options, originally a women’s issue, has evolved into a strategic talent management choice – but not without its challenges. Mom Corps is at the forefront of this issue, helping companies use flexibility to optimize their business performance, as well as attract and retain top talent. In this session, Stephanie reveals how Mom Corps has been successful in connecting progressive employers to these hard-to-tap job seekers.

This Jam Session includes case studies and perspectives relevant to both business leaders and professionals considering their own flexible career paths.

Listen to an interview with Cindy Padnos on the growth of women in tech!

Cindy Padnos is the founder and managing partner of Illuminate Ventures, an early-stage, high tech venture capital firm. Illuminate is cutting edge in style and strategy, making investments in start-ups leveraging new technologies and business models, with a particular focus in the fast growing category of cloud computing. Current investments include BrightEdge, CalmSea, Red Aril, and Xactly Corporation.

Named by Fast Company as one of the Most Influential Women in Technology and by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in the Bay Area, Cindy has been helping accelerate emerging technology companies for over twenty five years – as an entrepreneur, executive, advisor, investor, and board member. She has helped to raise and deploy more than $100 million in venture funding to help launch dozens of innovative start-up companies.

Listen to a fun, interesting overview on the benefits of living with good interior design and contemporary art; the art of our times and that represents who we are individually and as a society. Collecting art and living surrounded by the things you love shouldn’t be an overwhelming process and should not be limited to just a handful of people. Increase the value of your real estate, engage your mind and your eye with your surroundings, expand your horizons, provide a happier nest for your family, entertain your friends and be proud of where you live and how you live.

About the Presenter:

Venezuelan-born Maria Gabriela Brito is an accomplished interior designer, tastemaker and authority on why, where, when and how to display and mix contemporary art and interior design in any environment. She is the CEO and creative force behind of Lifestyling® By Maria Gabriela Brito, a company that offers a unique approach to interior design by incorporating art into every interior, taking decorating to a new level. Lifestyling® By Maria Gabriela Brito offers full interior design and decoration services while at the same time sourcing, curating, and displaying art collections that truly reflect the company’s clients’ successes, tastes and lifestyles.

Even today, men and women remain largely in separate business networks. Given the majority of male VCs, women’s inability to gain visibility with this huge pool of potential investors, networkers and mentors threatens to seriously undermine the growth potential of your business, no matter how bright its promise.

Sharon discussed ways entrepreneurs can break through and start getting your names on the rolodexes that matter most.

Today you’ve got to manage your overflowing inbox, nail your afternoon presentation, bang-out a stack of proposals and impress your clients at after-work drinks… the last thing you have time to worry about is what to wear.

Suits are the easiest option in a time crunch and are considered the professional standard. One problem though: most of us hate wearing suits. They don’t fit well; they aren’t feminine or fashion forward; and yet they are one of the most expensive outfits in our closet. When purchasing a suit women have two options: 1) mass market: boxy, boring, and affordable; or 2) designer: fitted, fashionable, and expensive. But Alex Nelson and Christina Wallace believe there is an opportunity to create a third option: affordable AND stylish.

They are passionate about addressing this problem because they are their own target market. As two fashionable women in their mid-twenties they’ve struggled to find professional clothes that are appropriate, affordable, and still attractive. They say, “We want to feel like ourselves and focus on our work, but we can’t do that if our jacket is too snug or our shirt is gaping between the buttons. And every minute we’re thinking about our clothes at work is a minute we’re not focused on our job. That puts us at a distinct disadvantage.”

This interactive Jam Session was part focus group, part sneak peek at this exciting new apparel company.

In this Jam Session, Founder / CEO and HBS grad Devi Vallabhaneni shared about MBA IQ, an online course designed to give students, young professionals, job-switchers, and non-business professionals a fluency in the language of business, thereby making the concepts behind the terminology easier to grasp and understand. In 8-12 hours, participants complete 12 learning modules covering all areas of business, measuring progress through daily lessons, self-assessments, quizzes, over 1,000 e-flashcards, and an MBA IQ Knowledge Transcript.

Through our partnership, MBA IQ is offering our members a 10% discount off the retail course price with the promotional code: 85BROADS when you register. Visit [mbaiq.com] to learn more.

Girltank is a hybrid non-profit + for-profit social enterprise designed to empower young women changemakers. Its mission is to source, engage and train a global community of young women changemakers between the ages of 14 and 29, advocate for these women, connect them to opportunities and resources so they become high-impact leaders, and disseminate information by and about them to encourage a global perception of young women as powerful contributors to society.

Its nonprofit arm works primarily through a virtual “tank,” which builds community online and offers resources for young women changemakers to achieve their social change goals. It also produces a traveling multimedia exhibit and short documentary film to inspire other potential young women activists. The for-profit business model focuses on building digital platforms to share stories by and about our young women changemakers, specifically through e-books, e-courses, virtual workshops and conferences.

At this Jam Session, CEO Tara Roberts and Sejal Hathi (CIO) talked about their journey, vision for moving forward, action strategies and opportunities to get involved!

Think new business ventures don’t have much of an impact on the jobs market? Think again. All net new jobs in the last 30 years were created by enterprises fewer than five years old.

In this session, Sharon shared the secrets of how high-growth entrepreneurs can achieve success for yourself, your company and your investors, and as part of the process, how your business can make a positive impact on the local and national economy.

This is the first session of a 4-part series, “Astia – Where Women Innovators Succeed.”

Problem: The U.S. has a poor track record of electing women.

The 2010 election underscored this problem, resulting in the first decline in the number of women in Congress in more than three decades and a drastic drop in the number of women state legislators. Women are 51% of the population, yet women make up only 17 percent of Congress and 24 percent of state legislatures. This underrepresentation of women in public office has a profound impact on policymaking.

Enter The 2012 Project, a national, non-partisan campaign to increase the number of women in legislative office by identifying and engaging accomplished executive-level women in the private and public sectors who may not have previously considered running for office. The 2012 Project’s faculty of former elected women is inspiring women to run for public office in the vital 2012 elections, when redistricting will creat new and open seats that are better opportunities for new candidates. The campaign also connects potential candidates with organizations that can further their bid to enter public service in practical, tangible ways.

LIsten to a conversation on this important topic with faculty members Connie Morella, a former Congresswoman and Ambassador, and Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics. This is an informative session for anyone interested in ensuring that women are at the table at every level of government when critical decisions are made.

How did “Guys Who Rock” Matt Mitro and Ben Stone – former corporate lawyers and self-described “fashion-challenged dorks” – found and build Indego Africa, a 501©(3) social enterprise that takes a market-driven, fashion-forward approach to empowering African women?

Listen to our Jam Session with Matt (Founder & Chairman) and Ben (President & CEO), about Indego Africa’s history, challenges, and successes as they leverage the power of export markets and job skills to unleash the potential of remarkable African businesswomen.

According to Shamini Dhana, “Fashion has the ability to inspire people and kids in so many ways. In fact, I would go so far as to say, if we are what we eat, then we wear what we stand for."

Today, the ex-banker turned eco designer is debuting her Wearin’ the WorldTM collection by Dhana. Dhana will market a brand of clothing exclusively to boys and girls between 5-12 years that is organic, fair trade, promotes sustainable practices and gives back to the communities locally and internationally.

In this session, Shamini shared insights from the last two years of building Dhana Inc., her journey to bring to market an awareness of the need for eco apparel, and how we can empower our kids along the way. She discussed the importance of fair trade & certified organic products; the impact the consumer has with every dollar purchased on communities, as well as opportunities to assist Dhana Inc. in the next phase of growth including partnerships, capital investment, job opportunities and social media.

Emily Bennington had a director-level position at a top 15 accounting firm, a nice office, a team of staffers…and a problem. She was too worried about being liked to be an effective leader at work. So she launched a survey with the goal of persuading more than 1,000 women executives to share their own experiences and to learn what the most accomplished women in their industries do right. In this webinar, Emily shared the results of her research including:

- What women really say about other women managers.
- The skill women say is most lacking in the workforce today.
- What women wish they could go back and tell their 20-year-old selves.

Emily also analyzed the different leadership styles of women, dive into what it takes to be assertive without being “aggressive,” and share advice from top executives on how to build cohesive relationships in a multi-generational workforce. A good fit for new grads just entering the workforce (and a good refresher for the rest of us!), participants also learned the five core competencies of leadership, as well as which specific behaviors are contributing to (and perhaps undermining) your success in each.

By the time Julie Lindahl was 30, she had lived and worked on every continent in the world, save Antarctica. Working as a consultant in developing countries, many torn apart by war, Julie found that the mind set of the developed world needed to shift to be of true assistance to the developing world. Industrialized countries spoke of the need for greater ownership of development by the developing countries and greater integration of environmental sustainability into development initiatives. They spoke of the need for greater democracy and respect for human rights. They promoted the idea of innovation and the need to promote creative solutions at all levels of society.

Who could argue with any one of these good intentions? In Julie’s mind, the greatest challenge to implementing these ideal was that the developed world often did not practice what it preached. Furthermore, the fundamental aspects of human well-being have shifted as we have woken up to new social and environmental concerns. Julie discovered that to change the mindset of the developed world, we need a modern day definition of “human well-being” that we can help establish both at home and abroad.

Julie retreated with her husband and young twins to a small island in the Nordic wilderness and began to research and write. The part of the world she had landed in, as a result of marriage to a Swede, seemed to offer an interesting and relevant vision of what human wellbeing was about, now and into the future. She shared her findings in her book, On My Swedish Island: Discovering the Secrets of Scandinavian Well-being, published by Tarcher Penguin in 2005. Since then she has established an e-magazine ([nordicwellbeing.com]), run retreats for Sweden’s extensive 1.6 Million Club for Women’s Health, and traveled widely to speak about her discoveries.