Women Only! How to Start & Succeed in Your Own Business with Heidi Cornell, Rachel Hollis, Melissa Rich Skehan, Helen Russell and Jane Wesman
Do you have a special talent, a fabulous craft, a surefire idea for a business? Women are starting new businesses at twice the rate of men. If you've ever dreamed of running a business of your own, or if you've already started your company and want advice on how to grow it, our all star panel will get you started on your dream.
Live Your Best Life!
Break through your barriers to success and make a commitment to live life to the fullest! Looking for a more rewarding career, economic freedom, more passion? Our "Get Motivated" Panel of women entrepreneurs will give you practical strategies to help you start your own successful enterprise. You'll learn:
- What it takes to be an entrepreneur
- How to write a business plan
- How to get a small business loan
- The step-by-step process of growing a business through innovative marketing
- What all top business women have in common
- How to tap your talents and resources to create the life you want
- How to find opportunity and take risks
- Tips for creating balance between your job and the rest of your life
- The benefits and results of running a business in a non-traditional way
- How to build a business on a shoe-string budget
- And more.
If you're looking for fulfillment and success outside the 9-5 grind and want to put your talents and skills to work for you, our panel will show you how.
Our panel of amazing women includes:
Heidi CornellHeidi Cornell, designer of Young Fabulous & Broke, has a seventeen year history in the fashion industry. Heidi began her career as a sales rep for Calvin Klein and from there transitioned into independent contracting and product development for brands such as Democracy and American Heart & Varsity Sports. There she developed an extensive background in all aspects of fashion ranging from developing patterns, to creating a sample line and cutting orders. After years of developing other brands, one day a friend commented to her, "You remind me of one of those young, fabulous and broke girls." and a new line was born.
The young, fabulous & Broke girl, is a girl about town who loves fast fashion at a price. She recently added 32 Flavors to her line - a trendy collection of t-shirts and tanks.
Rachel HollisRachel Hollis is the founder of Chic Events, a wildly successful event-planning firm based in Los Angeles. She is a wife, a mother, a Southern Girl, an LA Woman, and for all intents and purposes Event and Wedding Planner Extraordinaire. At 26 she has designed and produced fabulous parties for some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities, and has been featured in In Style Weddings, Entrepreneur, Grace Ormand, Special Events, and was recently named one of Inc Magazine's Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30! Rachel has done everything from over the top weddings to the political fundraisers and rocked them all! This Spring she will be featured as the host and wedding planner for a new show on the WE Network.
Melissa Rich SkehanMelissa Rich Skehan is President and Founder of InterSchola™. Melissa started InterSchola to help K-12 school districts realize a new revenue stream from the sale of surplus assets by recycling assets into the community. InterSchola has recently been named one of 4 Finalists in the San Francisco CA, Chamber of Commerce Ebbie Awards in the category of Small Business! Melissa's prior professional experience includes finance, strategy and business development roles at Chemical Bank/Chase/JP Morgan, Sony Corporation and Excite, Inc. Rich is a graduate of Dartmouth College (BA) and The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business (MBA). As President of InterSchola, Rich focuses on strategy, fundraising, organizational development, sales and business development.
Helen RussellHelen Russell is Co-founder and CEO of Equator Estate Coffees & TeasR in San Rafael, CA. Responsible for company strategy and growth, Helen has spearheaded Equator's double-digit annual growth over the past 15 years. Helen has led efforts to make Equator a socially and environmentally responsible company by investing in an energy efficient roaster, a biodiesel delivery truck, and by purchasing coffees and teas from growers who practice responsible land stewardship and bio-friendly farming techniques.
Helen supports and works with local and international organizations supporting women and the environment, including La Cocina Community Kitchen in San Francisco, C.E.O. Women of Oakland, San Francisco Chapter National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), International Women in Coffee Alliance and the Zeri Foundation, In 2009, she was recognized by the NAWBO with their prestigious Trailblazer Award.
Jane Wesman - ModeratorJane Wesman is president and founder of Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc., an innovative New York City public relations firm known for its high-impact book publicity campaigns. She advises entrepreneurs on starting and running successful small businesses and is a sought after expert on women and entrepreneurial success. The opening speaker at the National Women's Business Council's 2009 Women's Business Summit, Wesman has addressed audiences for Womensphere and at the Stern School of Business, among other organizations. She is on the board of advisors of Womensphere, is an active member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, ArtTable, and Women's Media Group. The author of DIVE RIGHT IN, THE SHARKS WON'T BITE: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Success, she is currently at work on a new book about women and entrepreneurial leadership.
