Past Events 
Here is a recap of some of our events ...
AWM Happy Hour at Vino Locale! – May 2008
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A delightful gathering of AWM women and their friends enjoyed the early summer evening at the outdoor patio of Vino Locale, a quaint wine bar housed in a Victorian home right off University Ave. in Palo Alto. What a lovely end to the day, indeed! We welcomed new acquaintances and reconnected with our dear friends, some we haven't seen since the winter, over appetizers and wines, both created locally.
Thank you to Christina Chiesa for organizing the event and introducing us to this little gem in Palo Alto.
Leadership Panel - Sphere of Influence:
A Discussion on Power and Integrity
– May 2008
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AWM's Sphere of Influence panel discussion event took place on May 20 in Santa Clara. Attendees included members from AWM, along with women from Intel, NSHMBA, and other local groups. Panelists shared their insight on a wide range of leadership topics: building relationships and working through people, bringing passion and conviction to the workplace, developing yourself as a brand and actively seeking opportunities, and the tips and tricks they found to help acheive a healthy life-work balance.
Thank you to the panelists who donated their time and shared their wisdom and experience:
Nina Bhatti, Kim Johnston, Jenny Lundberg, Jackie Sturm; Linda Holroyd for moderating.
AWM would like to thank Intel for providing our venue for the evening, Beta Gamma Sigma, SF Chapter for their book donation, Melissa Herman and Megan Barbier for organizing, and all the attendess who contributed to the evening's discussion!
AWM would like to extend a very special thank you to AWM member Kim Brown and Intel's Jan Gehlan for their assistance in this event.
AWM Happy Hour at District! – April 2008
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We had a fabulous turnout at the hip "new kid on the block" District wine bar on April 24th. It certainly lived up to its reputation for being one of the best wine bars in the City. The AWM gathering occupied a cozy area near the fireplace and enjoyed the excellent wines and appetizers. We saw many new faces and had a visitor from Willamette University in Oregon looking for tips on starting a NAWMBA professional chapter!
Many thanks to Sintha Viswanathan for organizing the event.
AWM Real Estate Panel – April 2008
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With stories of the turbulent real estate and mortgage loan markets hitting the front pages every week, the AWM held a panel of real estate, mortgage and tax professionals to get the inside scoop on what’s happening on the ground. We learned where the good values in the residential market can be found, and that there are TICs that are functional and profitable. We also got a primer on the risks and benefits of investing in commercial real estate (primarily apartment buildings). Mortgage and tax professionals gave us valuable advice on how to prepare for today’s tougher loan qualification standards, and where we need to be cautious with respect to tax implications of the various types of investments.
Special thanks to Young Song, who organized the event, and to our panelists Karen Chi, Christina Chiesa, Young Song, Reymond Arellano, and Nelson Lam. Thanks also to Melissa Herman, our moderator, and Christina Chiesa, our terrific caterer!
Influencing for Results – March 2008
Rebecca Zucker and Shannon Small from Next Step Partners led a group of AWM members and their guests in a self-discovery process that helped us acquire the tools to become more aware of how we can work better with people. “Influencing for Results” offers techniques outside the "bulldozer" approach, but which require thoughtful analysis and compassion. After completing a self-assessment questionnaire, we learned what we value most and our different "operating styles". Learning about people’s “currencies” was a breakthrough in understanding how we can achieve cooperation with less effort and greater effect.
Many thanks to Shannon Small for offering and organizing this valuable workshop to the AWM, as well as providing the venue!
Network & Dine Spring Series – March 2008
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AWM's Network & Dine series greeted the spring at the fabulous La Strada restaurant in Palo Alto. This was a terrific opportunity to network in our private room, as well as help out disadvantaged women by participating in the Dress for Success San Francisco Suit Drive. The excellent dining, the company of friends, and the nearly twenty suits collected made this event memorable indeed!
Many thanks to Kate Reid for organizing the event, to Caroline Cornely for organizing and handling the logistics of the Dress for Success San Francisco Suit Drive, and to our members and guests who donated to this worthy cause!
Living A Life Aligned With Your Values - An Evening with Executive and Leadership Coach, Nancy Monson – February 2008
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AWM hosted an evening with Nancy Monson, who specializes in leadership development, by encouraging leaders to increase their effectiveness by expanding self-awareness, changing limiting behaviors and leveraging strengths. Ms. Monson facilitated the group of AWM members and their guests through a lively and interactive workshop to become more aware of our values, techniques for noticing when our lives are in and out of alignment with our values, and how to manage the “gremlins” that can limit us to having the success we want.
Many thanks to Giselle Stahl for the tireless efforts required to organizing this event in addition to the fabulous catering, and Sonja Velez for securing a venue at Charles Schwab offices.
Coal Creek Preserve Hike, Santa Cruz Mountains – February 2008
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The weather goddesses smiled on the AWM “group-ling” as we ventured on our hike with MROSD docents Deborah Probst and Kay Partelow. Trusting that the pending storm would not hit till the afternoon, we threw on our raingear (just in case) and headed out to Coal Creek’s trails canopied by graceful California bay and madrone trees. We had breaks of sunshine and enjoyed the exercise as our docents enlightened us on the “stuff we saw” along the trails.
A heartfelt thanks to our docents, as well as Guldal and Eric Lindberg for making the event – an event! – and serving as a Mobile Whole Foods Unit!
Happy Hour at the W Café – February 2008
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AWM members and their guests gathered at the W Café in the W Hotel in San Francisco on February 21st during happy hour to network and share experiences. We welcomed many of our new AWM members who were enjoying their first events and are now looking forward to the next one. Most attendees were able to contribute to the collection of hotel toiletries for Casa de Las Madres, a local shelter that provides support for battered women.
Many thanks to Noelle McReynolds for organizing the event and everyone who came. We hope to see you again soon!
"SuperConnectors" Referral Roundtable in Menlo Park – February 2008
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AWM's first "SuperConnectors" was held in the Mid-Peninsula with master networking facilitator Will Richardson III. With a good dose of humor and encouragement, Will helped participants warm up and get to know each other well. First, the ladies were paired up and introduced themselves to their partners, and then had to demonstrate their excellent listening skills by introducing their partners to the rest of the group. We all had a chance to voice a pressing need - from a job search to investment tips in green and alternative energies!
Warmest thanks goes to Young Song for organizing the event and securing the excellent venue at Sun Microsystems for the AWM. Many thanks also to Lisa Violet who introduced Will to the AWM and co-organized the event. And of course, our deepest appreciation goes to Will for helping get us in a 'relationship building' mindset, far exceeding the exchange of business cards!
B.I.N.G.O. In Support of Women at the Marian Residence – February 2008
A group of AWM volunteers pitched in at the Bingo event held on
February 6 at the Marian Residence for Women, a shelter for homeless
women and women in transition. Several rounds of bingo and a hearty
dinner, served by the volunteers, were enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Caroline Cornely for coordinating the event and for her
infectious enthusiasm. Thanks go to the other AWM member/volunteers
whose generous donation of time helped brighten the spirits and morale
of the residents.
South Bay Happy Hour at Café Rosso & Bianco – January 2008
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A great crowd turned out on January 17th to share wine and stories at Café Rosso and Bianco on University Avenue in Palo Alto. The group congregated in the wine tasting area of the restaurant and shared flights and appetizers. There was a particularly large new member contingent thanks to an event posting on Craigslist. Many women MBAs that didn’t know about AWM found the event and decided to check out the organization. Don’t forget to let your women MBA friends and colleagues know about AWM so that they, too, can meet new friends and grow their network!
Thank you to Kate Reid, member of the Programming Committee, for organizing this happy hour and continuing to diligently support efforts to expand our presence in the Peninsula and South Bay.
Treasure Map 2008 Workshop - January 2008
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AWM member, Lisa Violet, facilitated the Treasure Map 2008 workshop on January 15th in San Francisco. Lisa introduced us to “treasure mapping”, a much more powerful and visual alternative to writing annual resolutions. Treasure mapping helps you focus on changes and goals you want to manifest using visual representation.
All the participants brought with them their hopes and dreams for the coming year and were very open in sharing their plans and obstacles in fulfilling their objectives. We all outlined a plan for our treasure maps and left with the materials and vision to complete the visual representations that will guide us in the coming year. We'll check back in twelve months to see how effective they were!
Lisa can be contacted with questions about treasure mapping at lisaviolet@theawm.com.
Special thank you to Giselle Stahl, AWM Programming Chair, for organizing the event along with Lisa Violet. Our appreciation also extends to Parker & Lynch, an executive recruiting firm, for supporting women MBAs by donating their office space for the event.
Women and Wine Holiday Event - December 2007
The "Women and Wine Holiday Event" was held on December 13th at The Beacon with a panoramic view over San Francisco's nightscape.
AWM Members and guests enjoyed the opportunity to relax over wine and hot apple cider during the hectic holiday season. We caught up with friends we haven't seen in a long time, and welcomed prospective members. It was wonderful to discover common acquaintances, laugh and reminisce over the past year's events.
A heartfelt thanks to Karen and Carlos for their hospitality, making us all feel right at home, and concluding another fabulous year of AWM programs.
Peace to All, Good Health, Joy and Many Blessings for 2008!
Network and Dine Winter Series - December 2007
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On December 5th, 17 women from the Bay Area were treated to an evening of fabulous food and engaging conversation at the romantic L'Olivier Restaurant in San Francisco. The event provided a great opportunity for current and prospective AWM Members to get to know each other. We shared a little bit about our hobbies, work, as well as aspirations for the coming year.
The evening opened with networking in a cozy, festive atmosphere prior to being seated for dinner. Dinner included scrumptious and generous courses: an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Wine also accompanied the meal. The heavenly chocolate mousse cake and strawberries with cream were a splendid conclusion to AWM's last 2007 Network and Dine event!
AWM SF Luncheon at Maya – September 2007
A dozen AWM members gathered at the fabulous Maya Restaurant for a sold-out casual luncheon in downtown San Francisco. We enjoyed great conversation, met new friends and reconnected with old ones, and experienced the delicious Mexican/Mediterranean cuisine of Maya. We look forward to having you join us next time!
AWM Climbs! – September 2007
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Seven brave women MBAs gathered at Mission Cliffs, an indoor rock climbing gym in San Francisco, to try their hands at rock climbing. All attendees were beginners with little or no climbing experience. We were instructed in belaying and climbing technique by Carolyn, one of the Mission Cliffs staff and had the opportunity to climb for several hours.
It was a great bonding experience and especially enjoyed by the goal-oriented gals that enjoy new challenges and problem solving. Most of the attendees said they will be back for more and began to plan with each other to come back and climb in the future. We had a leisurely lunch outside at the nearby Atlas Café. Thanks to Membership Chair, Emilie Cortes, for organizing the event.
Members-Only Cocktail Hour – August 2007
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Over twenty AWM members gathered at the swanky XYZ Bar in the W Hotel at 3rd and Howard. It was AWM's first member appreciation event to celebrate AWM's movement towards a professional membership-fee based organization. We all introduced ourselves to the group and learned more about the upcoming AWM/FWL mentorship program – an annual program where AWM members are matched with FWL members and mentor them through the business school application process. We enjoyed a wide variety of hors d'ouevres and networking all evening.
A special thank you to the XYZ Bar for their hospitality and assistance in planning this event.
Network and Dine Summer Series – August 2007
On August 7th, 20 women from the Bay Area were treated to a fabulous evening of delicious food and terrific conversation at Kingfish Restaurant in San Mateo. With women traveling from both San Francisco and San Jose to join in, the evening provided a great networking opportunity for both current and prospective AWM Members.
The evening opened with networking prior to being seated for dinner. Dinner included 3 courses – including choices for salad, entrees, and dessert. Wine also accompanied the meal.
During the course of the evening, all attendees shared a little bit about themselves and their professional background. Additionally, any women looking for new professional opportunities within the Bay Area were encouraged to share those aspirations
with the group in order to potentially 'mine' any contacts that might prove useful.
As the evening closed, the attendees traveled back home with their stomachs full and new contacts made. Another successful Network & Dine!
Referral Roundtable II – July 2007
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Referral Roundtable II was a follow-on to the very successful Referral Roundtable event held in January. The event was designed to provide a forum for women MBAs and also their trusted advisors (such as financial advisors, career coaches, and realtors) a chance to meet each other, create an AWM referral network, and share marketing ideas to generate new clients.
Thank you to Karen Chi for arranging the event to be held at The Beacon and to Emilie Cortes for organizing and facilitating.
Nutritious Cooking for Busy Professionals – June 2007
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Details to follow.
Navigating Difficult People (LifeMoxie) – June 2007
Details to follow.
Margaret Heffernan - How She Does It - May 2007
Over 20 members and guests gathered for an exhilarating evening featuring Margaret Heffernan and her new book 'How She Does It' at the Charles Schwab building in San Francisco. The evening started with a networking session, where everyone enjoyed appetizers, drinks and great conversation. It continued with the introduction of Margaret Heffernan, the keynote speaker who is an entrepreneur and CEO, and turned into a dynamic interaction between Margaret and the audience. Margaret talked about how women entrepreneurs are changing the rules for business success and how in her new book she focused more on an optimistic outlook for women in business compared to her earlier book, The Naked Truth.
The night ended with Q&A session from the audience, which included corporate business women and entrepreneurs and Margaret autographed her book. Margaret conveyed the following message to the audience who are interested in the entrepreneurial track:
- Take calculated risks
- Do not wait for the timing to be perfect
- Believe in yourself
- Do not be afraid to fail
- Find a niche where a need is not being fulfilled and focus on it
It was an educational event, which provided a great opportunity of networking and support for the AWM members and guests.
Special thanks go to AWM Program Director, Guldal Lindberg, for organizing the event and bringing Margaret to speak to AWM again. Thanks to Sonja Velez for providing the venue, to Erin Markey from Brand New Brands for sponsoring appetizers, to Karen Haus for coordinating the food and beverage set up.
March 2007 - The Secret: Movie and Discussion
AWM Member Susan Bernstein organized a showing of The Secret and facilitated a discussion with over 30 AWM members and Schwab employees. Having been personally influenced by the major themes in the movie, she wanted to facilitate an event to share the positive messages with the AWM audience.
Susan led a discussion of what the audience felt worked and what didn't work in the movie. She inspired the women to take more control over their lives and how they attract success and positive events and people to them. Susan will be leading a “Secret Success Circle” for members that would like to work on implementing the concepts discussed in the movie.
Thank you to Susan for generating this event idea and facilitating the discussion. Thanks also to AWM member Sonja Velez for arranging the use of the Charles Schwab auditorium.
March 2007 – AWM / 85 Broads Network and Dine Event
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Over 30 women from AWM and 85 Broads gathered for a fantastic evening of networking and dining at Scott Howard restaurant in San Francisco. The energy in the private room was amazing as the women engaged in lively conversation. We look forward to partnering with 85 Broads for future Network and Dine events.
Special thanks go to AWM and 85 Broads member, Kate Reid, for organizing the event and bringing the two associations together.
Feburary 2007 - Open Board Meeting
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Outgoing AWM board members, new board members, and interested AWM members came together at the home of the AWM Marketing Chair, Perrine Conrath in SOMA. The AWM leadership decided to open the board meeting in order to recruit new leadership to manage the organization. Several new members have taken on leadership roles and we are very excited to have their motivation and enthusiasm to energize AWM efforts in 2007. Look for the announcements of the composition of the new leadership team shortly!
Thank you to Perrine for hosting this dynamic meeting. January 2007 - Referral Roundtable: Helping Each Other
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AWM members that rely on referrals for their livelihood gathered at The Metropolitan in SOMA for a potluck event to learn about each other and explore ideas for generating new client leads. Career coaches, money coaches, residential real estate agents, interior designers, financial advisors, and even a nutriceuticals saleswoman were participants.
President Emilie Cortes facilitated the meeting and each participant gave a 10 minute talk about what they do, what type of client they were looking for and how they need help from the AWM network. A couple of AWM members that don't rely on referrals were also in attendance to learn more about what services are available through the AWM network.
A special thanks to Karen Chi, AWM Member at Large, for arranging the venue.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next referral roundtable event. It was a hit and the participants hope to hold one quarterly.
January 2007 - Networking 101
Twenty-five women gathered at the Keller Williams SF office to learn how to take more of the fear out of networking and maximize the AWM network. There was a diverse audience consisting of current AWM students, recent MBA grads, and more seasoned MBA executives.
President Emilie Cortes shared testimonials on the power of networking for any cynics in the audience and gave practical advice regarding different networking situations: cold-calling/emailing, warm-calling/emailing, internet networking, and networking at events and with associations.
Each participant developed a statement to better articulate what they were looking to get out of networking and refined it with a partner. Everyone shared their goal and whether it was finding asset management contacts, looking for resume feedback, or getting the skinny on Big 4 accounting, there was at least one person in the audience that was willing to help.
A special thanks to Karen Chi for arranging the venue at the office her employer, Keller Williams.
November 2006 - How to Succeed in Business without Being a Man
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While women have come a long way toward equality in this country, there is still a great divide in Corporate America. AWM member Kerrie Halmi of Halmi Performance Consulting led a workshop where AWM members explored how to:
- Enhance business success through learning skills in influencing others and gaining credibility.
- Build awareness of how women have succeeded in Corporate America through the use of these skills.
- Hear about the most recent research on women in business and what that means for them.
In order to gain complete equality in the workplace, women need to recognize some of the specific ways to gain credibility. Through extensive research and over 15 years in Corporate America, these Success Techniques have been developed to increase women's influence and presence in business.
To contact Kerrie or learn more about leadership program designed specially for women, go to the Professional Women's Dream Team site.
September 2006 - "Back from Summer" Happy Hour and Race for the Cure
In September, old and new AWM members gathered at an old favorite - Palomino - to swap stories from the summer. Lots of networking was accomplished in light of the dramatically improving job market.
Additionally, AWM participated in the Race for the Cure for the third year. Each year we have a team of motivated individuals run or walk the Race for the Cure. This year a thank you goes to Shannon Small, AWM Team Captain and breast cancer survivor!
August 2006 - AWM/FWL Mixer
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Members of the Association of Women MBAs (AWM) and the Future Women Leaders (FWL) groups met at the trendy bar, SWIG, in Union Square for some good food and good conversation.
The mixer was in honor of the lauch of the annual joint Mentorship Program in which AWM members mentor FWL members applying to business school. The event gave the women a chance to get to know each other and learn some great tips about the painful business school application process.
Many thanks to the hard work of the directors of the Mentorship Program - Shannon Small from AWM and Connie Lin from FWL. To learn more, go to our Mentoring Programs page or the Future Women Leaders Events page.
April 25, 2006 - Network and Dine
AWM held the first Network & Dine event of 2006 on Tuesday, April 25. Iluna Basque was the featured restaurant. The tapas were fantastic! We welcomed several new members to their first AWM event and spent the evening sharing stories and getting to know one another. Discussion topics included job search strategies, real-estate, workplace horror stories, and, of course, the AWM organization. The Iluna Basque Network & Dine was a great event that allowed members to share resources and ideas and make connections with each other.
Many thanks to Guldal Lindberg for organizing!
April 23, 2006 - GirlVentures Mt. Tam Hike
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On Sunday, April 23rd, 2006, AWM participated in the GirlVentures 4th Annual Mt. Tam Trek to provide an insider's glimpse into the methodology and magic of the Summer Programs for girls, while raising funds for GirlVentures. The trek consisted of a 7 mile hike with over 2,500 ft gain on Mt Tamalpais.
The AWM team consisted of team captains Christina Chiesa and Joslyn Faust and team member Emilie Cortes. The team raised over $1,000 for GirlVentures! Thank you to the team participants, as well as AWM member and GirlVentures board member, Ei-Mang Wu, that brought this event to our attention.
March 30, 2006 - Residential Real Estate Panel
As wild as the real estate market is out there, it's good to hear so many level headed perspectives from AWM members. Both buyers and sellers were represented, and this was one of our best attended events yet! While the conversation centered mainly around San Francisco-specific issues (can anyone say TIC?) a concerted effort was made to address many different issues surrounding real estate. Our own Emilie and Shanon presented the buyer's side with tales of ownership adventure, while members Karen Chi, Chris Chiesa and sponsor Richard Sintchak of JP Morgan Chase rounded out the panel from the real estate professional perspective. Anne Cramer, AWM VP asked plenty of dumb questions so that no one felt left out ;). Please feel free to write to her at ajc44@cornell.edu if you want to get in touch with any of the panelists.
March 21, 2006 - Accelerating Your Career Success with Christy Consler
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AWM members participated in a fantastic workshop: Accelerating Your Career Success - Secrets for Women That They Don't Teach You In Business School.
The Sports Club LA sponsored the venue and offered all registrants a free one-week pass and special membership deals. Presenter Christy Consler, Founder and President of Consler Coaching & Consulting, Inc., shared amazing statistics on women in the workforce and coached the group on introspective exercises and action steps.
Topics of discussion included: credibility, personal appearance and others' perceptions, communication, and confidence. One of the highlights of the evening was Christy's concept of personal branding. Participants spent time in breakout sessions identifying and defining their personal brands. A key take-away from the workshop was the importance of self-awareness. Knowing yourself and what your values and priorities are is the cornerstone to career success.
To learn more about Christy Consler and her upcoming Professional Women's Dream Team program, please contact info@conslercoaching.com or 415.876.0262.
February 1, 2006 - Women & Wine in North Beach
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On February 1st, eight courageous women braved the rain and unusually bad traffic to gather at Guldal Lindberg's house for a relaxing evening of Women & Wine. We talked, laughed, watched Guldal's wedding video from Turkey, and ordered a pizza. It was like a group of old friends reuniting. We look forward to better weather and less hazardous travel conditions for future events! Thanks again to Guldal for hosting! If you would like to host a Women & Wine event at your home, please email m_s629@yahoo.com.
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