Kellogg Executive Women's Network

Lois Haulbold '01
lhaubold2001@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Dolores Slaughter '92
djslaughter@ymail.com

The Kellogg Executive Women's Network (KEWN) participated in many exciting programs during the fall and winter quarters.

In October, KEWN co-sponsored with the Mark Shale department store on Michigan Avenue a program featuring style icon, Maria Pinto. Pinto is a Chicago-based designer known for "dressing" such well-known women as First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. She discussed the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship and the art of reinventing oneself and one's company. She also shared with KEWN her view of current trends in fashion and the items every well-dressed businesswoman should have in her closet. More than 75 women attended this very special fall kick-off event.

Throughout the fall, KEWN partnered with the Union League Club in its Author's Luncheon series. KEWN members and guests were fortunate to hear Stacy Schiff (Cleopatra), Ken Burns (Prohibition), Jim Lehrer (Tension City), Tom Brokaw (The Time of Our Lives), Harry Belafonte (My Song: A Memoir), and Jennifer Granholm (A Governor's Story). These authors gave excellent, thought-provoking presentations and were available for book signing. We were honored to meet them.

In November, nearly 40 KEWN members and guests had an opportunity to Hear W.K. Kellogg III, president of General Packaging Products in Chicago. Kellogg is the son of W.K. Kellogg II, who established the John L. and Helen Kellogg Foundation (which endowed the Kellogg School of Management), and the great-grandson of the late W.K. Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg Cereal Company. He shared his insights on entrepreneurship, promotion of women in leadership and the importance of giving back to the community.

In December, nearly 60 KEWN members and guests attended the Fifth Annual Holiday Brunch and Networking event to benefit Community Alternatives Unlimited (CAU), a nonprofit case management agency. CAU provides support to people in our community who continue to struggle in these hard economic times. Our members enjoyed brunch and brought gifts to wrap for babies and children, gift cards for families and other essentials that families would otherwise not have for the holidays. Several of our members again offered exceptional help and support by sponsoring specific families and provided gifts on their holiday "wish list." More children are attending each year as their mothers recognize the importance of teaching the gift of giving.

Lastly, this January, approximately 90 KEWN members and guests gathered at the Allen Center to hear Wayne Breitbarth conduct a primer on utilizing LinkedIn. Breitbarth, considered a LinkedIn guru, has trained more than 10,000 business people on how to effectively use the professional networking site. Attendees received his best-selling book, The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start your Business, Brand, and Job Search.