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Women’s summit to teach executive power

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Also by Laura Sexauer:

School of Business ranks 33 in social, environmental initiatives (October 15, 2007)
Activist advocates for animals (October 10, 2007)
UW receives energy grant (October 1, 2007)
Women's summit to teach executive power (September 28, 2007)

by Laura Sexauer

Friday, September 28, 2007

The University of Wisconsin School of Business will host a conference next week designed to educate women working in high-powered executive positions.

The Women's Executive Leadership Summit is designed for women executives, managers and leaders to explore issues relating to women in business, according to School of Business director of communications Lari Fanlund.

The event, which is in its fifth year, is expected to draw more than 125 professional women, most of them in mid to senior management positions.

This year's lineup of guest speakers includes international leaders, corporate innovators and authors.

"[The summit] looks at challenges women face and how they can work together and be a catalyst for change," Fanlund said.

Tiffani Horman, director of marketing for the UW Center for Advanced Studies in Business, said past participants have described the event as extremely motivational and empowering.

"Participants learn strategies and skills to drive change and success in their professional and personal lives," Horman said.

Horman added she believes the event is a great opportunity to network with other professional women. Lunches and dinners are served each day, as well as a cocktail evening sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 3.

According to event organizers, attendees should expect to learn how to change corporate culture, balance personal and business life and discover their leadership potential. Horman said the event would not have a key note speaker this year because there are many equally competent speakers.

"This year, they made an effort to bring in many high caliber speakers," Horman said.

Michael Welp, one of the speakers and founding partner of White Men as Full Diversity Partners, will be representing the white male point of view and informing women how they can partner with men to support their success, according to Horman.

"[We do the work] of looking at this unexamined aspect of diversity — of what does it mean to be white and male; what are the implications for me as a partner and leader in the organization; and then what’s the work that I need to do in engaging my colleagues so the burden isn’t on everybody else to educate all of us," Welp said in a statement.

He said he believes when he spoke at the summit two years ago, the women found the topic fascinating and is returning this year because of the summit's invitation.

Other speakers include Corporate Senior Vice President of the Coca-Cola Company Jerry Wilson, author of "How She Does It: How Female Entrepreneurs are Changing the Rules for Business Success," Margaret Heffernan and former CNS CEO Marti Morfitt.

Registration for the event is still open, and applications may be obtained at the School of Business Executive Education website.

The four-day conference will start Tuesday, Oct. 2 and will be held at the Fluno Center for Executive Education.

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