A Message From The Dean

Women's Leadership Conference: Ways Women Lead

The Simmons School of Management shone with another superb annual Leadership Conference on Saturday, May 5. Not only did we have record breaking attendance with 3,000 registrants, but the energy was the highest I have ever experienced. We have been getting wonderful feedback from guests, alumnae, sponsors, and attendees. The 28th Annual Conference, Ways Women Lead, positioned the SOM extremely well. I am proud that it was global in focus and shone the spotlight on a wide array of women leaders and the diverse ways that women lead.

The Conference offered a wonderful mix of business content, leadership stories and experiences, analysis of complex political and social issues, and skill development workshops. Leadership Conference Executive Director Joyce Kolligian's ('89) creative programming brought together a widely successful entrepreneur from China (Yue-Sai Kan), an inspiring international correspondent (Christiane Amanpour), business leaders who are integrating profitability and corporate social responsibility (Ann Moore of Time Inc. and Barbara Krumsiek of Calvert Group), international social and political activists (Jehan Sadat and Marta Sahagun de Fox), a leading cultural linguist (Deborah Tannen), and self-made entertainment star and business woman (Queen Latifah). Click here to see the whole program. The message at the bottom of the page from one of my invited corporate guests captures the impact of the day.

I am pleased to recognize our corporate sponsors from world class companies and organizations, including Platinum sponsor HP; Gold sponsors Pfizer and Philips; Bronze sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, and others including Deloitte, Ford, Goldman Sachs, Novartis, Pink magazine, Shattered magazine, State Street, and the US Postal Service.

We had about 150 alumnae in attendance. I want to extend special appreciation to all of the alumnae who contributed to the Conference's success, serving as escorts, introducers, and volunteers. SOM alumnae conceptualized and established this important event 28 years ago. It is heartening to see so many from the SOM community remain involved today.

On Saturday, our Conference truly earned its reputation as the premier women's leadership conference in the country, if not the globe. It is a world class event that enhances the SOM's brand and reputation. I could not have been more proud.

Feedback from corporate guest from Ernst and Young: "Thank you so much for including me in the 'Ways Women Lead' conference on Saturday. It was such an incredible event. I was flattered to be there. It was an unbelievable collection of speakers and I especially liked the fact that the focus was so external and so global. Ann (Moore) and Barbara (Krumsiek)...were amazing as were Christiane (Amanpour) and Madame Sadat, and on and on. Again, thank you very much for hosting me."