March 23-24, 2006 Join us at the Courtyard by Marriot for two days of getting connected and learning more about "ways women lead" that can help you advance to the executive level of leadership.

We believe that leadership challenges transcend industry and occupation.. You'll meet people in manufacturing, publishing, banking, high-tech corporations, and the entertainment industry. The break times are designed for networking with other businesswomen who share your desire to advance themselves and their organizations, period.

You’ll see themes and patterns emerging from the presentations and workshops. Meals are designed to allow you to discuss your reactions to the presentations and how they apply to your situation. As we move along a learning continuum, we will present structured networking opportunities, new information, experiential learning, and new executive role models. You will leave with new tools and strategies, increased self-confidence, and a new perspective. Maybe you can have it all, just not all at the same time. This conference is all about making those tough choices as you are shaping possibilities.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

* You will hear from outstanding women executives how they developed their careers and companies, the dilemmas they faced, and the strategies that allowed them to balance work and family/personal life.
* You will learn from other professional women who are shaping possible futures for themselves and their companies.
* You will meet thought leaders who are shaping workplace policies to expand opportunities for women now and in the future.

• Scholarship: What can we learn from the latest research about whether or how gender is a factor in leadership and management excellence? You'll learn why women are leaving to start businesses of their own and about their success rate, along with what you- or your boss- need to do to retain talent and stem "the brain drain."
• Role Models: Focus Group Research with women in business- and executive management roles in particular- indicated several topics of interest including the need to hear from positive role models who made aggressive decisions about their careers. Learn from women of different generations how to take the company public and what executive search firms look for. See Speakers Bios for more information.
• Leadership and Emotional Intelligence Workshop: Leaders focus on the future and must inspire their people to embrace change. Learn how your 'emotional intelligence' and relational approach can complement your technical and/or professional skills in leading change. No need to 'be a man' to lead others; you can gain points by unleashing your inner confidence and being authentic, Workshop with author Fran Lotery follows presentation.
• Presentation Skills Workshop: Leaders influence people to share their vision of the future. Because women weren't socialized to be assertive and directive, public speaking can require getting rid of those old conventional scripts. You'll learn from spokespersons and campaigners how to adapt your conversational skills to the podium, staying on message, dealing with the Q and A, and gaining credibility as "the voice of authority." Workshop with author Lois Phillips follows presentation.
• Self-Assessment Inventories: Two workshops provide experiential learning and a chance to assess your attitudes and aptitudes for those critical skillsets necessary to advance, such as "The Leadership Quotient" or LQ and "The Public Speaking Quotient" or PSQ.
• Networking and Reception: Friday evening meet and greet in the lovely Spanish courtyard and cozy reception area. A "Speed Networking" Exercise will teach participants how to quickly - and more strategically - connect with other women who have complementary, supplementary, or different skillsets.
• Meals: Four conference meals are designed to allow you to discuss your reactions to the presentations with other participants and how they apply to your situation.

HANDS-ON TECH EXPO

With the help of WITI and our participants, we'll identify products and catalogues designed for busy working women- the phone that fits best in our hands, the lightest laptop, the lightest briefcase - showcasing the newest products for travel, working more efficiently, and managing the 'virtuality' of our working and personal relationships, both at home and at work.

TAKEAWAYS

Valuable research summaries and press coverage of women in business/leadership who succeeded and those who failed. Each person attending will receive a copy of Women Seen and Heard: Lessons Learned from Successful Speakers by Lois Phillips, Ph.D. and Anita Perez Ferguson, M.A. and Live Life Inside Out, Not Upside Down by Fran Lotery Ph.D. and Sherry Melchiorre, Ph.D., recommended readings about women in management and leadership, psychological self-assessment inventories related to Leadership, Women's Presentation Skills, and Emotional Intelligence, and a beautiful crystal paperweight as a gift from INAMED CORPORATION.

THIS CONFERENCE IS ABOUT MAKING THOSE TOUGH CHOICES AS YOU ARE SHAPING POSSIBILITIES!

Never attended a WITI conference? Check out what previous attendees are saying and the details from our most recent conference.

Hope to see you in Westlake, easy to find off the 101 and approximately 45 minutes north of LA and 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara!

Courtyard by Marriot
15433 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, California, 91403
Tel: (818) 981-5400

For more information: Please call (818) 788-9484.

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