President's Letter
Hello Again,
There's lots of great news on the PBWC front including an update on our strategic alliances! On Feb. 9th at the Masonic Auditorium, PBWC had the great honor of partnering with Alumnae Resources to present an evening with Maya Angelou. This event was an unqualified success in every way and the beginning of what we hope is an ever expanding schedule of co-sponsored events with our strategic alliance partners, Alumnae Resources, San Francisco State University and the SF Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Roundtable.
During the evening Dr. Angelou delighted us with a tapestry of song, dancing, prose, poetry and intimate conversation on every topic from child-rearing to women as global leaders. I want to share with you a metaphor from the evening that has had a deep impact on me. She invited each of us in the audience to consider ourselves composers and that we are composing a life......not only our own life, but a "climate" for other people's life. This made me stop and ask myself, "Am I as 'blown away' with the life I am composing for myself as I could be?"
Beyond that, "Am I composing a climate in my family, and in my company and in the community (including) PBWC that I am not only proud of but one that leaves a legacy that others would be inspired by as I am with Maya Angelou?" It's not so much about comparing myself with Dr. Angelou as it is looking more deeply into the possibility of my life and making sure that I am not missing a great opportunity to stretch myself and others in breaking new ground and appreciating the privileged lives that we live. As is probably the case with you I find myself busier and busier with each passing year. Suddenly I am asking myself if busier translates into making a difference. When I review my day planner can I see that my appointments and phone calls and meetings are filled with conversations where I am "composing a climate" in which I and those who I interact with are called into greatness. I think the question is much more powerful than the answer ...so I'll leave it at that except to renew PBWC's commitment to you that we are here to create a climate where you can flourish and learn and connect with others who want to make a difference.
Other recent PBWC-sponsored events include the March 9 forum "Secrets of Wildly Successful Women", which we co-sponsored along with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Roundtable. A sellout crowd learned about the secrets of success and the search for work/life balance from four incredible women executives.
On April 17, Fran Zone conducted a one-day workshop co-sponsored by PBWC and San Francisco State University College of Extended Learning. Fran, always a top-rated speaker at our annual PBWC conference, is a master coach in communication, presentation and managing your perception. She is again on the program for this year's June 2 conference at Moscone Center. If you haven't reserved your spot at this year's PBWC conference, do it now! This year's conference will once again be a powerful learning and networking experience. Our lineup of workshops, workshop presenters and keynote speakers is the most impressive in the 10-year history of the conference. You can register for the all-day conference by e-mail on the PBWC website at www.pbwc.org, or phone 650-548-2424 for more information. There also is a convenient registration form in this newsletter.
As always I invite your response or comments as it relates to PBWC and the difference we can make through inclusion, involvement and impact. Please register for the June 2nd conference today and let's compose a climate together.
Warmest regards,
Rayona Sharpnack, President
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