Agenda 2014

Leadership

Designed for a seasoned or aspiring leader looking to climb the ladder and shatter the glass ceiling

Bridging the Cross-Gender Communication Gap to Improve your Leadership and Advance Your Position (W)

Survey results of over 100,000 in-depth interviews of men and women executives in over 60 Fortune 500 companies reveal the staggering number of false assumptions and opinions men and women have of each other, and in many ways, believe in themselves. No wonder we face such a tremendous communication gap in the workplace. What cause these misunderstandings, miscommunications, mistrust, resentment, and frustrations at work? Relationship and communications guru John Gray will share insight to answer these questions and identify the eight blind spots that compel men and women to think and act as they do. Learn practical advice so you can remove the blind spots enabling men and women to work and succeed together. We will explore ways to bridge the communication gap to improve your problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, stress management and overall leadership effectiveness. Unlock this and advance your leadership position!

Speaker: John Gray, best-selling author, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business

Host: Jill Larsen, VP, strategic talent acquisition, Cisco Systems

This session will be ENCORED from 3:00-4:00 pm

Career Advancement

Designed for the mid/senior level professional with significant experience looking for advice around professional skills and job advancement

Understanding the Science and Art of Receiving Feedback to Negotiate What Matters Most (W)

We get feedback every day of our lives, from friends and family, colleagues, customers, and bosses, teachers, doctors and strangers. We’re assessed, coached, and criticized about our performance, personalities and appearance. And even though we know that feedback is essential for professional development and healthy relationships—why do we dread it and often dismiss it?  In this interactive workshop, negotiations expert Sheila Heen, will explore the importance of receiving feedback and will offer a simple framework and powerful tools to help you take on life’s blizzard of offhand comments, annual evaluations and unsolicited advice with curiosity and grace. Attendees will:

– Develop the ability to accept and utilize the input of others constructively;
– Learn how to give feedback more effectively by understanding how to receive feedback better; and
– Shift negative feedback and difficult conversations into impactful negotiations for getting what you want most professionally and personally!

Speaker: Sheila Heen, faculty, Harvard Law School and co-author, Thanks for the Feedback and Difficult Conversations

Host: Jacklyn Mitchell Wynn, vice president, strategy and market development, Global Public Sector RSA, the Security Division of EMC Corporation

This session will be ENCORED from 3:00-4:00pm

LEADERSHIP TRACK: Transforming Your Organization, Transforming Your Life (POE)

Transformational leaders are not pillars of power, but they are powerful beings. While managers are often transactional agents, successful leaders achieve great results with their ability to transform through the power of inspiring and motivating others around them. Showcasing the real experiences of greater Boston’s most talented leaders, this session will share their unique journeys around how they transformed their business, teams and bottom line – and the impact that has had on their careers, organizations and lives. Using their first-hand experiences we will explore how integrity, humility, transparency, flexibility and collaboration were critical attributes to becoming a transformational leader. With a blend of practical advice and inspiration, attendees will walk away with an understanding of what steps you can take to drive transformation in your professional and personal lives.

Thought Leader: Linda K. Zecher, president, chief executive officer and director, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Moderator: Elizabeth Thornton, professor of management practice, Babson Executive Education; author, The Objective Leader;

and adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship

Panel of Experts:
1. Denise Millard, chief of staff, global sales and customer operations, EMC Corporation
2. Karen Kaplan, CEO, Hill Holliday
3. Karen Prange, senior vice president and president, Urology & Women’s Health, Boston Scientific

Host: Christine Frederick, SVP, chief compliance officer, Mass Mutual

Emerging Professionals

Designed for Millennials and newer professionals entering or re-entering the workforce

Secrets for Winning at Work: The Handbook for Emerging Professionals and Career Success (W)

It’s not easy entering the workforce today. For the first time in history, four generations are sharing the workplace — and sometimes it feels like they are living in four different worlds. How can young professionals navigate through the Traditional Traditionalists, the Still Booming Boomers, the Xtra-Independent Gen Xers and your own generation, the Tech-or-Die Gen Ys? Lindsey Pollak — often called a “translator” among the generations — and seasoned veteran Kate White will use real-world examples to teach you how to navigate the workforce in a language that is friendly, current and actionable. Designed for Millennial generation professionals, this session will help you create a personal action plan for career success. We will explore:

– Potential points of conflict at work and how to handle;
– Strategies to master the art of cross-generational communication;
– Building a positive relationship with your manager;
– How to accept constructive feedback; and
– Ways to obtain and create the career opportunities you want/need

Speaker: Lindsey Pollak, best-selling author, millennial workplace expert and ambassador, LinkedIn

Speaker: Kate White, former editor in chief, Cosmopolitan and New York Times best-selling author

Host: Bridget Hindle, SVP human resources and director, corporate learning and development, Santander

Transitions

Offering expertise for maneuvering career and life transitions

Flex: Strategies for Thriving in a Multicultural and Multigenerational Workplace

“Flexing” is the art of switching between leadership styles to more effectively work and engage people who are different from you. The workplace is growing increasingly multicultural, female and younger. As today’s leaders you must be able to navigate this diverse work environment. Yet, because cultural differences can be invisible or difficult to spot, we may not pick up on subtle nuances that we encounter daily. Internationally renowned executive coach and leadership strategist Jane Hyun will share practical advice for building trust and connecting with those who are different than us to create innovative solutions at work and achieve greater outcomes in life. Attend this interactive session to:

– Understand the Power Gap, the dimension you need to master;
– Flex your style by stretching how you work and communicate with others and learn how to leverage differences;
– Bridge the Gap with more effective communication and practical feedback tools; and
– Multiply the effect, by teaching these skills to others

Speaker: Jane Hyun, founder and president, Hyun & Associates, leadership strategist and author, Flex: the New Playbook for Managing Across Differences

Host: Beth Carlson, vice president, global talent development, human resources, Raytheon Company

Health & Wellness

Offering strategies for managing and improving your physical, mental and emotional well being

Small Changes, Big Results: Your Journey to Physical and Emotional Wellness (W)

This session won’t focus on cutting all the carbohydrates out of your diet; or replacing every single gram of sugar with omega-3 fatty acids; or urging you to do one hundred sit-ups a day, or getting on the treadmill whenever you have a free second. In fact, it’s not about any of the total lifestyle-replacement gimmicks—whether diet, exercise, or pop psychology—that have swept our culture in recent years, putting untold millions of Americans on the risky roller coaster of success and failure that defines fad diets and programs. Small Changes, Big Results is about reality—the reality of what you can do, the reality of what you want to do, and the reality of what works for the long run. This interactive session will explore how you can introduce a series of small changes each week for the next three months in the three core areas of diet and nutrition; exercise and fitness; and emotional wellness. Learn how you can implement a practical action plan with incredibly doable tasks each week that will have you yield optimal results and achieve both physical and emotional wellness.

Speaker: Ellie Krieger, host, Food Network’s “Healthy Appetite”and author

Host: Susan O’Brien, founder, Hail Merry

Personal Development

Offering advice to help you enhance your life, grow and create more positive personal experiences outside of the workplace

Financially Fearless: Tips and Tricks for Making the Most of Your Money NOW (W)

Getting your financial life on track and keeping it there — nothing is more important to your family and you. Are you single, married or divorced? A parent with a paycheck or a parent at home? Getting your first job or well along in your career? Helping your kids in college or your parents in their older age? Planning for retirement? Already retired and worried about how to make your money last? No matter what your situation, America’s most trusted financial advisor Jane Bryant Quinn will offer you practical tips for making the most of your money. Together we will explore:

– How to put your financial life on automatic pilot;
– Setting priorities during and after a financial setback – and tips to help you bounce back;
– Banking, credit and debit card tips that will save you money;
– Simple ways to pull yourself out of debt;
– Financial planning, investing and building wealth – it’s simpler than it sounds; and
– Ways to save more while enjoying the pleasures of life today.

From real-estate to college planning to elder care and every day real life – bring your most pressing questions and learn how to make the best financial decisions that suit your unique needs!

Speaker: Jane Bryant Quinn, America’s most trusted financial advisor and best-selling author, Making the Most of your Money NOW

Host: Blythe Berents, vice president, Financial Solutions Advisor, Bank of America

Personal Development

Offering advice for maximizing your relationships and reaching your personal goals outside of the workplace

A Conversation with Cindy Stumpo: Valuable Lessons on Becoming Tough As Nails at Work and in Life (LP)

Cindy Stumpo, star of HGTV’s Tough As Nails, is one of the most successful residential contractors and developers in Massachusetts. Known for building high-end, multimillion-dollar luxury homes, Cindy is a strong, independent woman who has made a name for herself during her 25-year career by being tough as nails in a field known for its male bravado and wise-guy antics. Despite her father’s warning that “girls don’t build houses” and the severe panic attacks Cindy suffers, she pursued a career in construction and is now winning awards – including “Builder of the Year.” Attend this session and hear about Cindy’s journey on the road less travelled for most women. She will share invaluable lessons that she learned along the way for persevering and becoming tough as nails while inspiring you to go the extra distance to juggle it all and still remain true to who you are – even if it’s in a male dominated space.

Moderator: Liz Brunner, CEO and founder, Brunner Communications and former anchor, WCVB-TV, NewsCenter5

Speaker: Cindy Stumpo, successful residential contractor and star. HGTV’s Tough As Nails

Host: Kristen L. Standish, publisher, Boston magazine

Young Women’s Program

Designed for high school junior and senior girls

Finding the Courage to Follow Your Passion: A Conversation with Today’s Rising Stars(POE)

We live in a culture of perfectionism despite the logic of knowing that nothing and no one can be perfect. Making mistakes is not only natural but necessary to build character, learn and grow. Is the fear of making mistakes and achieving perfection holding you back from taking a chance at school, home or in life? Millennial expert and author Jessica Bacal will offer strategies to combat our culture of perfectionism. Featuring a panel of rising stars, this session will also share real-perspectives and offer practical advice for taking risks, making mistakes and ways to recover when you stumble along the way. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, artist, student, social do-gooder (and the list goes on) prepare yourself to be inspired from this remarkable panel of stars and get ready to overcome your fear of failure for a road to success!

Thought Leader: Jessica Bacal, author, 25 Mistakes I Made at Work

Panel of Experts:

1. Wendy Darling, creative connector and co-founder, Soo Ambitious
2. Emma Johnson, founder, Em John, high school student and aspiring college student

Host: Karen Korellis Reuther, creative director and brand psychologist, Cast Collective @cast140

Leadership

ENCORE SESSION: Bridging the Cross-Gender Communication Gap to Improve your Leadership and Advance Your Position (W)

Survey results of over 100,000 in-depth interviews of men and women executives in over 60 Fortune 500 companies reveal the staggering number of false assumptions and opinions men and women have of each other, and in many ways, believe in themselves. No wonder we face such a tremendous communication gap in the workplace. What cause these misunderstandings, miscommunications, mistrust, resentment, and frustrations at work? Relationship and communications guru John Gray will share insight to answer these questions and identify the eight blind spots that compel men and women to think and act as they do. Learn practical advice so you can remove the blind spots enabling men and women to work and succeed together. We will explore ways to bridge the communication gap to improve your problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, stress management and overall leadership effectiveness. Unlock this and advance your leadership position!

Speaker: John Gray, best-selling author, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business

Host: Laura Vail Wooster, vice president and head, marketing and communications, John Hancock

Leadership

ENCORE SESSION: Understanding the Science and Art of Receiving Feedback to Negotiate What Matters Most (W)

Speaker: Sheila Heen, professor, Harvard and author, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

Host: Kathleen Ferraro, branch manager and senior vice president, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Expert Exchange sessions provide attendees with the opportunity to gather with peers in a smaller setting to learn from experts. These sessions are discussions focused on sharing best practices and lessons learned around career or personal development topics. In addition to valuable knowledge sharing, they provide a great peer networking opportunity. Expert exchange sessions are designed to be intimate; therefore capacity will not exceed 150 participants. Seating is first-come, first-served, and doors will close once we reach capacity.

Personal Innovation: How to Reinvent Ourselves and Drive Success in Business and Life

Innovation is the buzzword of business these days. But how can you take the principles of innovation and apply them more creatively? In this talk, we’ll explore “personal innovation” and the implications for our professional and personal lives.

Speaker: Jessica T. Donohue, PhD, senior managing director, chief innovation officer and head, advisory solutions global exchange, State Street Corporation @statestreet

Inclusive Leadership as a Competitive Advantage

The world of work is changing rapidly, where organizations are global, hyper connected, less hierarchical and ideas can come from anywhere. Great leadership is critical to effectively navigate this ever-evolving landscape, and inclusive leadership has the power to drive competitive advantage. Learn how to leverage your diverse perspective along with those in your organization, to role-model inclusive behaviors and enable collaboration, driving greater employee engagement, innovation and ultimately business impact.

Moderator: Rob Rosa, director, field operations, US Public Sector Services Cisco Systems @cisco
Speakers:Ronni Hargrove, director, Advanced Services, Cisco Systems @cisco; Gayle Morris, VP, Americas Services, Cisco Systems; Lynley Noviello, director, Services, U.S. Enterprise East, Cisco Systems @cisco;
Seth Siegel, VP, consulting, Cisco Systems @cisco;
Erika Strandell, director, Global Service Provider Services Solutions Management, Cisco Systems @cisco

Hold On To Your Purse: Because Life Happens

One of the best ways to prepare for life’s many surprises is to save and invest over time and there are many ways to do so. The wealth you build today can help provide financial security for many reasons from having the funds for a down payment for the home of your dreams to easing the anxiety of bringing a newborn into your home to having funds for retirement or long term care.  It can also help prepare you for emergencies, like the temporary loss of employment. The more you save, and the better you invest, the more options you’ll have for you and your family when life happens.  Being financially secure doesn’t just happen – it requires awareness, foresight, and planning. This roundtable will offer tips and advice around things you can do right now to help put you on the path and secure your family’s financial future. Join us for an interactive dialogue about real life experiences from women who are financial professionals and have learned lessons on how to prepare for all the possibilities both expected & unexpected. Please stay immediately following from 4:00 – 4:30 pm to continue the conversation over wine & cheese.

Speaker: Michelle Dauphinais, national account vice president, John Hancock Insurance @johnhancockusa
Speaker: Kay Dempsey, CEO, Dempsey Companies
Speaker: Jennifer Tierney, vice president, Sales, John Hancock Insurance @johnhancockusa

Being Global: Building Your Career Outside of “Boston”

One area of focus that is important for women is to think about their careers and possible career trajectory NOT only in terms of the local Boston opportunity but how you can operate and succeed in a global matrix organization. This discussion will explore how to work across geographies and cultures and what it takes to succeed. We will also address the stereotype that women “aren’t mobile”— and offer strategies for not only breaking the stereotype but mobilizing and going where the opportunities lie.

Speaker: Liz Henderson, head, separations technology cluster, EMD Millipore @emd_millipore

Redefining Ourselves

We are in the middle of a perfect storm in business where the convergence of cloud computing, social networks, big data, mobile and the internet of things are changing the way we collaborate, live, work and think. As a result, business are redefining themselves, new roles are being created, and the gap between our skills today and the skills required for tomorrow widens. How can we effectively avoid getting lost in the shuffle?

Speaker: Patricia Florissi, vice president, global CTO for sales, distinguished engineer, EMC Corporation @emccorp

Candid Conversations: Women Succeeding in STEM Careers

This session will offer a candid reflection on career success in STEM. Using real-life examples from women leaders in STEM, we will address common questions associated with being a woman in a niche industry including:

– How do I get into the industry?
– What do I need to do to be successful?
– What career paths are available?
– What hardships do women in STEM face and how are they overcome?

In addition to providing answers to these questions, panelists will share top tips for ways to succeed in STEM as well as offer an open Q&A format to help de-bunk myths about women succeeding in STEM.

Moderator: Lisa Welker-Finney, vice president, human resources, Neuromodulation, Latin America, Canada Boston Scientific Corporation @bostonsci

Speakers: Kerri DiPietro, director, global clinical quality, Boston Scientific Corporation @bostonsci;
Marilee Grant, director, community relations, Boston Scientific Corporation@bostonsci;
Mona Patel, vice president, training and clinical Communications, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific Corporation@bostonsci;
Heidi Vlasak, principal product performance engineer, Boston Scientific Corporation @bostonsci

Claiming Happiness

If you’ve been struggling to find the happiness you deserve, then this is the session for you. Kathy Kinney (best known as Mimi on The Drew Carey Show) and Cindy Ratzlaff (marketing genius behind the launch of The South Beach Diet) have been best friends for more than thirty years, and have helped each other navigate the ups and downs of their lives with humor and grace. In this entertaining and inspiring session, they will offer easy step-by-step actions to blast away at the societal preconceived notions of happiness and share the tried-and-true techniques they call “the seven best gifts a woman can give herself.”

Speakers: Cindy Ratzlaff and Kathy Kinney, co-authors, Queen of Your Own Life (both @queenofownlife)

Click HERE to download the handout for Claiming Happiness.

Style in the Workplace

It is proven that when you look good and put yourself together, you not only feel good, but you are more productive and successful. Former Cosmopolitan editor Kate White will provide you with practical tips (that work with any budget) for creating your own personal style in the workplace. She will also explore the true essence of style beyond what you wear and how that can make a tremendous impact on your career.

Speaker: Kate White, former editor in chief, Cosmopolitan and New York Times best-selling author @katemwhite

Understanding that conference attendees come to the “table” with a very diverse set of social media skills, needs and interests, we are thrilled to offer social media roundtables.

Led by an expert facilitator, roundtables offer an informal and intimate setting to share best practices around a very focused and specific topic within the social media world. Roundtables are discussion-based and will not feature a formal presentation. This ensures each discussion is truly personalized and allows attendees to ask questions relevant to their needs.

Roundtables are limited to 10 people per topic and are first-come-first-served. We encourage you to come early to guarantee your spot. However, we will offer each roundtable a total of three times to allow attendees the opportunity to participate in multiple discussions on different topics and ensure that participants have another opportunity to join should a table fill up fast.

Roundtables will take place at the following times in the Exhibit Hall:

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

3:35 pm – 4:05 pm  

4:10 pm – 4:40 pm

Roundtable 1: Influencing Others with Twitter

Speaker: Joselin Mane, founder, BostonTweetup.com
This discussion will explore why and how Twitter is relevant for everyone and every business. Attendees will learn cool Twitter “hacks” to make it easier and more rewarding to use Twitter. Best practices will be shared for increasing and influencing your followers to align with your objectives and goals. Be sure to bring your smart phone so you can practice and tweet live!

Roundtable 2: The Power of Pinning: How Can Pinterest Help You Market

Speaker: Stacy Doherty, founder, Errands Etcetera, president, @thesswbn and 2013 recipient of the Stars 40 Under 40 @errandsetcetera

If you’re not using Pinterest in your marketing efforts, now is the time. Pinterest drives 7% of global traffic referrals – essentially 7% of the billions of clicks every day come from Pinterest pins. Attend this roundtable to learn about the power of Pinterest for marketing. You will learn the skills and strategies for understanding what kinds of pins go viral, how to curate unique content, the best way to cross-promote, and strategies for successful collaboration, widgets and monetization.

Roundtable 3: There’s an App for That: How to Leverage Your Smartphone to Save Time and Money

Speaker: Angela Pitter, principal and founder, LiveWire Collaborate @angelapitter

Would you like to use your smart phone or tablet not only to stay connected but to become more organized? There’s an app for everything you just haven’t been looking in the right places. Attend this roundtable and learn how to best utilize your smartphone and/or tablet to track expenses, mileage, invoicing, and access files in the clouds, send electronic signatures, even scan documents or send a live thank you cards. Bring your iPhone/iPad or Android device and learn how to make the most of every minute of the day. This interactive session will help you discover apps to organize your daily activities so there is little or no office work at the end of your busy day! And the best part is that it’s FREE.

Roundtables 4 & 5: Networking with LinkedIn

Speaker: Amanda Healy, award-winning B2B marketing program and social media expert and marketing program manager, TIBCO Software, Inc. @amanda_healy
Speaker: Debra Kennedy, director Executive Education, Bentley University @bentleyu

How do you whip your LinkedIn profile into shape, making it stand out from the rest? Attend this roundtable and learn how to create a compelling headline, use the right keywords, and navigate endorsements and recommendations, among many other strategies for success.

Roundtable 6: How to Have your Personal and Professional Online Presence Co-Exist

Speaker: Jessica Gioglio, public relations and social media manager, Dunkin’ Donuts and blogger, SavvyBostonian @savvybostonian

An effective social media strategy requires you to share your personality and authentic voice. But for many women, coached to separate their personal identities from their professional identities, this can be a scary proposition. Learn how to blend your personal with your professional online presences in a way that is comfortable for you. Attendees will explore which tools are better suited for professional or personal use; How to create boundaries; and what types of information to share and when to name a few.

Roundtable 7: Social Media 101: Getting Organized and Learning the Basics

Speaker: Meghan Rothschild, co-founder and director, PR and marketing, chikmedia @chikmedia

Are you new to the social media space and not even sure how and where to get started? Attend this roundtable to learn the basics and embark on your journey to becoming more socially savvy. We will explore how you can be more comfortable joining the conversation in the digital age. You will learn about the basics, and leave with some simple—and fun—tools and tactics to help you better navigate and communicate in the online world. From Twitter, to Instagram, to Pinterest and Facebook you will be ready to tackle the social media world!

Roundtables 8 & 9: How to Create a Powerful Story and Brand with Instagram

Speaker: Sue B. Zimmerman, captain of online branding and creator, Insta-Results @suebzimmerman
Speaker: Caty Trio, social media marketing manager, Bright Horizons @catrio

As of the spring 2014 there are over 200 million monthly active users on Instagram. 75 million people use the app every day. Find out the basics of this image-based social network and how you can use it to connect and engage personally and professionally. Whether you are corporate, small business or a non-profit you will leave inspired with ideas on how to propel your work forward. Be sure to bring your Smartphone and be ready to dive in!

Roundtable 10: Squares From Our Lives: What Role Instagram Can Play in Developing Your Network

Speaker: Can (John) Ahtam, Graduate Admissions, Bentley University @bentleyu

Many brands are active in sharing photos on Instagram, but Instagram is not used effectively if there is no encouragement for user engagement. Despite the constant demand of Instagram usage by businesses, many people still use this platform for personal reasons. To build awareness for your brand, you have to call on Instagrammers to show how your brand means something in their lives. Learn how to connect with a variety of influencers, business associates and people with similar interests in this participative session.

Roundtables 11 & 12: Utilizing Social Media in the Corporate Environment

Speaker: Kerry H. McManama, communications leader, children’s book author and contributor, Huffington Post @kmcwriter
Speaker: Kate Stamatakos, senior social engagement manager, EMC @kmatakos

Social Media is being used everywhere as a main source of communication in today’s ever-connected world – even at work! In this session, we will discuss how companies of all shapes and sizes are employing social media to engage employees, encourage idea sharing, and activate change. We will explore how tools like SharePoint, Jive, Yammer, intranets and blogs are being used in a corporate environment and in many instances, replacing traditional business collaboration channels.

Roundtable 13: Find Your Voice Blogging

Speaker: Tayla Andre, social media director, Chica Project @chica_project

Blogging gives you a platform to present your voice to the world – attend this roundtable and learn how to find your voice! Attendees will learn the basic tools you need to get started and share insights for building traffic and attracting readers. Together you will explore tips for overcoming writers block and learn how a blog can help build your business, charity and enhance a community.

Roundtable 14: Take Action: Video Storytelling that Inspires

Speaker: Rachel Jellinek, founder, Reflection Films Online @reflectionfilms

Whether your focus is raising money, recruiting staff and volunteers or educating your audience about key issues, it all comes down to storytelling. In the ever-growing digital age, video has become one of the most popular formats and fastest vehicles for creating and sharing your story. This interactive discussion will offers tips on crafting your message, advice for developing your overall storytelling strategy and top pitfalls to avoid. Bring your questions, and your videos for us to watch on your phone!

Roundtable 15: Creative Tips for Using Facebook to Cultivate Business Relationships and Professional Networking

Speaker: Debra Askanase, digital engagement strategist and founder, Community Organizer 2.0 @askdebra

Facebook is a great way to connect with friends old and new, but it also can be utilized way beyond sharing posts about your kids and what had for breakfast. Facebook can be used as a powerful resource to cultivate business relationships and networking if used the right way. Attend this interactive discussion to learn how to join groups that fit with your likes and career, participate in conversations, create a group that fits the target audience you want to reach and valuable tips for searching ways to search for connections to build your network.

Roundtable 16: How to Use Social Media for Social Good

Speaker: Julia Campbell, digital strategist and founder, J Campbell Social Marketing @juliacsocial @pinning4good

Social media offers tremendous reach with little investment. It can be used to make the world a better place by making others aware of social causes and efforts that are near and dear to your heart. Whether you’re a nonprofit or a for-profit organization, this roundtable will show you how you can successfully use social media for awareness of your cause, fundraising, community growth, engagement and more. We will explore which tools are most effective, how to create a solid campaign and call to action, ways to create impactful messaging and attract followers and much more.

Led by an expert facilitator, roundtables offer an informal and intimate setting to share best practices around a focused and specific topics within the small business and entrepreneurial space. Roundtables are discussion based and will not feature a formal presentation. We encourage attendees to come with questions. Each roundtable will be offered a total of three times to allow attendees the opportunity to participate in multiple discussions on different topics.

Roundtables will take place at the following times:

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

3:35 pm – 4:05 pm  

4:10 pm – 4:40 pm

It Takes a Village: Building the Best Team

Speaker: Sheila Nazarian and Laura Darrah, co-founders, she + lo

You’ve brainstormed a great idea, researched the competition and written a thorough business plan. Now it’s time to build your team.  Should you find an experienced partner, or retain sole power/responsibility? Hire a professional bookkeeper/CFO, or do your own finances?  Hire internal social media, marketing and public relations staff, or retain outside agencies? What about mentors? This roundtable discussion pinpoints the do’s and don’ts of starting a business.

Business Plan: A Roadmap to Success

Speaker: Elizabeth Thornton, professor of management practice, Babson Executive Education and author, The Objective Leader

Businesses don’t plan to fail; they just fail to plan. For an expiring entrepreneur the business plan helps you determine if you have a viable business idea. For an existing business, it provides you, your staff and key stakeholders your roadmap for success. This roundtable will help you to define your business, identify your customers, understand your financing needs and decide where and how you will operate.  You will learn the basic outline of the contents of a business plan

From Online to Storefront: Tips and Tricks for Sustainable Growth

Speaker: Kimberly Kissam, co-founder, Isabel Harvey

Leaving her intense desk job in the finance world, Kim Kissam followed her dream and co-founded Isabel Harvey, a fashionable jewelry and accessories company. In 2005 she started with an online store and after 4 years of strategic and consistent increased revenues and customers Isabel Harvey opened a storefront on Nantucket. Now, in 2014, Kim has two storefronts, a thriving internet business, 15 employees and is poised for continued expansion. Attend this roundtable and learn tips and tricks for sustaining growth. You will explore what Kim views as the most essential elements for a successful business model (outside of the fresh and fun products) – including community engagement and a philanthropic focus

How to Scale Your Business

Speaker: Julie Vetack, national relationship manager, Santander At Work, Santander

Getting your business up and running is a bug hurdle. Taking your business to the next level is the next step. Attend this roundtable to learn practical advice for scaling your business and identifying the key next steps for achieving growth! You will understand what you need to consider when evaluating your business’ opportunities for growth. Attendees will explore what type of financing you need, how soon do you need it, and are actual results reflected in your funding plan? Lastly we will address if you have a financial relationship that parallels and serves those needs?

Savvy Selling: Developing a Strong Pipeline of Clients and Customers

Speaker: Liz Dean & Lindsay Denton, co-founders, FitYap.com

This power-packed roundtable will offer you proven strategies to keep your client base growing and best retain and leverage your current customers to expand your reach and ultimately do your marketing for you. Attendees will learn how to craft your elevator pitch, improve your networking skills and enhance your list-building secrets.

Taking Your Idea from Concept to Market

Speaker: Lauren Maillian Bias, serial entrepreneur, author, The Path Redefined: Getting to the Top on Your Own Terms and Essence Magazine Class of 2013 African-American Shot Callers

How do you turn your concept or idea into a business or brand that is ready to command market share? In this roundtable discussion, learn from a marketing and branding maven who has successfully brought various brands and products to market. Learn what it takes to compete in a discount obsessed market and create the brand loyalty you need to capture market-share fueled with actionable takeaways.

Social Entrepreneurism: Building a Business Model that Gives Back

Speaker: Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president, Women Thrive Worldwide and author, Teach a Woman To Fish

Toms Shoes is a pioneer having been one of the first inspired to create a philanthropic for-profit business that also created and sustained social value – and wasn’t reliant solely on donations. Today, eight years later, social entrepreneurism is on the rise causing lots of Gen X and Gen Y entrepreneurs to think about business in a different way – beyond just basic business principles and focused on ways to give back to the greater community. This roundtable will offer practical how-to advice and inspiration for building a business model that makes money and also has a positive social impact and return to society. Attendees will many topics including: how to select a cause that is relevant and aligns with your passion – including how best to serve them; and how to identify partnerships and collaborations that would be critical to developing your business model and achieving success.

Tips for Making the Transition from Corporate Employee to Entrepreneur

Speaker: Donna Latson Gittens, founder and principal, MORE Advertising

It’s a cool to be known as an entrepreneur – some days it’s thrilling, other days you wonder what have you’ve gotten yourself into. Just ask yourself…do you like having a steady income?  What is your tolerance for hearing NO? How important are vacations to you? Becoming an entrepreneur requires a GRAND LEAP OF FAITH. Come and learn about steps you can take as you contemplate launching a new business, product or service.

Getting Your Business Off The Ground: Funding vs. Bootstrapping

Speaker: Addie Swartz, founder and CEO, ReacHIRE

Starting a business is hard work and financing is one of the first steps in the process. This roundtable will explore the pros and cons of funding vs. bootstrapping. You will learn the fundamentals of funding and understand what options are available and the key considerations for raising capital. Attendees will also explore the basics of bootstrapping including tips and techniques for making it work on a shoestring. You will walk away with a solid understanding of the various options available and what is best for your business and your unique situation.

Creating and Communicating a Compelling Mission Statement

Speaker: Elizabeth Benedict, interior designer and founder, Elizabeth Home Décor & Design, Inc.

The most successful businesses, regardless of size, are those that have a clearly defined mission statement which delineate the ultimate goals of the business. Attend this roundtable to learn how to craft a compelling, concise, and effective mission statement about who you are and what you do. Walk away with practical tips to help you ensure that your brand and overall business strategies support your mission.

CLASSROOM

Your Financial Health: Basics of Money Management!

Speaker: Maurice Kolthof, relationship manager, Santander At Work Massachusetts, Santander
Join Santander to hear how financial stress can impact health and ways to improve or re-focus attention towards our personal finances.  Start by taking a look at your financial health, evaluating your financial goals, and then putting a financial plan in place.  Together we will review how to evaluate your net worth, set a budget, prove tips for cutting expenses, reduce debt and/or develop a savings plan!

Take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to get one-on-one advice from some of Boston’s leading women by asking a question about your career and community. Local Leaders will be available to meet in the exhibit hall within the community corner during designated networking breaks. You do not need to sign up in advance – first-come-first served and we have plenty of time to get your questions answered!

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

From award-winning former co-anchor of the #1 rated 6pm newscast at WCVB-TV NewsCenter5, to CEO and founder of Brunner Communications, to being appointed by Mayor Marty Walsh to the Boston’s Women Commission, LIZ BRUNNER is a pioneer and a woman of many talents. Whether you want to learn about opportunities for women citywide or hear funny anecdotes from her exclusive interviews with professional athletes and President Obama to performing with the Boston Pops, you definitely want to take advantage of the opportunity to meet Liz and see for yourself why she is a leader in Boston. @lizbrunner

NURYS CAMARGO is not only a rising star at AT&T Massachusetts, but she is a pioneer in the Latina community in Boston as the founder of the Chica Project – a social enterprise dedicated to closing the divide for young Latinas by empowering them with the skills, confidence and network necessary to thrive personally and professionally. Meet Nurys and see why she was recognized by Boston Business Journal, Boston Magazine and Latina Magazine and learn what you can do to build inter-generational pipelines of women of color in your organizations and communities.@nuryszcamargo

WENDY DUNCAN is the senior vice president of marketing of Alex and Ani. Meet this passionate business leader and learn critical tips for creating an exciting and meaningful brand – and learn how philanthropy (a key component of the Alex and Ani brand) can be integrated into your work environment! @alexandani

As former dean of the McCallum Graduate School of Business to her current role as trustee professor of economics and management at Bentley University, PATRICIA M. FLYNN, Ph.D., is an expert on corporate governance, technology-based economic development and women in business. Whether you are interested in the progress around Gender Equality or seeking valuable tips for securing a board seat you won’t want to miss your chance to meet Patricia Flynn! @bentleyu

Good Sports chief operating officer CHRISTY KESWICK understands the importance of physical activity in the overall development and success of children. That’s why she is dedicated to providing athletic gear to disadvantaged young people nationwide – and why she has spent the last 11 years growing the organization and driving its reach from Boston to over 48 states and over one million kids impacted. Whether you want to learn how you can drive growth in your non-profit or how you can help young people around Boston Christy will arm you with the perfect blend of practical advice and inspiration. @ckeswick @goodsportsinc

Boston Scientific Corporation’s vice president of human resources STEPHANIE PITTMAN offers decades of human resources expertise under her belt. From promotions to salary negotiations bring your questions and tap into her tips and advice to learn what you can do to enhance your skills and shatter the glass ceiling at your organization. @bostonsci

Massachusetts Conference for Women board member and senior technology executive LYNN TINNEY strives to keep her teams ahead of market changes by developing people, identifying business requirements, leveraging resources and measuring against aggressive targets. Meet Lynn to learn valuable leadership lessons for driving teams and growth and see for yourself why she was selected by Power 100 as one of the “Most Powerful Women in the Channel”. @lynntinney

As the vice president of corporate affairs and communications for Raytheon Company, PAM WICKHAM is a media relations, communications, PR and brand management guru. Meet Pam for practical tips around promoting yourself, your company and landing that next promotion and opportunity! @pamwickham1 @raytheon

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Media marketing executive for more than three decades, ELISSA CAMPBELL understands better than most that it’s the substance within a product or a person that provides true staying power. Named to People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful Real Woman Over 50” list she is determined to be a catalyst for changing the ways in which women of every age are projected and perceived in the media, marketing, advertising, work and our daily lives – by seeing images of real women, living real lives, in real time! @ecrealbeauty 

As a STRIDE Scholar and Harvard University student it’s hard to imagine that BERNADETTE LIM had spare time to hang out with her friends let alone to be the co-founder and executive director of Women SPEAK, a girls’ health and empowerment program. Her work has gained national attention from the Clinton Global Initiative, the University Commitment to Action and Brave Life Project by Keds, Seventeen magazine and the Girls’ Leadership Institute. Meet this rising star for a slice of inspiration and learn what you can do to advance the status of women and girls in Boston. @bernielim @womenspeakteam

YVETTE MODESTIN is not only a licensed mental health clinician, wellness facilitator, writer and poet, but she has been named the “30 Most Influential Afro Latinas” in the world and has been profiled by The Boston Globe as “The Uniter” for her work in bringing the Latin and African communities together. Understand the power around inclusion and learn how you can help to connect and unite those around you at work and in life to positively impact the greater whole. @soulfulafro

Fashion merchandising graduate LINDSAY REILLY started her handbag business six years ago but her love for designing started at the age of six. As the owner and designer of Lindsay Tia she has created an experience – not just a bag! Meet Lindsay for the chance to not only talk fabrics and trends, but to see how your professional aspirations can align with your passions and dreams and how that will help you achieve a greater level of happiness by doing so!@designwhoyouare

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

The Obama administration appointed CAROL FULP to represent the U.S. at the U.N., and Boston named her as one the Top 50 Most Influential Women in 2011. Using her first hand experiences as the president & CEO of The Partnership, Inc, and former SVP of brand communications and corporate social responsibility at John Hancock Financial, she will show you how to empower communities and change lives. @carol_fulp

Whether in her previous roles at Nintendo and Reebok International or in her current role as senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications at Boston Scientific Corporation, DENISE KAIGLER is an accomplished leader being recognized with awards from the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and Savoy magazine. Take advantage of her expertise and arm yourself with the best tips for communicating effectively in the office and at home. @bostonsci

GLORIA CORDES LARSON, JD, prominent lawyer, public policy expert and president of Bentley University, is committed to the advancement of women and is a pioneer in the Boston community. Recently featured in the Wall Street Journal, Cordes Larson is the board president of the MA Conference for Women. Now is your chance to meet her and to learn how you can empower yourself and make a difference in your profession and community. @bentleyu

JULIA MEJIA was the first person in her family to graduate high school and attend college – now she has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, grassroots organizing and community outreach/engagement and is a member of Mayor Marty Walsh’s Youth Transition Committee. Meet Julia and learn valuable lessons around perseverance, determination and focus.

As the president of New England Weber Shandwick, MICHO SPRING heads the Global Corporate Practice and is a leading expert on communications and branding in the corporate, non-profit and government sectors. Tap into her expertise and see why she was named multiple times as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston. @michospring