National/Midwest Events

2011 Events

WLMA kicked off 2011 with its first national event! Andrea Kramer, WLMA cofounder and Partner at McDermott, Will & Emery, lead a riveting presentation and discussion titled Eliminating Workplace Bias by Understanding Gender Communications Differences – bringing together more than 300 women from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C.

More than eight (8) events are in the works for this year, so please stay tuned for future communications and updates to the Events section of the website.

2010 Events

The National/Midwest region kicked of 2010 with a Non Profit Networking Expo on February 18th, featuring guest speaker, Connie Lindsay, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Northern Trust Company, for a discussion focused on non-profit board membership and volunteerism. Topics included what it means to be a member of a not-for-profit organization and the many ways to find and become involved in an organization you care about. Also featured were over 20 area non-profit organizations that set up tables “expo style.” Attendance at this event set a record for WLMA events and indicates the continuous, growing interest in WLMA.

On July 28th guest speaker Peggy Layden a Senior Consultant for Franklin Covey discussed her book, The Speed of Trust  - Based on the Stephen Covey book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".  Click here for Peggy's Bio: http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/events/consultants/view/86

On October 28, 2010, Mary Anne Gale, a retired Procter & Gamble executive presented "Running for Office: Getting Yourself Elected to the Career You Really Want".  Ms. Gale shared that many professionals fail to achieve the success they believe they earned because they don't understand the dynamics of the workplace. They cling to the false belief that it is a meritocracy, where good work is sufficient for success.  Mary Anne Gale helped us to see the workplace as a democracy, where top performers get 'elected' to roles based on their relationships with decision-makers who advocate for them and 'vote' on their behalf.  She refuted the idea that building relationships in order to advance is not sincere.  She discussed her book which explains why senior leaders view these relationships as beneficial, and argues that relationship building requires the same level of strategic focus as developing skills and experiences, and delivering great results. By deconstructing the dynamics of Western corporate culture, Ms. Gale explained why beliefs and traditions at the core of many of the world's cultures make relationship building especially difficult for women and non-westerners.

2009 Events

In January, 2009 the Midwest/National region kicked off the year with an event that promoted getting to know fellow WLMA members better, to help begin new and solidify existing relationships. The event was moderated by founder Andie Kramer, McDermott Will & Emery and facilitated by Teresa Sertic from Navigant Consulting’s Learning & Professional Development group.

Also notable in 2009 was an event called, “Global Philanthropy – How You Can Make a Difference”. The event was moderated by founder Laura Linger, William Blair and Company, and featured panelists Susan Gilette, former Advertising Executive and Board Director of DDB Worldwide from 1987 to 2008, and President of the agency from 1990 through 1994; Sally Gioia, PPES in Delhi, India and previously manager in Navigant Consulting’s Disputes & Investigations practice; and Tracy N. Poe, Ph.D., Chair of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Global Donors Network and member of the Board of Directors of the American Refugee Committee.

On October 28, 2009 Dr. Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD – Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Founder and Director of the Institute for Women’s Health Research presented an event titled Women's Health -- Does Sex Matter?  Dr. Woodruff discussed women’s health and the sex and gender dynamic that affects women and our relationship with medicine.  Dr. Woodruff shared that a person’s biological sex plays a predominant role in the cause, origin, beginning and subsequent progression of disease. In addition, gender, or one’s behavioral, cultural or psychological traits, influences risk profiles, symptom recognition, disease severity, and access to health education and quality care.  Dr. Woodruff shared specific examples of why sex matters and attendees learned what this means to us as patients, mothers, daughters, wives and caregivers.  She shared what is being done in the world of medical research to improve the lives of women. For more information about the Institute for Women's Health Research, visit: http://www.womenshealth.northwestern.edu