Fireside Chat with Women Leaders Set the Example for Professional Events in 2006

In the past few weeks, several colleagues and friends of mine have asked me when the next Professional event would be...and if would it be similar to the Fireside Chat we had a few weeks ago with Indira Patel, CEO of New England Office Supply, Inc., and Shelley Chhabra, entrepreneur and owner of Shelley Chhabra Indian Bridal. After some contemplation, I realized that the Fireside Chat was a success due to the fact that we didn't target just Indian Professionals, or Indians in Boston (after all, aren't all desis professionals in some way or another..;), but instead we narrowed and targeted a select audience within our NETSAP affiliate..which would be women and minorities that have interest in entrepreneurship , starting their own business, or those that wish to follow through with their dreams...even with obstacles that they may face. In this regard, I see the Fireside Chat with Women Leaders to set the example or "Model the Way" for what I expect our Professional Events to encompass in 2006.

As I mentioned above, and in accordance with the audience that I saw, I would say there was a majority of women that attended, and perhaps a majority of those that recently started their own business, attend business school or come from an accounting/finance background, or have dreams to break away from their current discipline and pursue business. So, if I use this event as an example, here is what I saw. We had a perfect mix of business "entrepeneur types" with those that just were interested in hearing the women leaders' stories, as well as the right number of individuals that were genuinely interested to ask the right questions, keep the discussion moving, and provide entertainment to everyone in the attendance.

Contrary to a monthly happy hr, it wasn't loud, there was no hip-hop music, and the event did not end at last call. It was intimate, educational and enriching, and in slang terms.."chill". Even with the calm environment, networking continued prior to and after the event. There were many individuals that came out of the "woodworks" so to speak..and said "I don't normally come out to monthly HH, but saw this posting on Women Leaders, etc..and it sounded interesting..."
Delxi Fernandez commented "I went to the Fireside Chat meeting and loved it!... The knowledge I gained and respect for all entrepeneurs is priceless...Quote for the day:"Without passion or risk", you'll always wonder whatif".

So the Fireside Chat sets the example by first targeting a select audience, and second provides a special, unique, and different atmosphere to the Happy Hour atmosphere. Calm, relaxed, quiet contrary to loud and busy. There is one more distinction of why the Fireside Chat sets the example.

Well besides the obvious one, discussing a professional topic like business or entrepeneurship, the final particular feature from this event that really sets the example is the fact that there was someone to actually "set the example". 2 people to be exact. 2 Women Leaders led the discussion within a group of eager, inspired, young, desi professionals. By having someone to lead, then modeling the way naturally occurs...mentoring is emphasized....and simply enough, a story is told. Everyone loves stories!! We naturally want to hear of human struggles, trials and tribulations, and success over barriers. In this professional event, we have inherently incorporated mentoring, following a dream (doesn't this always start with a vision anyway??), and ...the big one...leadership.

So I would envision that with the Fireside Chat as an example, we make good use of audience, atmosphere, and leadership (which may be a mentor, a speaker, expert, or prominent figure in our professional society).

Be sure to keep updated with our events list for the rest of 2006. Jagjit and I expect to utilize these 3 features through the course of our upcoming Professional Events.

Tuhin