Speaking About Women

As a solo woman entrepreneur, I know the value of networking and sharing information. I have a large network that supports my business efforts, and I’m particularly interested in mentoring and helping women who are in business.

That’s why I was delighted to be invited by Office Depot to be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Women's Business Development Center's first annual trade show and expo. Office Depot chose me because they felt my experience working with them would be an asset to the conference.

The conference theme is "Building a Better Network" and the goal is to increase network and contracting opportunities for women’s business enterprises. The show will bring together America's leading corporations, government agencies, women business owners, and affiliate organizations.

The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to meet with corporate executives and buyers; network with corporate contacts, government representatives, and other WBNE members; attend workshops; exhibit their product and/or services; and meet the people who can influence their business success.

I am excited to be attending and sharing both my story of inventing a product, building a business, and successfully launching a product line. I encourage women business owners to learn more about WBNE and to get involved. And watch this blog for a my report on the conference.

At the end of the day, a measure of your success is in what relationships you have established and how those relationships help you build a better tomorrow.

Message from Africa

I doubt if there is anything more encouraging to a business woman than the kind of email message I just received from Alison Neumann pictured here distributing my invention, the dry erase paddles, to students at the Deaf School in Mampong, Ghana, Africa.

Alison was on tour as part of her year abroad study in Africa, and she carried with her a box of the dry erase paddles. Here is a segment from her email message:

I wish you could have been there to see the look on the headmasters face as I told her how the dry erase paddles could be used. . . But it was the excitement of the children using the paddles that showed me what a wonderful communication tool it would become for each of them. Their smiles I will never forget as each of them gripped their paddles as a precious gift.

As you can see, your kind donation will ease the frustrations of the limited chalkboard space for the teachers, and provide the young Deaf students a voice when they do not understand the lesson. All of this will greatly increase the success of the teachers' lesson plans in the classroom. This is especially important for a country with a very high level of illiteracy.

Messages such as this make my day. They help affirm all the hard work of taking an idea that popped into my head all the way to a product I can hold in my hand. Now that product is making its way around the world to be of use to others. What more could I ask for?