Announcements and Opportunities

NAFE Women of Excellence Honored in NYC. Carol Evans (photo-L), CEO of Working Mother Media, and Betty Spence (photo-R), President of NAFE, flank NAFE's 2010 NAFE Woman of Achievement, Dr. Jennifer Howse (photo-middle), president of the March of Dimes Foundation. Dr. Howse was awarded NAFE's top honor at a breakfast celebration December 2 in New York City for her work with the March of Dimes prematurity campaign, which has reverse a 30-year trend of premature births and has saved 10,000 babies over the last eight years. Oraia Reid, recipient of the Service to New York City award, wowed the audience of 150 with her story of turning personal crisis into the nonprofit RiteRides for Women's Safety that ensures that women in NYC get home safely at night. Perhaps the most heroic recipient was Johnna Torsone, honored for her focus on wellness at Pitney Bowes – who stayed for the entire award ceremony while her daughter was in labor with her first child! Nine other Women of Excellence also were honored. To read about their remarkable achievements, click here.

Two Free Reports on Financial Planning for Women. MetLife’s Mature Market Institute has released a survey of female executives and their views on financial confidence and retirement planning. Thirty-four percent of the women said they’ve lost a considerable amount of their savings in the recent economic downturn – and 62% are afraid they’ll never be able to afford retirement. So how healthy is your own financial future? You can access the study, as well as “What Today's Woman Needs to Know and Do: The New Retirement Journey” and “Memo to Professional Women: Own Your Retirement Security” by clicking here.

Protecting Yourself Against Confrontations and Life-Threatening Situations‏. Just released: Mentalist Martial Arts: Conflict Resolution by Misdirection by Dr. Ryan Blumenthal (Athena Press, Oct. 2010). The book includes the three best questions to ask in life-threatening situations; how to defend and protect others during an “acute emotional storm; and how to extend these techniques to the executive board room meeting and private relationships.

5 Tips: Passion as a Catalyst for Success

This issue’s 5 Tips come from Erica Moore-Burton, Esq. and her book The Little Professional P.I.N.K. Book of Success. P.I.N.K. is an acronym for Passion, Integrity, No Limits and Knowledge that can invigorate your career and propel you to new heights. Erica currently serves as an executive director for a national employment search firm. Her book is aimed at young women just starting out in their careers – but every professional woman can use this advice:

1. Passion: The book takes you through a series of exercises to help you find your passion. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you exert more energy into things, big and small. When you infuse more energy and passion into your activities, success is the inevitable result. When you succeed at small things, momentum kicks in and you succeed at the larger things as well. Erica’s mantra: Success attracts Success.

2. Mentors: Find a mentor! It doesn’t have to be someone in your chosen career just yet. Identify someone that is successful by your standards and others, someone you admire and respect. Then simply ask them to start mentoring you. Don’t be afraid to ask – just start the relationship. Successful women know the importance of giving back.

3. Visibility: Make yourself visible in your organization by putting in 110 percent. Volunteer for tasks that others do not necessarily want, and always go the extra mile. Think about what is “expected of you,” then do three more things in addition to that! These little things will get you noticed. The “reputation ripple” will start to take effect, and opportunities will open up.

4. Perspective: Be open to constructive criticism. Ask your managers for frequent reviews. They are a tool that can really help shape your career. Many companies don’t have consistent review processes in place. If your company doesn’t, create your own. Also use your own peer group. Erica’s book takes readers through a 360 peer review: a really powerful exercise to identify traits that could be holding you back – or could take your career to the next level.

5. Birds of a Feather: A major key to success: Meet and associate with successful women. As you do, you’ll gain access to a myriad of other resources and information, and will become involved in conversations that really will increase your level of success.

Member News

Tameka Washington was interviewed for a recent issue of Goddess Magazine about her work with young women interested in journalism careers. Tameka’s editorial service In the Words Consulting helps editors, publishers, students, trainers, businesses and individuals “communicate their ideas in the most appropriate and effective format.”

NAFE Online Connections

Read Leah Bourne’s blog on the eight jobs that are still sexist, according to Newsweek. Do you agree or disagree? Voice your own concerns at the NAFE Cafe blog.

Upcoming Events

For a complete list of events, see our online Calendar!

New York, NY
December 10, 2010
Has the time come for bolder policies for diversity at the top of the corporation? Attend this research symposium given the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College and the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Center for Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School. Click here for details.

New York, NY
December 14, 2010
Mutual of Omaha hosts a presentation on retirement planning. Topics covered will include: When should I start saving for retirement? How much will I need to save? What tax advantages are available to me? The event is free – but you must RSVP. Read more here.

Virtual Event/Anywhere
January 6, 2011
Maria Marsala of Elevating Your Business presents a webinar and teleseminar titled “Economy Proof Your Business: It Starts with a Business Vision Statement.” Learn all about it here.

• Go to nafe.com to view our ever-expanding Calendar of Events for opportunities around the country. The new Search function makes the Calendar even more useful and accessible.
• Use the Event Submission Form online to let us know about events in your area. Events submitted for the website will also be considered for the NAFE News & Notes– twice the exposure for one listing!

Check the NAFE Calendar of Events for network meetings, workshops and other happenings around the country.