Comments on: Are Professional Women’s Networks Passe? http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/2009/11/are-professional-womens-networks-passe/ Live Your Potential Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:57:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Bonnie Marcus http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/2009/11/are-professional-womens-networks-passe/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Bonnie Marcus Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:48:43 +0000 http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/?p=1509#comment-294 Liane, thank you for your response! I do believe that professional women's network can be extremely effective if they support ongoing initiatives such as strategic networking, mentoring, and leadership development programs. If these networks are supported by the organization and not seen as just for social networking or simply put to "fix women", they can help promote women to higher positions in the company. My radio show, Women Mean Business, will have a panel discussion on 12/8 with 3 companies that have successfully implemented programs. You can tune in http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1612 and select the Dec. 8th date to hear more about these programs. Bonnie Liane,
thank you for your response! I do believe that professional women’s network can be extremely effective if they support ongoing initiatives such as strategic networking, mentoring, and leadership development programs. If these networks are supported by the organization and not seen as just for social networking or simply put to “fix women”, they can help promote women to higher positions in the company. My radio show, Women Mean Business, will have a panel discussion on 12/8 with 3 companies that have successfully implemented programs. You can tune in http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1612 and select the Dec. 8th date to hear more about these programs.
Bonnie

]]> By: Liane Sebastian http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/2009/11/are-professional-womens-networks-passe/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Liane Sebastian Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:46:19 +0000 http://womenssuccesscoaching.com/?p=1509#comment-291 It seems that you have multipe themes: 1. "fixing" women 2. advancing women's leadership 3. purpose of networking 4. mentoring 5. shifting company cultures 6. collaborations for multi gender concerns 7. opportunities for talent management Each begs discussion and I have comments on each: 1. 'Fixing" women is not the same as building upon our strengths. Women, in feneral, offer different viewpoints and strategies than men. 2. Supporting women's initiatives is not as simple as instituting policies. Its roots are psychological. 3. Women getting together IS about strategizing and sharing. It is about resources, referrals, advice, feedback, camaraderie. 4. Many professionals involve themselves in mentoring on more of a personal level than organizational. 5. Company cultures are barometers of the business culture at large. They can influence each other. 6. It is shocking how few women's organizations even know each other let alone interface with mixed gender initiatives! Not that this isn't a good idea for certain collaborations, but as an overall mission, has limitations. 7. This is a topic for a separate discussion all together--but deserves examining! Liane Sebastian, author of Women who Win at Work, wofw.com It seems that you have multipe themes:
1. “fixing” women
2. advancing women’s leadership
3. purpose of networking
4. mentoring
5. shifting company cultures
6. collaborations for multi gender concerns
7. opportunities for talent management

Each begs discussion and I have comments on each:
1. ‘Fixing” women is not the same as building upon our strengths. Women, in feneral, offer different viewpoints and strategies than men.
2. Supporting women’s initiatives is not as simple as instituting policies. Its roots are psychological.
3. Women getting together IS about strategizing and sharing. It is about resources, referrals, advice, feedback, camaraderie.
4. Many professionals involve themselves in mentoring on more of a personal level than organizational.
5. Company cultures are barometers of the business culture at large. They can influence each other.
6. It is shocking how few women’s organizations even know each other let alone interface with mixed gender initiatives! Not that this isn’t a good idea for certain collaborations, but as an overall mission, has limitations.
7. This is a topic for a separate discussion all together–but deserves examining!
Liane Sebastian, author of Women who Win at Work, wofw.com

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