Stepping Forward with Our 5-Year Vision

by Hannah Jang, Chief Blogger

As I walk into the room, I am greeted by Nevada Jean Lane, our graphic facilitator for our one-day visioning retreat in San Francisco. I am the first to arrive. I locate my name tag and proceed to find a seat. I take one quick glance at the agenda and think to myself, "This is going to be one jam-packed day!" 

Just as I am starting to anticipate the day's schedule, Michelle Lapinski from the San Francisco Chapter walks in. Given that this would be the first time I am meeting the women from the different YWSE chapters, I get ready for a handshake. Except, Michelle flashes a huge smile, hugs me tightly and excitedly says, "It's so great to finally meet you!" Minutes later, the other women quickly trickle into the room. Before I know it, we are all greeting each other with hugs. I quickly learn that this is the "YWSE Way".

From that moment on, I knew I was in for a treat.

Eleven creative minds gathered from all parts of the U.S. - Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York, and DC - to take on the challenging task of developing a 5-year vision plan for YWSE. To start, we are reminded of the "YWSE Values" and how our core values are the key principles that guide our conduct and our relationships. They connect us to each other and make our successes possible.

The empty canvas is eventually populated with our brainstorming and mind mapping. Nevada was able to beautifully capture our thoughts and ideas through this visual representation:

Our vision inspires us to dream bigger, reach higher and expect more for the future.

While the visioning retreat accomplished the immediate goal of bringing Chapter leaders together to develop a shared vision for YWSE, it is important to understand that the retreat itself was merely the first step in a process. The key to its impact is in the follow-up.  The work that remains is that of empowering and supporting Chapter leaders to implement program ideas and of monitoring progress through regular check-ins and follow-up meetings. 

An important outcome of the YWSE Visioning retreat is the visual reminder of the stepping stones that will allow us to reach our 5-year vision.

As we continue to serve our local members with excellence, we will need your help in building national community and external visibility through increased and improved means of our funding model and technology.

If there is specific "stepping stone" that you are interested in learning more about and/or would like to serve on a committee, please email us newyorkcity@ywse.org.

You're Invited! "How She Does It" Dinner Series - Featuring The Adventure Project: Becky Straw

Register online: http://nywsedinnerbeckystrawtap.eventbrite.com/

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday, February 13, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Crepes du Nord, 17 South William Street

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) invites you to the NYWSE "How she does it" Dinner Series featuring guest speaker Becky Straw, Co-Founder of The Adventure Project.  

Join us for this evening of dining and conversation as Becky shares with us The Adventure Project and "How to set up shop: Practical steps to take a leap of faith and start your own enterprise."

About Becky Straw / The Adventure Project

Becky Straw is the Co-Founder and Chief Adventurist for The Adventure Project, a new nonprofit "adding venture" to support entrepreneurs in developing countries. In its first year, The Adventure Project helped create 190 jobs for people in India, Kenya, Uganda and Haiti.

Prior to The Adventure Project, Becky spent three years helping to launch charity:water, an organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Becky has consulted for UNICEF's Division of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and graduated from Columbia University with a Master's in Social Welfare.

You can follow Becky Straw on twitter at  @beckystraw @ad_venturepro and at www.facebook.com/theadventureproject.

 

As One Chapter Closes Another Opens

by Cynthia Hellen, Co-Founder of GIRLS WHO ROCK

On behalf of the New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) team, we would like to welcome you back to what we know will be a year of impact! As some may know, NYWSE hosts various events, panels, discussions and our "How she does it" Dinner Series throughout the year. Last month, we had the honor of featuring guest speaker Adelaide Lancaster, co-author of The Big Enough Company: Creating a business that works for you and co-founder of In Good Company in NYC.

Looking forward, we have an exciting lineup of events for 2012. Our very first event will be our “How She Does It” dinner on February 13^th. We will announce our first featured guest in the next coming weeks so stayed tuned!

         

We will also continue to highlight and celebrate the stories of extraordinary women in social enterprise on this blog. But, what does "social enterprise" mean to you? What comes to mind when you hear the words "woman social entrepreneur"? Who would you like to spend an evening with and share your thought-provoking ideas and/or discuss about sustainability or entrepreneurship?                                                                                                                                 

We want to know your thoughts and are taking submissions! Email us at: newyorkcity@ywse.org.

                                                                                                                                                             

We look forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming events!

NYWSE Appoints Kari Litzmann Chapter Leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, New York, January 9, 2012 – New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE), a professional network of women social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, has appointed Kari Litzmann as its second Chapter Leader. The new leadership appointment is effective immediately and will be accompanied by NYWSE Founder and inaugural Chapter Leader Natalia Oberti Noguera transitioning into an advisory role.

Natalia Oberti Noguera founded NYWSE in 2008, grew the community from six to over 1,200 members within two years, and learned about the lack of funding for-profit social ventures face firsthand from NYWSE members. In 2011, she launched the Pipeline Fellowship, which trains women philanthropists to become angel investors through education, mentoring, and practice. Fellows commit to invest in a woman-led for-profit social venture in exchange for equity and a board seat.

Natalia Oberti Noguera said, “I look forward to remaining an active NYWSE member and supporting Kari Litzmann during this transition. Kari’s background as both a social intrapreneur and social entrepreneur creates an ideal combination of experiences that will resonate with the NYWSE community. Also, Kari’s dedication to supporting women innovators and commitment to sustainability characterize the values that NYWSE has come to be known for and I’m confident that she will lead NYWSE through new milestones as the network celebrates its four-year anniversary this month.”

Kari Litzmann is a graduate of Pratt Institute’s Design Management Masters Program and has spent the past seven years working as a branding and graphic design consultant, mostly for organizations that focus on the development of women like Women’s World Banking and Barnard College. In 2011, Litzmann founded her design social enterprise, Rubina, that will soon be launching a platform to sell unique, limited-edition products created by designer and artisan collaborations around the world that provide a sustainable income for marginalized women and preserve their traditional crafts.

Under Kari Litzmann’s leadership, the NYWSE community will continue to expand as a dynamic professional network for women social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs through panel discussions, “How She Does It” dinner series, and professional development events.

“There is something quite magical within the NYWSE community,” said Kari Litzmann. “Never before have I been a part of a group of women that want to help you as much as, if not more than, they want to help themselves. My goal is to lead this organization in becoming even more of a place where women who are passionate about creating environmental, social, and financial impact in the world can be inspired, connect with others, and gain the resources and tools they need to make their goals happen. I want NYWSE to be known as a place you can make ideas happen.”

Kari Litzmann has been a member of NYWSE since the summer of 2010 and has served on the Events Committee from the beginning. As a social entrepreneur herself, she hopes to use her experiences to inspire and encourage the NYWSE community. According to Kari, “We can make so much more impact when we work together.”


About New York Women Social Entrepreneurs

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) is the NY-metro chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE). NYWSE’s mission is to provide a community, tools, trainings, and resources that women need to succeed as business leaders while becoming sustainability experts. Our vision is to empower women to effect change in society at all levels, as an individual, community member, professional, student, and entrepreneur.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Hannah Jang
NYWSE Chief Blogger
http://www.ywse.org/nywse/
newyorkcity@ywse.org

Prosperity Candle: Give a gift, change a life.

Looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season? Now you can give a gift that gives back many times over. We have teamed up with Prosperity Candle this year so you can purchase holiday gifts that support our work while also helping women rebuild their lives. Every Prosperity Candle gift is handmade by women from some of the world’s toughest places. Each gift arrives with the name of the woman who made it, enabling you to connect with her directly through the Prosperity Candle website.

To learn more and shop to support Prosperity Candle visit www.prosperitycandle.com. Be sure to choose NYWSE in the “How did you hear about us?” section during checkout to send a donation to us!

 

 

 

Prosperity Candle helps women who have survived conflict and natural disaster rebuild their lives through candle-making. Every candle made and sold helps a woman from places like Burma, Haiti, Rwanda, Iraq and Afghanistan earn more than a living wage – enough to put food on the table, buy medicine, and send her children to school. Every Prosperity Candle gift changes a life. Make a difference today by sharing the light and changing lives!

 

 

 

You're Invited! NYWSE "How she does it" Dinner Series - Featuring Adelaide Lancaster, Co-Author "The Big Enough Company"

Register online: http://nywsedinneradelaidelancaster-eivtefrnd.eventbrite.com/

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday, November 7, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: Crepes du Nord, 17 South William Street

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) invites you to the NYWSE "How she does it" Dinner Series featuring guest speaker Adelaide Lancaster, co-author of The Big Enough Company: Creating a business that works for you and co-founder of In Good Company in NYC.

Join us for this evening of dinner and conversation as Adelaide helps us explore "how to grow your enterprise in a way that sustains your own personal goals and needs, not someone else's standards." We are happy to announce that Adelaide will be giving away signed copies of her new book to all who attend!

About Adelaide Lancaster

Adelaide Lancaster is a small business expert and successful entrepreneur who excels at making business ideas a reality and helping businesses grow to their potential. She has dedicated her professional career to helping women find work that is rewarding and achieve success on their own terms. In 2007, Adelaide, co-founded In Good Company, a first of its kind community and co-working space where women go to learn the business of building their business. In addition to professional work and meeting space, IGC offers up to twenty five classes and workshops each month. Over the years, thousands of women have connected through IGC to become more confident and successful as entrepreneurs.

Prior to In Good Company, Adelaide was co-founder and Principal Partner of Berkman Fives a consulting firm that helped women professionals with career development and advancement and women entrepreneurs with business growth and efficiency. She earned a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and a M.A. in Organizational Psychology, both from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also earned her B.A. degree in Sociology and Anthropology, Educational Studies, from Colgate University.

Adelaide has been featured in numerous press outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Fox Business News, Fortune.com, and Inc.com. She was also featured in the book Upstarts!, as one of 60 Gen-Y entrepreneurs who are rocking the world of business. She is also currently a contributor to The Huffington Post and The Daily Muse and writes The Big Enough Company column on Forbes.com.

Adelaide’s first book, The Big Enough Company: Creating a business that works for you, was published by Portfolio/Penguin in September 2011.

You can follow Adelaide on twitter at @ingoodcmpny and @adelaidenyc and at www.facebook.com/ingoodcompanyworkplaces

Summer Takes the Fall

by Hannah Jang, NYWSE Chief Blogger

As the season of short shorts and bare bellies draws to a close, we look forward to breathing in that crisp autumn air and watching the wind dance through the blazing foliage. September always conjures up back-to-school memories of new clothes, backpacks bursting with a fresh crop of school supplies (colored pencils!) and trendy haircuts.

Fall is also the season of change and transitions. As I transition into my new role as the NYWSE Chief Blogger, I would like to extend a big thank you to Oi Yen Lam for providing us with thought-provoking and inspiring articles for the past year.

Looking ahead, this space will feature updates on our exciting line-up of fall events and personal stories from the NYWSE network. If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, share your personal journey as a social entrepreneur or even share a new idea, we would love to hear from you! Email us at: nywse.blog@gmail.com.

The Pipeline Fellowship Announces Call for Applications in NYC and Boston

by A. Lauren Abele, COO, Pipeline Fellowship

The Pipeline Fellowship announces a call for applications in New York, NY and—for the first time—Boston, MA.

The Pipeline Fellowship seeks to increase the number of women angel investors (only 13% of U.S. angels are women[1]) through its six-month angel investing bootcamp, which is specifically designed for women who are first-time angel investors. While Fellows come from a variety of backgrounds (law, finance, healthcare, the arts, small business, and more), they all share a common interest in learning to invest for good.

The program trains women philanthropists to become angel investors through education (modules on due diligence, term sheets, valuations, board governance, etc.), mentoring (matching each participant with an experienced angel investor to serve as a role model), and practice (participants commit to invest in a woman-led for-profit social venture at the end of the training).

The cohorts are intentionally small (10 women) and designed to encourage teamwork, co-mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, as well as group decision-making in the investing process. Each participant commits to invest US$5K for a collective US$50K investment in exchange for an equity stake in the woman-led social enterprise of the group’s choosing. The inaugural Pipeline Fellowship class (NYC 2011) will be announcing their investment in late October. Stay tuned!

Applications for the 2011-2012 Boston- and 2012 NYC-based Pipeline Fellowship programs are now being accepted on a rolling basis until Monday, August 29, 2011. To apply, go to: http://pipelinefellowship.producteev.com

The Pipeline Fellowship trains women philanthropists to become angel investors through education, mentoring, and practice. In addition to an all-day conference, the program’s educational components include a series of workshops on topics such as portfolio strategies, due diligence, and valuation. Each Fellow is also paired with an experienced angel investor who serves as a role model and a sounding board, sharing feedback and advice. Lastly, the Fellows put their education to work by selecting and investing in a woman-led, for-profit social venture. 

[1] “The Angel Investor Market in 2010: A Market on the Rebound,” by Jeffrey Sohl, The Center for Venture Research, April 12, 2011

A. Lauren Abele is Pipeline Fellowship's COO. The Pipeline Fellowship aims to diversify the investor pool and connect women social entrepreneurs with investors who get them. Lauren holds a BA in English Literature and Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA in Economic Development and Comparative and International Affairs from Indiana University’s School for Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). Follow her on Twitter at @laurenabele.

 

Open Volunteer Position: NYWSE Chief Blogger

NYWSE is looking for a new chief blogger!

Role Description

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) seeks a volunteer Chief Blogger to oversee the organization’s social media efforts, including managing the NYWSE Blog, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

In addition to writing content on the NYWSE Blog, the Chief Blogger will also coordinate NYWSE’s team of volunteer guest bloggers. The Chief Blogger will serve as the online liaison for the Events Committee by communicating information about the organization’s events and other activities. She will oversee the social media agenda, calendar, topics, themes, and interview prospects. This position will provide invaluable online communication among NYWSE, its members, and the public, as well as help fulfill NYWSE’s mission of empowering and connecting women social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.

Key responsibilities include:
•   Setting the agenda and calendar for the organization’s social media plan
•   Volunteer blogger outreach and management
•   Writing regular posts on topics of interest to the NYWSE community (including event summaries, news, reviews, etc.)
•   Publishing blog and other relevant content on Twitter and LinkedIn
•   Proposing and contacting interviewees
•   Increasing NYWSE’s online presence

Additional Qualifications:
•    Background in journalism and writing preferred
•    Social media savvy necessary
•    Experience in the nonprofit sector, women’s leadership, and/or social entrepreneurship preferred
•    Strong organizational, communications and leadership skills necessary
•    Ability to work remotely

Hours: Position is 10 +/- hours per week and requires a flexible schedule (some weekend and/or evening hours may be necessary)

Please email a cover letter and resume to NYWSE.blog (at) gmail (dot) com.

About NYWSE

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) is the New York Chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE).  NYWSE’s mission is to provide a community, tools, trainings, and resources that women need to succeed as business leaders while becoming sustainability experts, and our vision is to empower women to effect change in society at all levels, as an individual, community member, professional, student, and entrepreneur.

 

The NYWSE Story

 

On January 2008, Natalia Oberti Noguera launched the New York City chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs and grew the network from six women to over 1,200 members in just two years. The incredible response in membership has been matched by NYWSE member interest in additional resources.

NYWSE addressed the needs of its members through a variety of programs. Formerly known as the NYWSE Incubator (launched by Allison Lynch), NYWSE Mastermind-Mentoring Initiative (MMI) (launched by Janet Wise), and NYWSE Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) (launched by Shari Aaron), these programs were constructed by NYWSE members who wanted to share their knowledge, expertise, and experience with other members. The graduates of the programs developed meaningful relationships, received critical feedback and support, as well as learned from a network of thought leaders. In order to respect NYWSE's volunteer-run nature, in the summer of 2010 the NYWSE programs were transferred to Pipeline--a social venture startup that accelerates women innovators through their career pipelines. Pipeline now houses the above-mentioned programs and has renamed them as the Accelerator Lab, Incubator Lab, and Mastermind Lab.

To better support NYWSE’s growth and momentum, the NYWSE Events Committee was created on April 2009. Thanks to the leadership and initiative of NYWSE Events Committee members, the NYWSE community continues to expand through networking opportunities that include online interactions, panel discussions, the “How she does it” dinner series, and professional development events. As NYWSE continues to expand as a dynamic professional network for women social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs, we  take pride in advancing the role that women changemakers play in the world.

 

Pipeline Fund: A Bootcamp for Women Angel Investors

Want to invest in socially responsible companies, but don't know where and how to begin?

Meet the Pipeline Fund Fellowship! Launched by Natalia Oberti Noguera, NYWSE Chapter Leader and Pipeline  Fund CEO, the program trains women philanthropists to become angel investors through education, mentoring and practice. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of due diligence, receive guidance from an experienced angel investors and apply your newfound skills by investing in women-led for-profit social ventures.

Pipeline will accept ten participants into their first cohort. Each participant commits to invest US$5K for a collective US$50K to be invested in a woman-led for-profit social venture at the end of the training. To complete the Pipeline Fund Fellowship application, go to: http://ow.ly/32A8s

To learn more about the Pipeline Fund Fellowship, check out this this excellent article on Businessweek.com. The last day to apply is December 1, 2010. Questions? Email Pipeline at info@pipelinefund.com 

 

You're Invited! NYWSE Presents: Loans for Growth

NYWSE is pleased to present leaders in the microfinance industry who have provided entrepreneurs access to capital, resources to grow their enterprises, and ultimately the opportunity and strength to start a business. Each of these panelists has successfully integrated micro-lending programs within their organizations in different ways and will discuss the impact they've made in supporting women entrepreneurs globally.

Register online: http://loansforgrowth.eventbrite.com

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Conference Center [Please bring your ID.]

MODERATOR

Mia Feldman, JPMorgan Social Finance Group
Mia works in the Social Finance Group in J.P. Morgan's Investment Bank, the commercial initiative focuses on capital markets and principal investment opportunities within the microfinance and broader social enterprise sectors.  Previously, she worked in domestic microfinance at ACCION New York as both a loan consultant and a lending team leader. She is the founder and former chair of the ACCION USA Microfinance Council, an organization dedicated to promoting this not for profit to young professionals, providing strategic advice and assisting with fundraising activities with the support of the Board of Directors at ACCION. She is currently on the ACCION New York Advisory Board. She is fluent in Spanish and holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Scripps College in Claremont, California.

She is enrolled to begin a Masters in Public Affairs in the fall of 2011 at Woodrow Wilson School. In this year prior to going back to school she will continue to work in the Social Finance group in the Investment Bank at J.P. Morgan.

PANELISTS

Gina Harman, President and CEO, ACCION USA
Gina Harman, named president and CEO of ACCION USA in May 2008, brings 35 years of extensive private sector management and public service experience to the microfinance organization.

Formerly President of Harman International’s $600 Million consumer products division, Ms. Harman managed the company’s 12 consumer brands, strategy, engineering, product development, marketing and sales worldwide. Prior to her senior post at Harman International, Mr. Harman served as Executive Director of the Astoria Local Development Corporation, in the Office of the Mayor as Youth Bureau planner for the borough of Queens, founded and served as Executive Director of the Washington Square Day Care Cooperative and as an advocate in various labor and community organizations.

Ms. Harman has been involved with microfinance for years through service on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of ACCION New York, briefly as its Chief Executive Officer and President before leading the merger with ACCION USA to form the largest microfinance portfolio in the country.  Ms. Harman received the Neighborhood Achievement Award from  Mayor Bloomberg in 2009 in recognition of ACCION’s work with women- and minority owned businesses in NYC.  She is a member of the Board of Directors of the CDFI Coalition, the Consumer Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY, NY State Governor Paterson’s Small Business Task Force and Capital One’s New Market Tax Credit’s Community Advisory Board.

Ms. Harman holds a bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the State University of New York and is a graduate of the Non-Profit Management Institute at Columbia University and the Tenenbaum Institute at the Milano School – Graduate Center of the New School, both in NYC.   She resides in NYC. 

Emily Kerr, Founder and CEO, Liga Masiva

Emily Kerr is the founder of Liga Masiva. Her vision, consulting experience, and deep experience in Dominican communities in the DR and in the US create a strong foundation for the enterprise. A New York native, Emily graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Hamilton College and also studied in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Part of her study included a year-long fellowship to do advanced field study in Organic Food Initiatives in the Dominican Republic. This research was the beginning of her ongoing relationship with organic farmers in the DR. Subsequently, Emily was hired as a consultant to increase sales and usage of a wireless “food stamp” program in NYC and was able to generate a lift of 400% over the previous year’s sales. Most recently, Emily lent her business acumen and skill at building relationships to support First Manhattan Consulting Group on projects in Latin America, overhauling the collections operations of the biggest low-income mortgage provider in Mexico, among other engagements. 

Richa Agarwal, Project Manager, BRAC USA 

Richa Agarwal, a Project Manager with BRAC USA, recently merged her 12 years of experience in the New York fashion industry with her passion for microfinance.  Richa works with BRAC’s largest social enterprise Aarong in Bangladesh, employing 65,000 rural artisans. Richa currently oversees special projects that will increase Aarong’s capacity to provide employment to more Bangladeshi rural artisans. Richa was educated at Boston University, FIT and Pratt Institute. 

Jahaira Guerrero, Director of Microenterprise Development, Brooklyn Cooperative

Jahaira Guerrero is the credit union’s Director of Microenterprise Development and has been with the credit union for one year. Currently, Jahaira is responsible for the majority of high-volume business lending and all aspects of business underwriting and disbursements. In addition to maintaining a healthy loan portfolio and implementing high-quality loan originations, she is also responsible for the credit union’s participation in the SBA Express loan collateralization program, and acts as our main liaison with the SBA team. Jahaira has performed various outreach initiatives with partner organizations with an interest in business lending, such as Acción, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and NYC Business Solutions. Prior to the credit union, Jahaira worked at NYC Business Solutions as a finance account executive and as a senior loan officer at Accion USA. She holds a BA from Lehman College at the City University of New York.

Katherine Rosenberg, Director of Evaluation and Education, Grameen America

Ms. Rosenberg joined Grameen America as Director of Evaluation and Education. Most recently, Ms. Rosenberg was a research coordinator at New York Presbyterian Hospital where she was responsible for project management, patient recruitment, and evaluation activities for multiple projects. Prior to this, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal where she designed and implemented numerous health education efforts, disease prevention programs, and community development initiatives that included the establishment of a village-operated cooperative pharmacy. Ms. Rosenberg holds a B.A. degree from Union College in American Studies and an MPH from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Register online: http://loansforgrowth.eventbrite.com

 

You're Invited! NYWSE "How she does it" Dinner Series Launch - Featuring Amber Chand, Co-Founder, Prosperity Candle Company

Register online: http://nywsedinner1.eventbrite.com/

On October 4, 6-8 P.M., New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) invites you to the NYWSE "How she does it" Dinner Series Launch featuring guest speaker Amber Chand, Co-Founder of Prosperity Candle Company.

Join us for a night of insightful conversation and inspiring ideas, as Amber shares her experiences as a social entrepreneur, businesswoman, and humanitarian. Our event host, Smorgas Chef Restaurants, has created a vegetarian tasting menu, highlighting a selection of French-Scandinavian crepe delicacies and wine pairings from Argentina and Italy.

About Amber Chand:
Born in East Africa of Indian parentage and expelled from her country during a time of political turmoil in her youth, Amber Chand developed a profound interest in women’s empowerment, economic security around the world, and the role of business as a transformational agent for social change and peace building. She co-founded Prosperity Candle Company, a social venture that invests in enterprising women living in distressed areas of the world who are excited to start their own businesses producing distinctive candles for local and international markets. Prosperity Candle focuses on places that are torn by conflict and social unrest, devastated by natural disaster, and trapped in never-ending poverty.

For further reading about Prosperity Candle, check out last week's interview with Siiri Morley, Partner at Prosperity Candle.

Fall Preview

by Oi Yen Lam, NYWSE Chief Blogger

 

Ah, September. The magical month when the muggy heat is replaced by a cool crispness. When summer whites and flip flops graduate into rich woolens and leather boots. When the inbox starts overflowing...

 

Oops-- pause please!

 

September is also a month of new beginnings. This post marks my entry as the NYWSE Chief Blogger as I take over from Danielle Ravich. A big thank you goes to Dani for providing us with insightful and well-written articles on the world of NYWSE.

 

Looking ahead, this space will feature updates on our exciting line-up of fall events and personal stories from the NYWSE network. We will also introduce a series of monthly blog themes. This September, we will focus on market-based solutions for community development, followed by microfinance in October and sustainable lifestyles in November. If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, share your personal journey as a social entre/intrapreneur or simply have a grand idea to share, send me a shout-out at newyorkcity@ywse.org. This is your space, which I look forward to populating with your thoughts, voices and stories.

 

All aboard, onward and forward!

 

 

Oi Yen Lam currently works at an educational nonprofit, focused on creating a more peaceful world through intercultural exchanges. Originally from Malaysia, she specializes in performance management and market intelligence for nonprofits. Oi Yen was also admitted into a marathon (entirely by accident!) and now spends Saturday mornings impersonating a vacuum cleaner in Central Park.

Dear Volunteers, Thank you! --NYWSE

As we start 2010, New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) would like to express our gratitude to all of our amazing volunteers.

Dear volunteers, thank you!

NYWSE volunteers have donated over 6,285 hours of professional services which have helped the organization grow. NYWSE would not be able to offer the high-quality, cutting-edge programs and services it does without the help of its dedicated volunteers--whose total in-kind donations amount to US$100,000.*

Since January 2008, NYWSE has grown to a membership of over 1,000 women, hosts monthly events on social innovation, and runs four programs--including the Incubator, Mastermind Mentoring Initiative (MMI), Book Club, and Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Program.

We look forward to continuing to grow with you, the NYWSE community.  Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Please join us in celebrating the successes of 2009 by recognizing our outstanding volunteers!

NYWSE Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Program:

• Ashby Andrews, Business Development Manager, Fast Forward Fund
• Danielle Coutinho, Equity Sales, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
• Stephanie Niloff, Strategic Business Services, Deutsche Bank

NYWSE Incubator Program:

• Maryam Rashid, Strategic Management & Analysis, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  
• Karima Lahrach, Master of International Affairs, Columbia University
  
• Melissa Osborne, MPA candidate, Carnegie Mellon University
• Annika Many (via Catchafire), Project Manager, College Board
• Elmira Bayrasli, VP of Partnerships & Outreach, Endeavor

NYWSE Events Committee:

• Alicia Marin, Deputy Director, ALAS
• Danielle Coutinho, Equity Sales, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
• Jennifer Apple, Attorney
• Tara Pyle, Senior Marketing and Events Manager, Center for Architecture
• Marcela Restrepo

NYWSE Fundraising Committee:

• Heather Rees, Founder and Board Chair, NYC Venture Philanthropy Fund
• Devyn Fomer Humphrey, External Relations Associate, Achievement First
• Tara Monroe
• Rebecca Lee, MPH candidate, Columbia University
• Sharmila Gordon, Legal Assistant, Seward & Kissel LLP

Graphic Design:

• Amy Anderson

Steering Committee & Advisory Council:

• Molly Alexander, Business Development Manager, Acumen Fund
• Marisa Guber, Cultural and Organizational Development Strategist, ABC Home
• Allison Lynch, COO, Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union
• Shari Aaron, Founder, Climb the Green Ladder
• Janet Wise, Founder, The Collaborative Factor
• Elmira Bayrasli, VP of Partnerships & Outreach, Endeavor

NYWSE Leadership/Management:

• Natalia Oberti Noguera, Executive Director
• Shari Aaron, Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Director
• Allison Lynch, Incubator Director
• Janet Wise, Mastermind Mentoring Initiative (MMI) Director
• A. Lauren Abele, Strategic Initiatives Manager
• Milena Arciszewski, Book Club Manager

Special thanks to our partners: LaTeisha Moore & Calgary Brown (Net Impact NYC Professionals Chapter), Angela Jia Kim (Savor the Success), Taryn Miller-Stevens (StartingBloc), Adelaide Lancaster (in Good Company Workplaces), Diana Ayton-Shenker (Fast Forward Fund), Mekaelia Davis & Dana Skallman (YNPN-NYC), Geri Stengel (Ventureneer), Allison Lennox (Chelsea Green), Rachael Chong (Catchafire), Michelle Lapinski & Sara Ellis Conant (YWSE)

Ways to contribute to the NYWSE community in 2010:

Volunteer: Email NYWSE Strategic Initiatives Manager A. Lauren Abele at lauren@ywse.org

Donate online: http://www.bit.ly/NYWSEdonate

Host an event: Email newyorkcity@ywse.org

Invite a friend to join the NYWSE LinkedIn Group

*Assuming $40.67 mean hourly earnings for "Management, Professionals, and Related," taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Compensation Survey for the NYC-metropolitan area (May 2009).

Announcing NYWSE Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Program

Join New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) for their upcoming Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Program.

NYWSE ESL will provide you, a female professional, with the support and training you need to ensure your workplace becomes more sustainable.  Wherever you are in your sustainability efforts at your company (starting a recycling program, creating a sustainability committee, reducing packaging, greening your supply-chain, etc.), this program will provide the tools to empower you. 

Sustainability is a critical issue for all industries and affects organizations of all shapes, sizes, and missions, from corporations to government offices, from academic institutions to nonprofits.  It is not enough to know WHY sustainability needs to be integrated into the workplace.  NYWSE ESL will teach you HOW to help your company take practical steps to become more sustainable and profitable.  You will:

• Receive cutting-edge training from a leading sustainability expert
• Learn from the latest case studies 
• Understand the six key principles that you will need to succeed
• Get feedback from thought leaders in the field on your sustainability initiative

The program will provide training based upon the book Climb The Green Ladder: Make Your Company and Career More Sustainable (Wiley).  Climb The Green Ladder interviewed 80+ sustainability leaders and hundreds of employees from around the world who have made sustainability happen at their workplaces.  They shared best practices, lessons learned, and advice on how to implement a sustainability initiative from within. 

You will have the opportunity to speak directly with Bob Willard, a leading expert in sustainability. 

At the last session, you will present your business case to a panel of experts who will provide you with key feedback, on your strategy and implementation tactics, to ensure the success of your sustainability initiative.

NYWSE ESL will provide you with the community, support and thought leadership that you need to succeed.  To learn more about the NYWSE ESL, download the NYWSE ESL application.

Ensure you move your career and your workplace forward. Join us.

Download NYWSE ESL Application

Deadline: January 25, 2010

Contact Information: Shari Aaron, shari.aaron@climbthegreenladder.com      

Announcing the NYWSE Online Silent Auction!

Shop for the holidays and support NYWSE!

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE), a nonprofit with 700+ members, is proud to announce the launch of our first Online Silent Auction, hosted on eBay. All proceeds from the auction will benefit our innovative programs, which include: the NYWSE Book Club, the NYWSE Mastermind-Mentoring Initiative (MMI), the NYWSE Incubator, and the NYWSE Emerging Sustainability Leaders (ESL) Program.

We would like to thank all of our generous donors who contributed to NYWSE's first online auction! Special thanks to the In Good Company Workplaces community for their continued support of NYWSE and our programs and to NYWSE volunteers Rebecca Lee and Sharmila Gordon for all of their amazing help getting the auction off the ground!

Please help spread the word about our great online auction through Facebook and Twitter (#NYWSEauction)!

Happy bidding!

Thanks to all of our wonderful auction donors:

Sports Club/LA
Care4Hire
Sense Your Style
Lady of the Lake Designs
In Good Company Workplaces
Lost Your Job Now What
Gotham Concierge
Kittichai Restaurant
Marianna Lead, PhD
Best Effect
Resume Revamp
LifeStyled
Raandesk Gallery of Art
Everyone Into the Kitchen
World Pulse
EILEEN FISHER
Your Healthiest You
Andrea Strongwater
Helping Hands for Africa
Michelle Kawka
C. Marchuska
Climb the Green Ladder
Appeal Jewelry
Carey Kirkella
Cloverleaf Energy and Environmental Design
Meghan Gill
Family Records
Engine Room Recordings
Ariella Jasmine Jewelry
Yoga Retreat Adventures

A Message from Allison Lynch, NYWSE Incubator Program Coordinator

NYWSE Incubator Information Session:

Wednesday, November 19

6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Columbia Business School

Uris Hall, Room 303 (not wheelchair accessible-please call if this is problematic)

Columbia University, at the intersection of Broadway and West 116th St.

(116 St subway stop on the 1 line is the closest; alternatively A/B/C/D lines stop at 125th street which is a 10+ minute walk from campus)

Make sure to RSVP to allison@allisonlynch.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the information session!

UPDATE: New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) - Incubator Program

NYWSE is pleased to announce that Baruch College's Field Center for Entrepreneurship and its Small Business Development Center have agreed to partner with the NYWSE incubator as the main provider of technical business training for the women's social enterprise incubator program. Thank you to Baruch College and its Zicklin School of Business!

In addition, Columbia Business School (CBS) and its Eugene Lang Center for Entrepreneurship have also agreed to collaborate with the NYWSE incubator and opened their Global Social Venture Competition up to incubator enterprise teams which have an apprentice who is a Columbia MBA student. Thank you CBS!

Background: The NY chapter of YWSE announces its Incubator Program for women social entrepreneurs to begin in January 2009. The purpose of the incubator is to enable fledgling women social entrepreneurs to bring to life their social enterprise concepts, by providing mentoring from leading experts in the social entrepreneurship field, a peer network, and team support. Entrepreneurs will be matched with a leading female mentor, as well as a female graduate student apprentice (a "junior partner"), creating a three-person team. The program will last approximately 6 months and is open to women entrepreneurs in the NY-metro area who have a clearly defined nonprofit or for-profit social enterprise idea to which they are committed. It will include monthly workshops and weekly communication and collaboration with their NYWSE Incubator team.

Announcing the NYWSE Pilot Incubator Program!

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) announces its upcoming Incubator Program for women social entrepreneurs to begin in early 2009.

The purpose of the incubator is to enable budding women social entrepreneurs to bring to life their enterprise concepts, by providing mentoring from leading experts in the social entrepreneurship field, a peer network, and team support.