The third annual Women Entrepreneurship Week Conference on Oct. 19 offered inspiration and advice, plus a chance to learn how to juggle in the literal sense.<\/p>\n
Mimi Feliciano, the founder of the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at Montclair State, kicked off the conference by sharing lessons she learned from her experience as a competitive ballroom dancer. Feliciano, who runs FEM Real Estate, said dancing taught her how to let others lead, which led her to give more responsibility\u2014and opportunities\u2014to her staff.<\/p>\n
The conference is one of the most high-profile events held during Women Entrepreneurship Week<\/a>, when 40 organizations held events on every continent except Antarctica. WEW was launched at Montclair State in 2014, and grew into an international movement in 2016.<\/p>\n The \u201cTaking Risks\u201d panel, moderated by alumna and retired VP of Prudential Financial Michele Ansbacher, featured insights from entrepreneurs as well as corporate execs. These pieces of advice registered with attendees, who shared them on Twitter:<\/p>\n \u201cFail fast, and recover quickly,\u201d Debbie Dyson<\/a>,\u00a0corporate VP of Client Experience at ADP. \u201cThink big, be bold, speak up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe more conviction you have, the more people will follow you,\u201d Laura Overdeck<\/a>, founder and president, Bedtime Math Foundation<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re not fearful anymore, maybe it\u2019s time to try something new,\u201d Jessica Gaffney<\/a>, founder and CEO of Wavework<\/p>\n \u201cIf not now, when? Go for it! There\u2019s always going to be an obstacle,\u201d Sunita Holzer<\/a>,\u00a0EVP and chief human resources officer at Realogy.<\/p>\n Photos from the conference. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Video from the conference<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n A panel of leaders from Women Presidents\u2019 Organization, titled \u201cMoving the Needle: WPO Members Share Tips for Success,\u201d covered various aspects of entrepreneurship. Susan French<\/a>, CEO of Social Media Link, told the audience to be tenacious. \u201cWhen I believe in something, I fight for it,\u201d she said. French also talked about how working in a relatively new industry can be a challenge but also offer freedom. She noted there is no road map for running a social media company. \u201cWe get to make the map, and make the road,\u201d French said. Jayne Millard<\/a>, CEO of Turtle & Hughes Inc., advised, \u201cNever allow yourself to be intimidated by anyone, ever. Ever.\u201d The panel also talked about the reality of owning a business, with 24 Seven Inc. President Celeste Gudas<\/a> saying being an entrepreneur is 10 times more work than you expected. The panel also talked about entrepreneurs\u2019 propensity to break the rules. Moderator Marsha Firestone<\/a>, the founder and president of WPO, noted entrepreneurs aren\u2019t necessarily the best students\u2014they may rack up C grades\u2014because they have a habit of breaking rules.<\/p>\n NJBIZ story on the WEW conference<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno<\/a> talked about lessons she\u2019s learned by breaking barriers as New Jersey\u2019s first lieutenant governor and, previously, as sheriff of Monmouth County. A promoter of business all over New Jersey, Guadagno also advocates for more women at top levels of management. She noted there are more men named John running large companies than women of any name at the top of large companies. Guadagno told attendees to be the best educated and most prepared person in the room. She concluded: \u201cThe women are the problem-solvers, so let\u2019s get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n The conference culminated with an interactive presentation by Jen Slaw<\/a>, a performer, speaker and juggler. In her speech, \u201cWomen: The Master Jugglers! How to Build a Fulfilling and Balanced Life,\u201d Slaw used juggling to make metaphors about juggling professional and personal life. For example, one piece of advice is \u201clearn from the drops,\u201d or mistakes. Slaw had each attendee balance a peacock feather on the palm of the hand to make the point about maintaining equilibrium, literally and figuratively. The highlight was when Slaw taught the audience how to juggle, with attendees teaming up to toss multi-colored balls between them. There were laughs, some shrieks, and a lot of bending over to pick up dropped balls as scores of attendees attempted to juggle. The attendees, more than 90 percent of whom were women, may have learned from the drops that figurative juggling may be easier than actual juggling. Video clip of audience trying to juggle.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The third annual Women Entrepreneurship Week Conference on Oct. 19 offered inspiration and advice, plus a chance to learn how to juggle in the literal sense. 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