SPW Event Highlights, 2006-2007

SPW 2006-2007 Kickoff Event
"Naked in the Boardroom: a CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career"
Robin Wolaner, Founder of Parenting Magazine, Former CEO of Sunset Publishing, and Author
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University
Monday, September 11, 2006

Ms. Robin Wolaner packed the room on September 11th as she divulged secrets to success - offering strategies and tactics for women aiming to make it big in business. Ms. Wolaner has been a wildly successful entrepreneur and executive - as founder of Parenting Magazine, former CEO of Sunset Publishing, and now author of the book, "Naked in the Boardroom: a CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career."

Robin Wolaner

Ms. Wolaner shared some of her naked truths to the SPW group... "Naked Truth # 1: Sometimes it's better to be a female in business, sometimes it's worse, but it's rarely the same." That is, be yourself, and take advantage of your personal traits: "The trick is to make your aptitude and flair work for you in a style that is uniquely yours." Ms. Wolaner had interviewed a number of female executives before writing the book and gave several anecdotal stories to the crowd. The night ended after lots of laughs and valuable tips for our own professional careers. Ms. Wolaner's latest entrepreneurial drive… an online dating service targeted at the 50+ age group…we're looking forward to hearing more!

"Demystifying the College Admissions Process"
Richard Shaw, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Stanford University
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University
Monday, October 2, 2006

In this members-only event, Richard Shaw shared his perspective on Dean Shaw will give us his perspective on the admissions process having just finished his first year as Stanford's Dean of Admissions. Dean Shaw discussed how Stanford University (and other competitive schools) choose the incoming freshman classes in an ever increasingly competitive environment from such large and talented applicant pools.He answered the many questions of SPW members and their college bound guests. SPW was pleased to provide its members with this rare and exclusive back stage pass to Stanford admissions!

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Community Volunteer Event: Help Middle School Girls Prepare for High School Admission Interviews
KIPP SF Bay Academy Charter Middle School, San Francisco
Saturday, November 4, 2006

SPW members gathered to help thirty 8th graders from a low income San Francisco charter middle school practice interviewing for admission to college-focused high schools. The morning was successful on all accounts and left everyone wanting to do more. Some comments from the participants -

"Talking to the KIPP kids was a real inspiration"
"It was so rewarding to be a part of this!"

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SPW Spa Day
A Touch of Elegance Spa, Menlo Park
Thursday, December 14, 2006

SPW members gathered for fine wine, hors d' oeuvres, and spa treatments. In the midst of the hectic holiday season, the evening of pampering was a welcome retreat.

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Difficult Conversations
Stan Christensen, Co-founder of Arbor Advisors and Stanford School of Engineering Faculty Member, Lecturer in Negotiation and Sustainable Development
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University
Thursday, January 18, 2007

In this "new year renew you" SPW Executive Speaker event, Stan Christensen presented a slightly different angle on the art and skill of negotiation, always a popular topic for SPW audiences.

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Work-Life Balance: A Panel Discussion
Moderated by Professor Myra Strober of the Stanford School of Education and Graduate School of Business
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, Stanford University
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

As career options for women have increased, so have the demands on women who attempt to maintain or grow a career while raising a family. Panelists shared with the audience various strategies including rethinking traditional work schedules, "outsourcing" childcare and home responsibilities, and leaving successful careers altogether in order to raise children. Panelists perspectives included:

• Wendy Brenner, an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Cooley Godward Cronish, balances a demanding career as an attorney with raising two young children. She credited her flexible work arrangement and her husband's assistance with home and childcare responsibilities for enabling her to achieve balance.
• Judy Kirkpatrick, formerly a V.P. of Global Product Management at eBay, was able to grow a thriving career while raising a family by building a strong support network including a full-time nanny for her two children and a housekeeper. Her husband's demanding job made the support network all the more crucial.
• Mae Tai O'Malley, founder and managing attorney of Paragon Legal Group, transitioned from a full-time career as an in-house attorney to performing corporate counsel services in a variety of part-time/flex-time/contractor arrangements after having her first child. This solution has enabled her to continue developing her work skills while raising three children.
• Marilou Seiff, Executive Director of the Marine Science Institute, has taken a variety of approaches in balancing family and career, including stopping-out of her job to raise children, and eventually resuming her career on a part-time and then full-time basis.
• Grace Voorhis, formerly a partner at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, went back to work for a year after having her first son but then made a very difficult decision to leave her thriving career to become a full-time mom and philanthropist.
  

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SPW Focus on the Environment:
Experience the Bay! Discovery Voyage
Marine Science Institute, Redwood City, CA
Saturday, April 28, 2007

On a gorgeous spring afternoon, sixty SPW members and their families discovered all that thrives in the San Francisco Bay aboard a 3-hour Discovery Voyage on the Marine Science Institute's 90-foot research vessel.