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TIAW Members Bloomberg Interview
India Gary-Martin President, City Women's Network, London
Christian Ioannidis, CEO Aquitude Discuss "Crack the Glass Ceiling"
"Barriers to Senior Management" "Female Boardroom Quotas"
The Arab International Women's Forum is proud to congratulate Chairman and Founder, Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani on her new milestone achievement and for being recognized as one of the hundred most powerful women in the Arab World. Mrs Al Kaylani's efforts both personally and those that she leads as Chairman of the Arab International Women's Forum have and continue to contribute to the advancement of the cause of women and to driving the agenda of equal opportunity and empowerment.
'Bearing the brunt, leading the response:
Women and the global economic crisis'
"The TUC has produced , a collection of stories, articles and case studies from individuals, unions and NGOs. Using examples from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa it illustrates just how deeply the global economic crisis has affected women all over the world.
“ Breaking Gender Stereotypes – Calling professional women who have left the corporate world and are now entrepreneurs!
Whether in Melbourne, Singapore, Bangalore or Paris, we want to hear the voices of women worldwide who have made the transition from their corporate professions to become entrepreneurs or run a portfolio career.
Please share your views on this survey, which aims to shed light on:
1. Why women are leaving the security of their full-time jobs to either become entrepreneurs or run a portfolio career
2. What are the pull factors that drive women into entrepreneurship
3. Any cultural and structural challenges in the corporate world that make caring obligations and career development incompatible
4. What companies can learn from their former female talent to make their cultures more engaging.
Becoming ATHENA by Martha Mayhood Mertz
Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership, by Martha Mayhood Mertz, may now be ordered online from ATHENA International. For more information, email info@marthamertz.com.
In Becoming ATHENA, Mertz offers a distinctive, transforming approach for leading in the twenty-first century. With survey research and real-life stories, Mertz demonstrates how time-tested “women’s ways” of leading have become the gold standard for great leaders of both genders, and the building blocks for success in today’s global economy.
Baroness Goudie of Roundwood entertained the City Women’s Network to Dinner in the House of Lords yesterday evening (30 April 09) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the network.
Speakers included the Rt. Hon. the Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE, Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO, CBE, Ms Rosalind Gilmore CB, and Mrs Joni Lysett Nelson, CEO of Sabatier Group and a founder member of City Women’s Network. Also present were Mrs Janet Gaymer, Commissioner for Public Appointments and Patron of City Women’s Network, Ms Clare Dobie, President of City Women’s Network, Ms Roz Morris, Vice President, and former City Women’s Network Presidents, Mrs Diane Morris (now President of the International Alliance for Women), Ms Mei Sim Lai OBE, Ms Hilary Sears and Ms Alison Thorne.
The 125 people attending the dinner included the following representatives of women’s organisations: Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani, Chairman of the Arab International Women’s Forum, Ms Max Benson, Co-Founder, Everywoman,. Mrs Liz Campbell, Director, Well being of Women. Ms Christine Lawrence, Chairman, Women in Banking and Finance, Ms Stephanie McKendrick, Canadian Women in Communications, and Mrs Herta von Stiegel, Chairman, The Prince’s Trust Women’s Leadership Group. The dinner was organised by Mrs Monica Fisher, Mrs Pam Waring and Miss Janine Roxborough Bunce.
For further information contact – Roz Morris, Vice President, City Women’s Network 07774 133 433
or Janine Roxborough Bunce 07767 203201
Women Higher Entrepreneurship Learning Program (HELP) University of Colorado
This program which is called “Women Higher Entrepreneurship Learning Program” (HELP) is free of charge and open to public. Students can self enroll and complete this program in 3 months and receive a certificate of completion at the end. Our web site is: www.deminghelp.com
Mina Comailian, Program Manager
Haifa Al Kaylani - named Top Arab Muslim Women in the UK
TIAW member Haifa Al kaylani, was named one of the 20 leading Muslim women in the UK when The Equality & Human Rights Commission announced The Muslim Women Power List 2009 in Manchester UK, on Tuesday 24 March 2009. Haifa was the only Arab Muslim woman included on the list.
The Muslim Women Power List is a celebration of Muslim women within the working community in Britain who have already reached the top of their chosen field.
The Muslim Women Power List 2009 presents an opportunity to celebrate the lives of British Muslim women in all their diversity.The list provides a positive representation of Muslim women, showcasing the breadth and depth of their contributions. Described as a list that celebrates and motivates, it brings to attention the vibrant and dynamic talent of Muslim women in Britain today.
Haifa was deeply honoured to be selected by the distinguished panel of adjudicators, led by Trevor Phillips, to be among the outstanding leading Muslim women who had been nominated for this accolade and to have her work and leadership as Founder and Chairman of the Arab International Women’s Forum and her other contributions to the UK community recognised.
Study of Women in Power Marit Hoel, PhD. Center for Corporate Diversity
MARCH 25 2009
Dr. philos. Marit Hoel, Center for Corporate Diversity, Norway has released a new study of women in power in the 500 largest companies in the Nordic countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The study reveals new tendencies and the first results of effects of the quota law in Norway.
A complete registration of the Nordic 500 was released from CCD in 2004. The 2008 study gives the opportunity to review 4 years of development in all of the companies.
Marit Hoel says: ”All countries except Denmark show a positive development in the proportion of companies and the number of women board directors, regardless of whether they have impliesd quota regulations. The ranking between the companies is the same as in 2004, but we should notice that Finland is on a faster track than Sweden at the moment.”
The study has focused on some of the effects of the quota regulation in Norway. One of the anticipated developments was that the quota system might lead to more women CEO’s as a result of more female chairs of the boards. So far there are no signs pointing to this kind of development, and Marit Hoel believes that this could be explained by the fact that even if there is now a substantial higher number of women board directors, the few women chairs of the boards do not want to be considered as group who deviate too much from their male predecessors.
Gina McAdam, incoming TIAW Board Secretary and Director of Stratemarco, received a coveted SHINE Award for Talent Management in the UK Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry at a ceremony held at the London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre on 26th November 2008.
Gina was named ‘Outstanding Mentor of the Year’ for her work in mentoring women managers of the Hilton Group and the Museum of London. Organised by Shine People & Places and sponsored by American Express and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, SHINE is the only national award that celebrates women in Britain’s travel, tourism and hospitality sector for their efforts in retaining, attracting, and developing talents.
Accepting the award, Gina said, ‘I would not have got to where I am without the help, personally and professionally, of some very selfless women. For me, mentoring is all about helping others go forward and opening doors. It’s sharing ideas and offering opportunities, even if sometimes that means taking a risk. These informal or unofficial connections can make all the difference.’
With Gina at the ceremony were Diane Morris, President of TIAW, and Silvia Cambie, TIAW 2nd Vice President and Regional Director EMEA. In her speech, Gina thanked Diane for being her mentor and a key role model.
London School of Economics (LSE) launches Women's Alumnae Network
Congratulations to Diane Morris, TIAW President Elect, who was honoured, in June, by becoming the inaugural chair of this newly formed women's network.
EuropeanPWN joins European Commission's Network of Women on decisions in Politics and the Economy
This is an important and significant step by the EU. says Mirella Visser, President, European Professional Women's Network.
CWN members on Sky TV News
Sky News, 21 June 2008
Two members of City Women’s Network featured in discussions and reports on Sky News about the issue of the low numbers of women on the boards of large companies. Diane Morris and Jacey Graham were both interviewed live on Sky News.
A report compiled by Sky reporter Laura Bundock highlighted that, according to the Cranfield School of Management, the numbers of women on FTSE 100 company boards is now at the lowest level for several years with only 11% of FTSE 100 board members being female. Nearly a quarter (24%) of FTSE 100 boards are still all male.
CWN’s Past President, and TIAW President Elect, Diane Morris, (pictured) was interviewed live by presenter Mark Longhurst about the book ‘A Woman’s Place is in the Boardroom – A Roadmap’ by Peninah Thomson and Jacey Graham (also a CWN member).
Diane pointed out that City Women’s Network has an event on Boardroom Dynamics – Gender at the Top - in October and she also highlighted a pioneering cross-mentoring scheme involving one third of FTSE 100 chairman who are mentoring senior women in companies other than their own. She emphasised that there is ‘definite progress’ in the numbers of women on executive committees just below board level.
Asked about positive discrimination for women on boards, a system currently operating in Norway, she said: “I don’t think it’s the answer [for the UK]. It might actually depreciate the value of women. I think there is a strong case for saying that women should be there in their own right. “
Discussions of the issues raised continued throughout the day and both the book’s authors were interviewed. Peninah Thomson said in her interview that following her study of company boards worldwide that she believes "Women have a positive, constructive and useful contribution to make and they are assets to boards.“
TIAW ANNOUNCES ITS CORPORATE WOMENS LEADERSHIP NETWORK PROGRAM
TIAW is delighted to announce Kate Laneve, Director of Global Sales Operation at NCR Corporation, Duluth, Georgia, USA, as Director of the TIAW CORPORATE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK PROGRAM.
Kate brings great passion and expertise in working with Corporate Women’s Leadership Networks with her service as both President of the Atlanta Chapter of WIN (Women in NCR), and later as the International President of WIN.
By Silvia Cambié, Regional Director, Europe & Middle East, TIAW
One of the reasons why women join TIAW is the search for role models. The purpose of a network is to provide members with examples of inspiring women at the top.
The importance of female role models for women’s career development was one of key messages at the launch of TIAW’s latest initiative, Global Cities, which took place in London, UK, on 14th May at Asia House www.asiahouse.org.
Ruth Sealy, Doctoral Researcher from the International Centre for Women Leaders at Cranfield University’s School of Management, spoke about the findings of her work. The lack of senior female role models continues to be cited as a key barrier to women’s career success. Ruth’s projects show how organisations need to develop much deeper levels of cultural, emotional and relational awareness, to encourage women to aspire to leadership positions.
By Tracy Stanley, Regional Membership Chair Asia Pacific,TIAW
In early June, 1,000 participants from 72 countries were warmly welcomed to
Hanoi, Vietnam for the annual Global Summit of Women. This annual event which has now been running for 18 years, seeks to connect individuals and organizations across government, business and the non-government sectors for the exchange of ideas and the identification of solutions to barriers that women face globally.Year after year, the summit builds and inspires a community of women committed to not only improving women’s economic status, but to recognizing and celebrating their achievements.
The format of the 3-day event included plenary sessions, workshops and networking activities.The summit is also complemented by an exhibitors showcase.Prior to the formal opening of the Summit, thirty-two government ministers with responsibilities for Finance, Education, Environment and Women’s Affairs convened a roundtable to explore Advancing Girls and Women’s Economic Opportunities through Public and Private Sector Partnerships.An additional pre-summit session was also facilitated on Doing Business in which was very relevant given the dynamic economic development potential of our host country.
Since TIAW has long been a supporter and partner of the Global Summit for Women, I was delighted to represent TIAW in Hanoi to attend this years summit June 5 – 7th. The theme Women and Asia: Driving the Global Economy celebrated women’s leadership in Asia and worldwide by bringing together about 1,000 businesswomen, scientists and government leaders from 72 countries. Women in Asia have come a long way in just three decades to become an integral part of their country’s economic growth, but they have yet to reach a level playing field that allows them to become full leaders in every arena of life. An event such as this provides us with a great opportunity to learn more about our host country and the women who live and work there.
Center for Women’s Business Research
Announces 2008 Board Officers
Washington, DC – The Center for Women’s Business Research is pleased to announce its elected board leadership for 2008. For nearly two decades, the Center for Women’s Business Research has been the premier source of research and knowledge about women business owners and their enterprises.
Erlina Edwards Wins This Years Marian Goetze 21st Century Award
A close-up look at the winner
“I WAS SHOCKED,” says Erlina Edwards when advised that she was the winner of the 2007 Marian Goetze 21st Century Award, “For me working with The International Alliance for Women is such a rewarding experience, you actually feel such a sense of satisfaction you're not looking for anything else. Of course, I am most appreciative for the experience and recognition.”
Networks sharing information and as Northern Mecca for Women on Boards
Diane Morris, 1st VP and President elect of TIAW kicked off the conference moderating a panel of network president’s in a closed door session on Wednesday September 26, that shared challenges, opportunities and best practices, using her knowledge as immediate Past President of City Women’s Network in London to guide the discussion. Patience Allen ( Oslo) represented EuropeanPWN and Cristina Vinci ( Brussels) and Caroline Miller ( Geneva ) were amongst the attendees. Also, on the panel were Ania Jakubowski, Geneva Women in Trade, Kristin Engvig, the founder and CEO of WIN, and Stephanie MacKendrick, President of Canadian Women Communications and President of The International Alliance for Women ( TIAW ).The session focused on key concerns, such as succession planning and communicating with members, as well as an exploration on the ways in which network s can work more closely together while fulfilling their own organizational mandates.
IFC - World Bank Group - considers TIAW a major global organization in their recent publication " Women's Networks -- More than business""Why Women Need a Network of their own"
The Global Summit in Berlin was well attended with 1,000 women and a few men, from 95 countries. Fifty-three women Ministers from a variety of countries and a variety of ministries were in attendance.
TIAW Atlanta Area Reception
with Maxine Westaway Executive Director
For the Board Members and guests of
Atlanta Women's Network
Board of Directors Network
Executive Women of Goizueta
Georgia Executive Women's Network
GlobalEXEC Women
Women's Commerce Club
Skills Development for Self Reliance - Kenya
L to R
Maxine Westaway
Wendy Kinney
Linda Schmidt
L to R
Peggy Espinda
Lee Dees
Linda Schmidt
Maxine Westaway
L to R
Myra McElhaney
Sarah O'Brien
Marilyn Mobley
Maxine Westaway
L to R
Catherine Mugo Muna
L to R
Sarah O'Brien
Vicki Gordon
L to R
Myra McElhaney
First Balkan Business Women Associations
News Release:
Representatives from 18 Business Women Associations from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey, met in the end of March in Bucharest for the 2nd Conference of the Coalition of Balkan Business Women Associations.
The conference was the final step in the project aiming to build a viable regional coalition of Business women associations in South East Europe.
The mission of the Coalition is to create a transparent and competitive business environment in the Balkan region, to empower women and integrate them into business life and the decision –making process, in order to increase their visibility in the region.
The Goals are to increase communication among businesswomen in the region providing the setting for their networks to share experiences and best practices, to find common ground for cooperation and to raise the profile of businesswomen association in the Balkan region.
The Coalition representatives elected its first governing body – the Board and its members. With the majority of the votes Mrs. Nina Noeva was elected as 1st President of the Coalition. Nina Noeva is founder and President of International Association of Professional and Business Women in Bulgaria -TIAW member association and TIAW Regional Representative for EMEA.
Beijing & Shanghai: A Tale of Two Very Different Cities
By Avil Beckford
Having never ventured outside of North America and the Caribbean, going to China
was a very bold step for me. But, sometimes being bold is just what a “ life doctor” would order to shake up your life and force you to step out of your comfort zone.
My niece Camile and I made an agreement that each year, together, we would travel to somewhere that we’ve never been before, and this year was China
. We signed up for the 4-Day
Beijing Tour Package organized by Tour East Holidays, the recommended Travel Agency for the International Trip.
Being in
Beijing reminded me of how much I take for granted. A normally simple task such as ordering in a restaurant became a major event because we did not speak the language. I felt like a “fish out of water.” Later that night while lying on my bed in the hotel room, I was reminded of what it feels like to not be included, and I suddenly truly appreciated The International Alliance for Women for organizing the International Trips, which help to foster cultural harmony by exposing us to many different cultures.
“Connecting to Make All The Difference in the World” By Maxine Westaway, Executive Director of TIAW
Thank you to all who worked so hard to present the fantastic European Women in Management Development (EWMD) conference in Shanghai with a very special thanks to Waltraut Ritter of
Hong Kong.It was great to meet so many EWMD and TIAW members there for the first time, along with our long time friends and colleagues.
TIAW in London in March – Women on Boards
and Building Ties in the Middle-East
While the crocuses were in bloom and the daffodils just beginning to open, London was the scene of an important series of meetings for TIAW in early March. TIAW President Stephanie MacKendrick and 1st Vice President Diane Morris represented the organization during the week at events that ranged from a formal dinner at Mansion House to a series of meetings on Women on Boards and a City Women’s Network wine and cheese party. It was a whirlwind of activity, connecting and sharing important information.
Center for Women's Business Research News release February 2007
Firms Owned by Women of Color Outpace All Firms
in Growth in Numbers
Yet Revenues and Employment are Lower Than Average
Washington, DC – Firms owned by women of color are growing at five times the rate of all privately-held U.S. firms, according to estimates released today by the Center for Women’s Business Research. Between 1997 and 2006, the number of privately-held firms that are 51% or more owned by women of color grew at 120%, while all privately-held firms grew by 24%.
Donna Heivilin Receives The Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award
TIAW Global Partnership Forum 2006
Each year, TIAW presents The Mandy Goetze 21st Century Award to a member who personifies its mission of “Connecting to make all the difference in the world.” This year, that award was presented to TIAW past president, Dr. Donna Heivilin at our recent Global Partnership Forum held in Atlanta.
........ Or Simply Someone Who Lives The TIAW Mission?
During the past 20 years, TIAW long time member Peggy Espinda has attended about 15 annual conferences. For her, each conference was jam packed with fascinating speakers with an abundance of timely knowledge to impart, and the 2006 Atlanta Global Forum didn’t disappoint. A "junkie for learning," the best part of the conferences has always been the people who Peggy meets. Living in Atlanta, and having some available time, she assumed the role of chauffeur and host.
Reflections on the Business & Trade Mission, Atlanta, GA
First Impressions by Dr Diane Kline, Palm Desert, CA
Exhilarating, powerful, dynamic, inspirational, caring, collaborative, knowledgeable, friendly and fun are all adjectives that would describe the events and people that I met during my four day stay at this outstanding global convention. The first evening meal provided introductions to the powerful women behind the convention and provided an opportunity to meet and get to know Haifa Al-Kaylani. This amazing woman is bringing Arab countries together to provide a “world without borders”, providing a forum for cross cultural dialogue, and focusing on commonalities rather than conflicts within and among the Arab nations. Haifa believes in “building bridges to businesses” for women; however, she believes that there are still three impediments to accomplishing these goals: freedom, empowerment of women, and unequal citizenship. The solution is to educate and train women for jobs.
Through The Eyes of a Fourteen Year Old by - Srebriana Noeva - London, UK. & Sofia, Bulgaria
Three months ago my when my mom told me that the TIAW annual meeting was coming up, I wasn’t surprised because she travels to the U.S.A. a lot. What surprised me was that she said that I would be coming along. When I was little (about 11) my mom told me that some day when I grew up she would take me with to America to one of TIAW conferences that she attends every year, but I had no idea that it was going to be so soon. I was so excited! I mean, the U.S.A., TIAW - wow I thought. I know TIAW since I was small child. My mom is so deeply involved with the organisation. She contributes a lot of time and effort to work for TIAW.
CENTRE FOR INNOVATION, ENTERPRISE & TECHNOLOGY FOR WOMEN (CIET FOR WOMEN) IN WEST AFRICA
Support for inventive and innovative micro, small and medium sized women owned businesses across West Africa have received a boost as a result of a new alliance between Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN) based in the United Kingdom and Doregos Private Academy based in Lagos, Nigeria. Starting from September 2007, GWIIN will open its first innovation centre – CIET For Women and is now calling for strategic partners to work in collaboration. GWIIN is expecting many Africa friendly organisations to join them in developing this new facility into a leading edge resource centre for women with great ideas across West Africa.
Doregos Private Academy recently made available to GWIIN, a 3 storey building currently under construction scheduled for completion by September 2007. The building which is described by Bola Olabisi, GWIIN’s CEO, as a regional educational tool will consist of a reception area, training rooms, an ICT room and 14 residential single apartments. This new centre is located within Doregos Private Academy’s new Campus also under construction and will serve towards building of opportunities for creative, inventive & innovative women with a particular focus on the workplace, the business environment, education & learning institutions and all areas covering the introduction of new products, technologies, engineering, services & processes.
Myrna Yao, Chief Operating Officer of Richwell Trading Corporation, a company that imports & distributes toys, shoes, apparel, tires and baby products in the Philippines, became a member of TIAW in 2002 when she attended the Women’s Leaders’ Network in Mexico and got actively involved during the International Meeting in Hong Kong in May 2002.
Recap of the 11th APEC Women Leaders Network Meeting
Recap of the 11th APEC Women Leaders’ Network Meeting & SME Business Forum,
Hanoi, Viet Nam, September 18 – 22, 2006
By Maxine Westaway, Executive Director, TIAW
The Women Leaders’ Network (WLN) launched in Manila in 1996 is a public-private network of women leaders representing all sectors of business, government, academia and civil-society from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) economies. WLN plays an important role by contributing women leader’s perspectives and expertise to the APEC region.
A Conversation With Vicki Gordon, InterContinental Hotel Group
Women in the hospitality industry face the same challenges that women in other industries face. Coming up through the ranks of human resources and sales and marketing, they often lack the front line operational experience they need to get the coveted positions often occupied by men
Not so for Vicki Gordon, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for the Americas at InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), who progressed through positions of increasing responsibilities over her 17-year stint at the company. A 30-year industry veteran, Vicki started out in marketing & sales, demonstrating capability in every area she was assigned to. Now in her current role for six years, she is responsible for government relations, community outreach, corporate social responsibility, meetings & special events and facilities management. At this stage in her career, as she thinks about professional growth opportunities, Vicki would welcome greater international responsibilities.
If you’re in the hospitality industry - or any other industry for that matter - Vicki’s story could very well be your story. She was very strategic about her career. She not only mastered each role that she was assigned to, but also developed fluency in the “operations language” to get a deeper understanding of that aspect of the business. In addition, she worked from within the organization to facilitate change.
If you want to progress in your organization, Vicki offers this advice: “Be a continuous learner, learn as much as you can and choose good mentors. Create a “board of mentors,” which consists of people with various areas of expertise, and who can help you with different aspects of your career and professional development. I think that’s absolutely essential.”
Programs, products and services are often created because of an existing need. Having worked for International Planned Parenthood for seven years, and consulted to the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for another three years in the capacity of Communications Program Officer, TIAW member, Catherine Mugo-Muna noticed that when people received funding for projects, they seldom achieved self-sufficiency – they took the money, used it and expected the same funders to give them additional funds to continue with their projects.
Catherine knew there had to be a better way. It was clear to her that what was needed was a program that provided the initial seed money for the projects, as well as provide training to the recipients to help them develop innovative ways to raise additional funds, helping them to become self sufficient.
During her travels in Kenya and all over Africa, she noticed that there were many people who made the most beautiful crafts – carpeting, bed covers, clothing, handbags, accessories, you name it – but lacked the “know how” about making quality products. Catherine’s idea generating machine went into full gear, and the idea born was to establish a group whose motto would be “breaking the cycle of poverty.”
In 2001, Skills Development for Self Reliance Inc. was born! With funds from the European Union, Catherine and her team provided seed money to various groups, as well as help them to build on their existing skills by bringing in skilled artisans to teach them how to make quality products, not just beautiful products. They then taught them how to market their products locally and internationally. The funding recipients were also encouraged to train their children to acquire the same skills so that they would have a family business.
The National Women's Business Council will host a Web Cast
September 12 Web Cast to Focus on Policy Priorities of Women Entrepreneurs
The National Women's Business Council will host a Web Cast on September 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the policy priorities of women business owners.
During the event, Council members and other policy leaders will address public policies affecting women-owned businesses and the outlook in Congress. This event, being held in Washington, DC, will also be broadcast live over the Internet. NWBC Tami Longaberger will moderate the event, and panelists will include: Rebecca Boenigk, Neutral Posture, Inc.; Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc.; Kathryn Eshelman, Grade A Notes; and Patricia Soldano, Cymric Family Offices Services.
Visit the NWBC web site for additional information, including time, location and log-in instructions. Please contact the National Women's Business Council at 202-205-3850 or mailto:info@nwbc.gov with any questions about the upcoming Web Cast.
TIAW World of Difference Award Winner is Named
Laura Liswood, Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders
There are women throughout the world whose actions, efforts and inspiration truly do make a "World of Difference" in supporting the advancement of women. Whether it is a small village project in a developing country that has ripple effects throughout the community, or an event or initiative on a global scale, the TIAW World of Difference Award recognizes the power within every individual to change the world we live in for the betterment of women. Each year, TIAW bestows the TIAW World of Difference Award at the annual TIAW Global Partnership Forum to recognize one woman who has truly made a difference in the lives of women. This year, the award will be proudly bestowed upon Laura A. Liswood, the Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders, of which she is a co-founder.A nationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, Liswood has contributed to leadership in the women’s community for more than twenty years.
Here are a few more of Laura's specific achievements:
She has worked to change the cultural message in the about women as leaders by co-founding The White House Project.
As director of the Women’s Leadership Project, Liswood interviewed 15 current and former women presidents and prime ministers, which is chronicled in her book and video documentary, Women World Leaders. This also led to the creation of the Council of Women World Leaders.
TIAW announces InterContinental Hotels Group (ICHG) as a Platinum sponsor. We caught up with Sue Morgan, Vice President Franchise Food & Beverage at ICHG to find out more about the hotel, her role, and women in general in the hospitality industry.
ICHG was attracted to TIAW and wanted to become a sponsor because it’s not only a smart business alliance, but also because they have a global presence and a sense of community, which provides a great cultural fit with TIAW.
InterContinental is concerned about women! It provides, “Rewarding performance in an inclusive and diverse corporate culture is exemplified from the top down... Half of the direct reports - to Steve Porter, President of the - are women.This is a powerful indication of ICHG's commitment to the opportunities for women,” explains Ms. Morgan.
Ms. Morgan whose background is in the restaurant industry, is fairly new to the hospitality industry. Prior to switching to the hospitality industry, she held Chief Marketing Officer positions, specifically, as it relates to national fast food and casual dining brands. She is excited about the opportunity to maximize the guest experience at ICHG, by evolving the brand value of the food and beverage.
Cairo, Egypt June 10 – 12th, 2006 By
Maxine Westaway
Executive Director, TIAW
To visit
Cairo, is exciting any time, to do so with over 900 academic, business and political leaders from 89 economies at the 16thGlobal Summit of Women was an incredible experience.Also at the summit this year were 44 female ministers from a host of different countriesThe theme, “Redefining Global Leadership,” which underscored the impact women have on the institutions they lead – whether in government or business - seemed so appropriate.By holding the conference in Egypt, non-Arab participants had a chance to see the “Business excellence” of women from Egypt as well as other Arab and African countries, and they in turn had thechance to network with their counterparts from other countries along with Corporate executives from a number of multinationals
TIAW held its first Web Conference regarding the upcoming International Business & Trade mission to be held November 9, 2006 in Atlanta, GA. in conjunction with the Global Partnership Forum 2006.
To listen to this conference call please click on the link below
If you don't have Flash installed, you may be prompted to install Flash before reviewing the archive. To replay it, select this link:
L to R Stephanie Mackendrick, Diane Morris, Linly Lord, Curtin Business School, Perth, Australia, Professor Susan Vinnicombe, Cranfield School of Management, UK
On May 24, 2006, one of Britain’s best-known addresses was the scene of a gathering of local and international leaders who met to discuss “Next Steps in Gender Equality.”
TIAW was represented by both of its Vice Presidents: Stephanie MacKendrick, President of Canadian Women in Communications, who is 1st VP and Chair of the Women on Boards Committee and Diane Morris, President of City Women’s Network, who is TIAW’s 2nd Vice President. They were among the 75 who attended a special session at No. 11 Downing Street, (with the kind permission of the Chancellor of the Exchequer at whose official residence it was held) presented by the Smith Institute featuring the Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly, MP (Minister for Women) as opening speaker, followed by Professor Laura Tyson, Director, London Business School. A panel discussion, moderated by BBC Radio 4 presenter Carolyn Quinn, included Dr. Katherine Rake of the Fawcett Society, Jenny Watson of the UK Equal Opportunities Commission, Tom Riordan of Yorkshire Forward, Sara Harvey of Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) and Sarah Bond of KPMG.
NWBC Chair Tami Longaberger Receives Leadership Award
On May 2 in New York City, NWBC Chair Tami Longaberger received one of three "Leading by Example" awards from the Center for Women's Business Research during the organization's 12th Annual Executive Roundtable. Longaberger, who is Chair & CEO of The Longaberger Company, was honored for her commitment to enlarging the possibilities for women business owners and setting the standard for others by demonstrating courage and leadership as a role model for other women. Other awardees were Sheila Johnson and Linda Kaplan Thaler.
TIAW Global Partnership Forum 2006
Save The Date!
TIAW Global Partnership Forum 2006
“Excellence in Leadership – Women Setting the Pace”
November 9th – 11th
TIAW, The Executive Women of Goizueta (EWG) and Georgia Executive Women’s Network (GEWN) invite you to attend “Excellence in Leadership – Women Setting the Pace,” this year’s Global Partnership Forum.
A visit to Chile An Interview with Diane Morris President, CWN, London
interview by Sue Sheen, editor CWN Connections
A trip to Chile, even for such a well-traveled person as Diane Morris, cannot help but be memorable. And indeed Diane has come back full of her memories of this amazing country, squeezed between mountains and sea, and stretching over 2,600 miles from arid desert to frozen south.
Chile was, she says, an exciting place to be, particularly given the recent victory of its first woman president, Michelle Bachelet. Over the past few years Chile’s economic success has been outstanding, and it enjoys political consensus and policy stability. Ms Bachelet, however, has strong challenges ahead of her — improving the education of the poor, pensions, and ensuring the country’s power supply.
The primary purpose of Diane’s visit was TIAW’s International Conference, but she also fitted in a trip to Patagonia (‘distinctly chilly, wonderfully pure air, and scenery that is just stunning’) and a visit to the coast (‘damp and cloudy’). In Santiago itself the temperature was 30o, so packing was, Diane says, quite a challenge!
When you are part of an organization like TIAW, you ask yourself, “What does success look like?” Today I witnessed success in the faces of three women who after marriage, children, and in one case grandchildren, have just come into their own.
We (17 altogether) started our day by visiting Isabel Infante, the Executive Director of FINAM, at her office in Santiago. FINAM, TIAW’s microfinance enterprise partner in Chile, manages, selects, and administers micro-loans to qualifying women in Santiago. FINAM has 15 employees - 8 women, 7 men.
FINAM was set up at the beginning of good times for Chilean economy to address the access to capital needs of poor women. Banks typically do not lend money to people without a good credit history. With no credit history at all, women found it especially difficult to qualify for loans.
How The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) Can Help You
By Lea Chambers, VP Marketing and Communications, TIAW
Once upon a time there was a woman who woke up one morning and decided to take a risk and move closer to her life’s dream. She wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, she had no idea where the money was going to come from, and she didn’t even know who to talk to about the most logical next step for her to take. It was a quiet morning, the city was just waking up around her, and she lay in bed for a few quiet moments, looking at the ceiling, feeling very small as she contemplated what she was going to do next.
She let herself feel small for a moment, and then took a deep breath and swung her legs out of the bed and started with her day. She was suddenly silent inside, all the chaos of her mind wondering “Should I do this? What’s going to happen? Will I fail?” seemed to have finally dissipated now that she had made her decision. She was at peace with herself because she had finally, finally honored that little voice in her head that for years had been saying to her “Why not?” And she was simply using her courage to move forward, step by step.
This is the story of women all over the world and it happens every day. What that little voice is saying has more variations than there are grains of sand on a beach. Maybe for a woman in Santiago it’s making the decision to get a loan from a micro-enterprise bank and start her own hair salon. Maybe for a senior executive at a bank in New York it’s making the decision to retire and go traveling with her husband. Maybe for a Bulgarian woman who’s recently widowed it’s the decision to move back to her hometown and run for politics.
Impressions of the TIAW International Conference in Chile
By Stephanie Boyles, VP Technology, TIAW
It was a week of ideas, a week of visions, a week of seeing dreams come true. It was also a week of great food, interesting people and on one magical night – Rumba! I love the opportunity to get to know people from different cultures anyway, but to be able to meet them with the intention and the possibility of creating together a better world quickens the heart.
We started with the Board Meeting, working together to refresh and sharpen our shared goals. Normally I work mostly with men, so having the opportunity to work with and see this group of powerful women strive to come up with actionable, measurable goals focused on the economic empowerment of women worldwide was a gift. I brought my 15 year old daughter with me, so this gift was magnified by her being able to experience it as well.
The next day we visited TIAW’s Microfinance partner for Chile, Filial Chilena Banca De La Mujer (FINAM), and three of the women who received micro-loans through the grant TIAW provided. Of the entire week, I’d have to say this was the highlight for me. Just witnessing what these women have been able to do in their lives was worth the 30 hours of travel from Denver to Santiago and back.
When my mother first popped the question, “Do you wanna go to Chile on Spring Break?” the first thing I saw in my mind was the flashing sign of all the different things I could be doing that week. Then I thought about the actual question Chile … It was a new place to go, there would be new people to meet, and it would be a chance to practice my lethargically progressing Spanish. Then Mom told me about TIAW, which I had heard little about in her previous spouts of joy. I soon learned that TIAW is an umbrella organization for women’s networks worldwide dedicated to the economic empowerment of women, a cause in which I believe whole-heartedly. Needless to say, I agreed to go.
So the weeks went by and finally it was time to fly. In the rush of packing, I hurriedly snatched a book off the chaos that was my desk; it just happened to be the book my mom had been soliciting me to read, and it just happened to be one of the best books I’ve ever read (with the exception of Harry Potter of course). The book is Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende, set partially in Chile; it talks about the history of the isolated country through the eyes of some very strong women. Through this book I was able to compare many of the women we met with those of the novel. But I’m getting ahead of myself…first we meet Maxine.
A report finds women still lag in the number of startups, but these entrepreneurs have important success stories to tell
Cary Marsh sold streaming video in the business-to-business environment in Britain. Then she went on maternity leave, and her career path changed forever. After four months of changing diapers and snuggling with her first son, she got the itch to go back to work. That's when she came up with the idea for Mydeo.com, a service that allows home moviemakers to upload their films to a streaming network. She launched the business in 2004 and had teamed up with Microsoft (MSFT) by August, 2005. Her business, located in Kingston Upon Thames near London, is growing.
International Women’s Day, now celebrated on March 8th, is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. Its roots in other countries are as varied as how it is celebrated.
Socialist women in the United States organized the first National Women's Day in 1908 and helped inspire the international event. Fifteen thousand women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America observed the first International Women’s Day (IWD) in the United States following a declaration.
The first IWD in Germany, Austria, Denmark and other European countries was held on March 19, 1911. German women selected this date because in 1848 the Prussian king had promised the vote for women.
In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled thereafter. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.
In 1975, designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to and began sponsoring International Women's Day. And, in 1977, The General Assembly of the United Nations passed Resolution 32/142, and officially called on all countries to set aside a day to recognize women's advancements.
In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California began a "Women's History Week" celebration. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day. Three years later, the United States Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's History Week.
In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The month long observance is in recognition of women's many accomplishments throughout history. A variety of agencies, schools, and organizations observe the month by focusing on the “consistently overlooked and undervalued” role of American women in history. Libraries and communities promote special events. This year the theme of Women’s History Month is "Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams."
In 2005, the Congress of the British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for IWD to be designated a public holiday in the United Kingdom.
Rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on equal footing with men, IWD honors the achievements of women and promotes women's rights. Around the world, IWD marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements for women. Its symbols, adopted from the labour movement at the turn of the century, are bread to represent the struggle for economic equality and roses to represent continuing efforts for a better quality of life.
The Arab International Women's Forum is proud to congratulate Chairman and Founder, Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani on her new milestone achievement and for being recognized as one of the hundred most powerful women in the Arab World. Mrs Al Kaylani's efforts both personally and those that she leads as Chairman of the Arab International Women's Forum have and continue to contribute to the advancement of the cause of women and to driving the agenda of equal opportunity and empowerment. 
1st International Conference of Women Entrepreneurs
Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership, by Martha Mayhood Mertz, 
Gina McAdam, incoming TIAW Board Secretary and Director of Stratemarco, received a coveted SHINE Award for Talent Management in the UK Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry at a ceremony held at the London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre on 26th November 2008. 
By Silvia Cambié, Regional Director, Europe & Middle East, TIAW
By Tracy Stanley, Regional Membership Chair Asia Pacific,TIAW
L to R
By Avil Beckford
like a “fish out of water.” Later that night while lying on my bed in the hotel room, I was reminded of what it feels like to not be included, and I suddenly truly appreciated The International Alliance for Women for organizing the International Trips, which help to foster cultural harmony by exposing us to many different cultures.
To visit
A trip to Chile, even for such a well-traveled person as Diane Morris, cannot help but be memorable. And indeed Diane has come back full of her memories of this amazing country, squeezed between mountains and sea, and stretching over 2,600 miles from arid desert to frozen south. 
