YWSE supports the QS World MBA Tour!

YWSE members get free entry!

QS World MBA Tour is working with YWSE to help you find the answer to the lingering question “is Business School right for me?”

Why an MBA?

With a few years of work experience under your belt, are you thinking of pursuing an MBA? An MBA builds on your work experience by providing you the skills and knowledge to transition to a higher level of responsibility.  You will finesse your teamwork skills, understanding of human relations in organizations and will be far better able to understand and respond effectively to the uncertainty and complexity that is a feature of organisational life in times of rapid change.

The lingering questions remain: which school, program, location is the ideal one for you?

The QS World MBA Tour is here to help you. The QS World MBA Tour offers prospective students the opportunity to meet admissions officers from top tier universities worldwide at a multitude of venues across the globe.

The QS World MBA Tour offers prospective students the opportunity to meet admissions officers of international and national top tier universities at a multitude of venues across the globe.

So, why not jump start your career and gain a competitive advantage?

Join us at the QS World MBA Tour 2010 this fall!
To learn more and to find a fair near you: www.topmba.com

Program Scholarship Opportunity for YWSE Members!

Do you know an outstanding YWSE Woman who is a budding Entrepreneur? 

Are you one yourself?

YWSE is proud to present the 2010 Summer Entrepreneur Program Scholarship for YWSE Women sponsored by Fearless Women Entrepreneurs and Wells Fargo!

The recipient of this Scholarship will attend 3 months of personalized Entrepreneurship Training and be featured in the Fearless Women Entrepreneur Network / Wells Fargo media presence.

Click here to nominate a standout YWSE woman you know for this 2010 Scholarship and/or nominate yourself by 11:59 PM on 12 July 2010. YWSE Finalists will be announced on 13 July 2010 at the Fearless Entrepreneur Pitch Night in San Francisco at The Hub!

About the Fearless Women Entrepreneur Network

Fearless Women Entrepreneur Network is dedicated to fostering emerging women entrepreneurs through education and community-building. Our mission is to provide programs, tools, resources and connections that enable women to reach their full economic potential through entrepreneurship.

Events you should come to...!

June 30th @ The Hub SoMa, 6:30-8:30pm :: Making The Leap - Stories of Successful Women Entrepreneurs

July 13th @ The Hub SoMa, 6:30-8:30pm :: Fearless Scholarship Pitch Night in SF

Diane Rachel improves Business through Improv

YWSE Business Program -- with Diane Rachel

Building Better Business Through Improvisation

When? Every other Thursday, starting June 3rd 7-9:30PM
Where? Flying Actor Studio -- 40 1st St. San Francisco, CA

Why Improvisation?

The key skill sets for these economical times seem to be the ability to create success from loss, to have calm in the face of chaos and to inspire, collaborate and lead in ways that are radically different from the ways of the past. Through dynamic improvisational techniques and exercises, Diane Rachel creates the space where individuals foster a new kind of success, defined not only by financial gain, but by the quality of life as well.

Enjoy a Taste!

This will be a six-session intensive that will begin June 3 and meet every other Thursday through August 12. We will practice improved methods of communication, collaboration and creativity while maintaining a light and playful atmosphere. Diane Rachel, through the use of improvisational techniques and exercises, teaches dynamic new ways of flourishing in business and in our lives.

Diane Rachel is a professional improviser who performs regularly with San Francisco's renowned Bats Improv and True Fiction Magazine. She is a member of teaching staff at Bats Improv and Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. With gratitude, Diane has been honored to work under the umbrella of Bats Improv with such companies as Nike, Old Navy, Barclays Global Investors, Tribal DDB and Levis Strauss and Co. She uses improvisational techniques to inspire and enhance the lives of companies and the individuals who support them.

Don't Miss This Program!
http://bit.ly/BizImprovProgram

Wanna be a Director with YWSE-SF?

We're now welcoming applications for Directors of Events + Programs! Have fun gaining skills in event planning, process design, and project management! Leverage your strengths, passions, and connections to CREATE THE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO SEE!

Strengthen your network by working closely with expert workshop leaders from the Bay Area and beyond, and with YWSE Board members. We need your help planning and running our upcoming events and programs in Money Smarts, Real-Life Balance, Design for Development and our Annual Retreat!

Contact sfevents@ywse.org for more information. We're eager to hear from you!

A Day to Plan 2010

by Adriana Dakin, Advisory Board Member

In early January, the YWSE-SF board met in a sunny recreation room at an Oakland country club to plan 2010. We took pictures to share with you ...

From left, back row: Lindsey, Emily, Angela, Han, Adriana, Laura (facilitator), and Toni. From left, in front row: Jacqueline, Koy, and Teresa. (Not in photo: Liz.)

YWSE board meetings are often a good excuse for our own professional and personal development. Many of us enjoy the check-ins at the beginning of the meeting, when we share what's going on for each of us, most of all!

At the retreat, we launched an Advisory Board for board members who have served at least one year. The Advisory Board, led by Emily, Adriana, and Toni, is taking on some fun projects such as an online directory of the network to connect needs and resources and a digital story about the organization.

Koy said afterward, "There was a moment during our 'break' when I looked up and realized that amidst the munching on hummus, crackers and finger-fruit, catching up with each other, and bathroom runs, we had all spontaneously broken up into intense brainstorming pods. I could see and hear that the next big ideas — for our community, for ourselves, for us — were being born at that very moment!  Our meetings consistently feel like awesome events in and of themselves — full of energy and inspiration!  I am so grateful for YWSE, a supportive community where one can cultivate and share their gifts, desires, passion and skills."

To prepare for the meeting, we had all read members' descriptions of their fields of expertise and what they're looking for in YWSE — such as collaboration, potential partners and colleagues, mentors, inspiration, leadership skills, entrepreneurial tools, awareness of issues in the social sector, like-minded others, and effective business practices. (See image below at left.)

We also put ourselves in our shoes next December, with 2010 behind us, to say what we had accomplished. (See image above at right.) These included: we streamlined systems, we had a 100% membership renewal rate, we got to know members deeply and worked on big paid projects together, every event has a volunteer handling logistics, we have been able to create impact with ease, we have ignited YWSE in new circles with a digital story, and we have ways to track YWSE's impact.

Thanks to everyone who helped make our January board retreat a great success. Special thanks to Laura Peck from Claros Consulting, and to Emily for introducing us to Laura.

We are looking forward to a great year!

YWSE's Take On ... I'm my own PG & E

by Vera Devera

What comes to mind when you think of women and money?

Shoes.
Prince Charming.
I can save later.
I don't have enough.

That last one is sticky. How many times have we heard it, from ourselves or from our friends and family? The reality is, we all do have enough and are in position to be prosperous if we think about money differently.

That's what was so empowering about the YWCA of Oakland/Berkeley's Young Women and Money Conference that I attended with YWSE on December 5. We heard from three distinguished and inspiring keynote speakers throughout the day: Veronica Dangerfield (Inspirational Speaker and Marketing Manager at Patelco Credit Union), Valerie Coleman-Morris (former Business Anchor at CNN) and Kathleen Ronald ("Queen of Business Networking" and founder of Speakacular). The overall theme woven through each of their "pep talks" was that we all have the power within ourselves to take control of our money and that saving money is easier than you think -- as long as we put our minds over matter.

For some of us, dealing with money is like dieting. You slip up once and say to yourself, "Well, I screwed up so I guess indulging again today isn't going to make a difference -- I've already lost the battle." To make yourself feel better, you treat yourself to a new purse, a $30 meal, or a pair of jeans "on sale" and charge it to your card. Emotional spending, like emotional eating, is dangerous! Before making any impulsive purchases, ask yourself, do you really need it, or do you want it? Why do I want or need this?

By being honest with yourself, you will be taking the first step towards sound financial health. Even more importantly, if you do make a mistake, don't beat yourself over it. Forgive yourself for missing a credit card payment or opening another store credit card. Many women beat themselves over failure and fall into a vicious cycle of letting the failures pile up instead of looking at mistakes as guidelines to success. It's never too late or too early to start a healthy financial life, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just learn from your mistakes and move on.

Another recurring theme was self-reliance: "Pay yourself first." For every paycheck that you earn, be sure to put a percentage of it directly into a savings account that you cannot easily withdraw from. That way, you can start building your savings without really ever knowing you "had" that money. Or you can start as simply as saving all your loose change or a $1 a day. When you pay yourself first, you are investing in your future financial success.

Valerie Coleman-Morris shared these guidelines, which she called "Muddisms," or pearls of wisdom from the mothers in her life:

• Be deliberate
• Set small goals
• Achieve a them and set bigger ones
• Learn to function in chaos and you will finish in style

Valerie's tips coupled with Kathleen Ronald's advice to dare to dream, build a team (such as recruiting the support of friends and a certified financial planner)  and have faith, were very inspiring. It all went back to what Veronica Dangerfield called "ashay," an African term that means we've all got the power within to make our dreams come true. Veronica made us repeat many times,"Today, I've got ashay and I am my own PG & E." Although we can certainly seek support and resources to achieve what we want, that desire is powered by you! If you want to own your own home, build your business, or have a great nest egg when you retire, it's all possible as long as you realize you are your own "PG & E" and that money doesn't give you power, rather you give it power to achieve your dreams.

If you missed this conference, don't fret. Go out and get a certified financial planner, open a savings account (separate from your checking), start saving, be conscious of your spending habits, and dare to dream and reach for them. With faith in yourself, you'll begin to live a prosperous life.

Here are some additional resources:
The Thin Pink Line
Practical Money Skills
Jean Chatky's: The Difference

About Vera Devera: Vera Devera is a do-gooder by day (Account Executive at Donordigital, an online fundraising and advocacy nonprofit consultancy) and also moonlights as a special event planner (Va de Vie Events). She is a featured Weddzilla.com bride blogger and FoodBuzz featured publisher, and also blogs about her $10,000 wedding at "A Splendid DIY $10,000 Wedding."

Special Event: Women on Top - Lessons for Life and Business from the Mountaintop, July 23

Women on Top: Lessons for Life and Business from the Mountains with special guest Emilie Cortes, Mountaineer and Founder, Association of Women MBAs

What do you do when the going gets tough on a mountain?

Do you back down or charge forward one step at a time?

Do you assess the risk and retreat, cautiously continue, or blindly march on?

Join five amazing organizations for one special night.

RSVP now for the advance discount.

The same characteristics that make a strong climber also make a successful businesswoman. Young Women Social Entrepreneurs, Charles Schwab and the Women's Interactive Network, Future Women Leaders, and the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Professional Chapters of Net Impact have teamed up to bring you this inspirational event designed to inspire you higher in your career.

YWSE-SF: About Fundraising for Good

Our May 1st Fundraising for Good workshop led by YWSE co-founder Sara Ellis Conant was a resounding success.  On Thursday evening many who were present felt a special sense of community and learning. 

The evening began with a signature YWSE-style check in, when each woman had the opportunity to become fully present by introducing herself, sharing with the group what she is passionate about … and how she feels about asking for money! 

YWSE-SF: Fundraising for Good with Sara Ellis Conant on May 1

Join the YWSE-SF Board and Sara Ellis Conant, Manager of Enterprise Sustainability for Deloitte and YWSE Co-Founder, in downtown San Francisco to change your view of fundraising. This interactive workshop will teach you more effective and fun ways to raise money. 

YWSE-SF: Annual Retreat, Living Your Vision from the Inside Out

YWSE-SF's Annual Retreat on September 8 and 9  is a chance to discover your vision, unlock your potential, and chart your path to creating a more vibrant future. This year’s retreat focuses first on internal leadership development, then public leadership.

We hold the retreat every year at the Headland’s Institute in Marin because the facility offers great meeting space, fabulous organic food while looking out over the ocean, a campfire facility, and fun dorm rooms.