Girls In Tech

July 16, 2009

7:00 pm

Tina Seelig, executive director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, kicked off this weekend’s inspirational  “I don’t know to CEO” event by declaring that innovation is all about turning problems into opportunities, and that entrepreneurship is an extreme sport that’s all about getting out there and doing it.  Tina teaches the popular “Innovation and Creation” class at Stanford and she encouraged conference attendees to adopt the following principles to drive innovation:

1. Use your gut instead of your head
2. Be willing to experiment
3. Leverage limited resources to fuel your creativity (i.e. necessity is the mother of invention)

Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, gave the keynote address and her message was about finding success by being true to who you are, i.e. “being the best possible version of yourself,  and making decisions everyday that will lead you to where you want to be.”

The Inspiration workshop following the keynote featured founders of four early stage start-ups, in addition to the CMO of Mint.com – Donna Wells, and the founder of Meebo – Elaine Wherry.  The panelists were in resounding agreement about the path to forging a start-up – Start something, do something, and go from there.  Specifically, they emphasized the importance of meeting with partners on a weekly basis to brainstorm and build upon innovative ideas from which a start-up could be created.  The panelists gave the following advice to aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. Observe pain and solve it
2. Have the resolve to follow what you know to be true
3. Build a strong business that will endure and adapt (challenges can be a blessing)
4. Brick walls are for other people (the resilient entrepreneur will blast through the walls)
5. Focus on simplicity — try not to be all things to all people

Next up, the Instruction workshop gave broad advice about how to build a successful and rewarding career.  Mara Brazer, founder of Brazer Communications, gained everyone’s attention when she announced “Everything I ever fantasized about in life came true.”  Inspiring words indeed.  The panelists gave the following guidance for achieving your dreams:

1. Do what you enjoy, do a great job, and the money will follow
2. Have a long-range perspective when it comes to your career
3. Be resourceful, have an open mind, and know that it takes a lot of hard work to get to your dream job/life

Finally, the power panel of the day, titled “View From the Top: Changing the Face of Technology” emphasized the importance of persistence and adaptability — key elements that require resolve and the ability to tune into the feedback loop of how users and the market react to a product.  Jawed Karim, co-founder of YouTube, encouraged entrepreneurs to watch trends to identify opportunities in the market, while Ellen Siminoff – part of the founding executive team at Yahoo and currently the CEO of Shmoop, noted that “New companies are formed from the mistakes of existing companies.”  Jessica Steel – VP of Business Development at Pandora confirmed Ellen’s point by stating that the opportunity for Pandora came out of the mistakes (too many radio commercials) of media giant Clear Channel.  As a singer-songwriter with one released album and another on the way, Jessica Steel (aka Jessica Stone) also seemed to embody the advice that I heard repeatedly at the event, “Do what you love and the money will follow.”

A big fat thanks to the Stanford Women in Business group for putting on such an inspirational and educational event!  And thanks to the AMAZING speakers and panelists for sharing your experiences with us!

If you attended the event or have more to add, I’d love to hear from you — please post a comment.

April 25, 2009
10:00 am	to	3:30 pm

In today’s economy, as the unemployment rate continues to rise, many people are thinking about ways to start their own business.  Some are taking this time as an opportunity to reevaluate their careers and determine what path they want to take.

Whether you’re looking to start your own venture, learning the ropes at your first entry-level job or leading a successful company and looking to reach new heights, the Stanford Women in Business (SWIB) group’s Spring conference will be one you don’t want to miss.

Entitled, “I Don’t Know to CEO: Inspiration at Every Milestone,” the mission of the conference is to educate you, motivate you and inspire you to achieve success at every point in your career.  It provides an opportunity to hear stories from successful leaders, participate in hands-on conference workshops, and in the process, broaden your definition of the path a career can and should take.

An impressive lineup of speakers will be featured including the Executive Director of Wikipedia, Inventor of Gmail, Founding Executive of Yahoo, Senior VP of Pandora, Co-Founder of Youtube, the Founders of Meebo and many more.

Click here to check out the complete list of speakers and workshops.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 25 at the Annenburg Auditorium and is open to both men and women.  Students attend free and the cost for non-students is only $5.  To register, visit http://swib.stanford.edu/idk2ceo/2009/home.html

About Stanford Women in Business
The vision of SWIB is to provide the women of Stanford University an opportunity to build a foundation in business and join an encouraging community of aspiring and successful businesswomen. SWIB intends to equip young women with the tools necessary to seize their talent and succeed in the world of business. Through events and programs such as business skill workshops, leadership conferences, career exposès, or mentorship pairings, SWIB is helping women find career direction, network with alumni and peers, and set and achieve ambitious career goals. To learn more about SWIB visit http://swib.stanford.edu/

Girls in Tech headed to Palo Alto on Saturday to attend the Stanford Women in Business “Off the Street – A Woman’s Guide to Non-     Traditional Careers” conference. This was such a great opportunity to introduce Girls in Tech to the next generation of women in technology and encourage women looking to pursue careers in technology, especially given the current economic times, to follow their heart. We went in thinking it would be a good experience for the young women of Stanford; it turned out to be a fantastic event for us as well.

Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, keynoted the event and passed the audience the same, sage advice: do what you love. Cupcakes may not seem like high tech, but hey, a girl’s got to eat! (And, if you haven’t been fortunate enough to try one, do not pass go, go straight to a Sprinkles bakery near you. I recommend the Black and White. HEAVEN.)

During the address, Candace discussed her experience in founding and developing Sprinkles, which was the first-ever cupcake-only bakery. What we learned was that it’s not the industry that matters – her experience could have applied to a start-up anywhere. What was instrumental to her business was having a passion for what she was doing and putting a real stake in the ground for its success. At the end of the day, if you love what you do, success will come.

We are in many different industries and have different backgrounds, but, at Girls in Tech, we all love what we do. Many thanks to Stanford Women in Business for allowing us to share that passion with their members. Up next, Web 2.0!

 

This conference is hosted by Stanford Women in Business (SWIB). SWIB seeks to provide the women of Stanford University an opportunity to build a foundation in business and join an encouraging community of aspiring and successful businesswomen. Stanford Women in Business intends to equip young women with the tools necessary to seize their talent and succeed in the world of business. Through events and programs such as business skill workshops, leadership conferences, career exposès, or mentorship pairings, SWIB is helping women find career direction, network with alumni and peers, and set and achieve ambitious career goals.

KEYNOTE

Speaker: Candace Nelson, Founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes
“Sprinkles Cupcakes: Building A Business From Scratch”

OPPORTUNITIES

The fair will include booths hosted by Stanford student business and women’s organizations as wells as women’s professional organizations from the Bay Area. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about membership, activities, and upcoming events related to their business interests. Representatives will be available to answer questions and share experiences.

Participants will include:
* 85 Broads
* AKPsi
* Stanford Consulting
* Stanford Finance
* Stanford Marketing
* Gumball Capital
* Stanford Venture Capital Club
* Cap & Gown
* Stanford Pre-Business Association
* Girls in Tech
* Stanford Women in Business
* Future Women Leaders
*Stanford Society for Entrepreneurs in Latin America
…and more!

WORKSHOPS AND PANELS

NETWORKING WORKSHOP

Does the term “networking” make you a little nervous – or even a lot? Join Dr. Susan Bernstein as she helps you discover helpful ways to make your networking easier. You’ll discover what to say and how to say it. And you’ll learn how to start up or break into a conversation. If you happen to be one of those “shy” types, find out how you can overcome your nerves and feel more at ease. If you’re wanting to make meaningful connections to help you land jobs and internships, this workshop will give you tips, perspectives, and even hands-on practice, so that networking becomes less nerve-wracking and more valuable.

CONSULTING PANEL

Learn about a wide variety of career opportunities within consulting from:

* Phyllis Moore, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Human Capital Consulting
* Sonia Nagala, Associate, Parthenon Group, Strategy Consulting
* Minli Virdone, Associate, McKinsey & Co, Management Consulting

Have your own questions about functions within consulting answered by the panelists.

NON-TRADITIONAL BUSINESS CAREER PANEL

A panel featuring leading female business professionals including:

* Kathy Chou, VP World Wide Communication Sales, HP
* Jessica Gilmartin and Patama Roj, Founders, Fraiche Yogurt
* Michaela Prescott, Google
* Sophia Tu, Gumball Capital
* Juliet Rothenberg (Moderator), Mayfield Fellow, Stanford University, Class of 2009

Learn how to approach business fields outside of banking and consulting and hear the success stories of these businesswomen. Have your own questions answered by the panelists.