C4W Member Profile: Leigh Thomson

What is your profession? Admissions Coordinator -  Southern Wesleyan is a 100 year old non-profit Christian university offering both undergraduate (BSHS and BSBM) and graduate degrees (MBA and MEd) for the working adult where you take class one night a week as a full-time student.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I enjoy volunteering at my children’s school currently serving as PTA VP of Fundraising.  I like to travel, play golf and soccer, boating and spending time with friends and family.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women?  3 years

What inspired you to become a member? A former colleague introduced me to C4W and then I became impressed with what C4W aims to accomplish, programs offered and the networking opportunities.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? C4W has provided me the opportunity to hear excellent speakers and meet other professional and compassionate women in business.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Going back to work full-time has forced me to constantly reevaluate the balance of work and home-life to be sure my priorities are aligned with my family’s goals and allowing time for personal happiness.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Networking is critical in getting to know what opportunities are out there.  Always think positive and don’t be shy about meeting others – consider everyone a potential friend when you meet them.  Attend any free networking event and have business cards at all times even if you are not employed.  Be sure to set up an account on Linked In and befriend anyone that is doing something you are interested in.

How can people connect with you? Feel free to email me at lthomson@swu.edu or call 843-266-7981.  I can also be found on Linked In.

C4W Member Profile: Michelle Forrester

What is your profession? Professional Organizer

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Reading, Volunteering in the community, sending time with my family going to the movies.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 2 years

What inspired you to become a member? I was at one of the speed networking events and I learned what the Center for Women do in the community and I really like the purpose of the organization.  So, I join for that reason.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has showed me how to listen more to what individuals say so that I can understand what they need.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? I’ve learned that as a woman I can achieve my dreams and goals if I focus on strengths and put them to work in every area of my life.  And in doing this I have a well-balanced life.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I truly believe if women would look on the inside of their selves they will find the strength to overcome any situation and circumstance in the economy.

How can people connect with you? They can connect with me on my website: www.stylebyconstantine.com, Twitter: @StyleConstant, Blog: styleconstant.blogspot.com, Facebook Fanpage: facebook.com/stylebyconstantine, or LinkedIn: Michelle Forrester

C4W Member Profile: Chelsea Shamsedin

What is your profession?  Talent Coordinator at CTS International

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to the beach, exercising, and reading.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Just joined.

What inspired you to become a member? I really believe in what the C4W does for women by helping them to succeed and wanted to become involved.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has made me want to contribute more of my time to helping advance successful women in the lowcountry. I want to be someone people can reach out to and depend on.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman encourages me to live my life in a positive way. I know I am compassionate, kind, and nurturing.  I’m always willing to help when needed.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? We gage people by what actions they take and accomplishments they achieve. Be proud of who you are and what you are capable of and share it with the rest of us!

C4W Member Profile: Ronnell Freeman

What is your profession? Private Investigator

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Reading

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 6 months

What inspired you to become a member?  I see how the center is helping woman succeed by having different events.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I am able to meet and network with people I have never met with before.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? As a woman I am looked at as not qualified to do certain jobs, however this has only made me stronger after proving myself.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I would like to encourage them by saying that success lies in the hand of the beholder. If you want it you can have it, it may not be easy but it will be worth it.

C4W Member Profile: Buffie Bell Lilly

What is your profession? Professional Matchmaker, Charleston Wine Pairings

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I sing the National Anthem for the RiverDogs, The Charleston Battery and The Stingrays. I also enjoy running the bridge…it’s so beautiful after a long day!

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 2 years

What inspired you to become a member? The Speed Networking event last year when I met so many inspiring women.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has really opened my eyes to all of the incredible, independent women business owners in the lowcountry and inspired me to start my own!

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? It is truly amazing how we women do it all with the pressure that the media puts on all of us to look perfect, be the perfect wife/mom and have a hot dinner on the table when our husbands get home (with heels and a cute dress on of course). I certainly don’t live up to these standards, but I do my best!

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? THINK POSITIVE! Believe in yourself, focus on your dreams, and NEVER let negativity stop you.

Growing Up and Growing My Network – C4W’s Speed Networking Event

Guest blogger and C4W intern, Sarah Andrews, shares her experience with Monday night’s Annual Entrepreneurs Speed Networking Event.

 

Monday night made me an adult. Or at least it made me feel like one.

I walked into the Center for Women’s 9^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking Event, wearing slacks and carrying my first set of official business cards. I went in as a senior in college overwhelmed by my future and I left encouraged, empowered, and informed with new contacts and job options.

I wish every senior had the opportunity that I did. Lucky enough to be serving as the Center for Women intern, I planned to attend the event to help them but I did not realize how much I would be helping myself.

Entering a room filled with tons of tables and wonderful women, I found my place at the correctly numbered table. Each table was numbered for 3 different rounds of speed networking, which was much like speed dating only, at the end of the night you end up with job opportunities rather than romantic ones.

And I certainly did end up with opportunities – many of them. Throughout the two hours I was able to meet and exchange business cards with almost 30 women!?! I have already received an email, a phone call and a LinkedIn request… all from one evening.

I have been told over and over again in college that it is more of who you know rather than what you know.

I cannot think of a better or more enjoyable way to increase who I know than an event like Monday night’s. It was so encouraging to see women excited and motivated in what they were doing for themselves and for the community. I walked away with job opportunities and contacts but, more importantly, empowerment to feel like I can truly make an impact in my community, as was evident in each of the women I met.

As if this was not enough, the event also increased what I know as well. The incredibly eloquent and entertaining Dr. Elaine Yarbrough spoke on Women’s Wisdom. She had startling statistics and revealing data on how women are disadvantaged starting as children in elementary school classrooms up to working women in the board rooms. Fortunately, she also shared advice on how to support other women and stand up for ourselves in the office, home, and community.

I now feel like I have a jump start to do just that because of this event and all the great connections I made there!

If you want to join me, be sure to check out the Center for Women and become a member if you aren’t already.

Annnnnd, be sure to come out to the 10^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking event in 2011, especially if you missed the fun this year!

Women in Business Conference – Girl Power Ensued

Hundreds of women piled into the Women in Business Conference last Friday to hear inspirational speakers, participate in productive workshops and most importantly – share the opportunity to connect with other women both different and alike. The day kicked off with a convocation speech from Colonel Martha A. Meeker, Commander of the new 628th Air Base Wing that will operate Joint Base Charleston. Her inspiring talk was followed by the speed networking event, in which each woman was able to sit at a table, go around in a circle and introduce themselves. At the ring of a bell, women rushed to the second table and embraced the opportunity to meet others and emphasize the role each played in the rapid world surrounding her. The first event triggered a compelling, contagious “girl power” energy in the air, which grew throughout the conference.

The fire peaked at lunch in large part due to our keynote speaker, Linda Tarr-Whelan who casually stated, “When a door opens, go through it.” In all walks of life, we are faced with opportunities, but we often times take difficulty in breaking the realm, the stereotype. Take a day to yourself, take the promotion, dive full force into whatever it is you think you MAY want to do…trust your instinct. No more second guessing yourself. “What’s the worst that can happen if you do go through the door?” Failure? The risk of being let down? If you fall, take all you can, learn and pick yourself back up. And that’s what Linda Tarr-Whelan’s speech emphasized. If we don’t break the mold and do what we innately know and feel is right now, when will we? A long path has been traveled but it in no way has been conquered.

The vivacious energy throughout the conference sent off the poignant message that we should carry with us – throw your fist in the air and JUST DO IT! You may choose to leap, jump or take baby steps; there is no “right” way. Regardless of how long it takes, you are still taking the chance. Vulnerability is difficult for all of us, but even if you put yourself out there and fall, you will still gain. It is through experience that we become both stronger and smarter; how else do we learn? Go through the door, embrace your opportunities…Really, what do you have to lose?