January 12, 2006 – Dressing for Impact
We celebrated the New Year with Champagne and Galette des Rois and welcomed Morag Young from Positiveworks as our guest speaker. Morag provides colour analysis and business consultancy for the corporate environment. Her work encompasses all aspects of our visual presentation – style and image – which, put together correctly, communicate greater self-confidence, enhanced self-esteem and consequently increase the influence we have in life and work situations.
Morag explained how professional dressing is not about how we feel, but all about making others feel safe, secure, confident about us. It takes 45 seconds for a first impression to make a lasting impression. She referenced statistics that showed when we communicate only 7% of the impact is related to what we say – with more than 93% being related to other factors such as the way words are said, facial expressions and how we look.
Morag talked about the importance of wearing colours that suit us best to bring out the best in our appearance. With two members from the audience, she demonstrated the use of colour analysis through 4 sets of colour ranges (spring, summer, autumn and winter). A small change of colour tone had a significant effect. Some finishing touches with lipstick and blusher brought the skin tone further to life. Did you know that red is the only colour that suits everyone?
“It is amazing how the right color can change the way you look and therefore the impact you have in business and private life. Morag Iona Young from Posiviteworks proved within just one hour that looking good and feeling good ensures you make a positive first impression. The first step to
success.”
Ines O’Donovan
February 15, 2006 – Leading Change
On 15 February, Michèle Fitzpatrick, CEO of Trema, talked to us about Leading Change. Another full house in February to hear Michèle Fitzpatrick share with us the story of how she brought Trema back from the brink of bankruptcy through an aggressive change management program. In this situation, crisis was the driver for change although she commented how important it is to build this need for change into the culture of the company.
Michèle commented that when there is a lot of change to be undertaken it is like eating an elephant. So focus on the first three things – then move to the next three things as a part of a staged implementation process. Her first step when taking over an organisation, is to meet with the HR Director because knowing about the people in the organisation is key.
Her other guiding principles for change included:
- Set clear targets with challenging or stretched goals. If goals are too easy to achieve they will not bring out the persons best performance. The goals must also be cohesive between team members so that they naturally support each other.
- Performance related pay is also key and helps to drive the required change.
- Create an adaptive environment by recruiting employees who are curious and keen to learn. (And never recruit quickly in response to pressure because if you do you may recruit badly).
- Never delegate important decisions related to headcount or price setting as these have the biggest impact on your revenues and costs.
- Identify and reward role models.
- Teach by example. People have to follow and trust you.
- Mentorship. Pay for proven knowledge transfer as a part of your goal setting program.
- Putting aside money for research is important. This will help to secure the longer term.
8 March – International Women’s Day – Key Note Speaker : Dr. Michael Kimmel
Why did the Sophia Professional Women’s Network invite a male key note speaker for International Women’s Day?
Dr. Kimmel’s innovative research and consulting approach offers a unique perspective on why gender equality and diversity is in men’s interest. No stranger to public appearances Michael has presented both on television and at leading conferences around the globe. His presentations are always described as captivating, eye-opening and highly entertaining.
Dr. Kimmel has previously given the International Women’s Day address at the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and the European Space Agency.
The Nice-Cote d’Azur Chapter of the European Professional Women’s Network was delighted to welcome him as their keynote speaker for International Women’s Day, March 8 2006.
April 4, 2006 – An Entrepreneurial Success Story
On 4 April, Dominique Pouliquen, President and CEO of Realviz, came to tell us about the entrepreneurial success story of Realviz. A Sophia based company whose award-winning products are used by thousands of professional photographers, as well as leading production and effects houses, web design, game development and architectural companies worldwide, including Boeing, NASA, Daimler Chrysler, Sony Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic, Warner Brothers Animation and many others.
May 18, 2006 – Foreign and Female in the Workplace : An anthropological perspective on “otherness”
EDHEC Business School and EPWN ran a joint event exploring factors for working successfully in an international context. Foreign and Female in the Workplace : An anthropological perspective on “otherness”. Anne E. Witte, a Professor of Cross Cultural Communication and Psychology, was our speaker. Her interest is in diversity as a competitive economic advantage. She shared her ideas about women in the workplace, women as foreign entities, and the criteria of physical presence which dominates workplace logic.
June 6, 2006 – Networking Lunch
On 6 June we held a members only networking lunch to discuss the role of mentoring and coaching in career development. Ideas for the implementation of a mentoring scheme in our local chapter were also discussed. Topics included:
- What will be the conditions for an effective mentoring relationship?
- What might a program look like here in Sophia?
- What level of interest is there in being either a mentor or mentee?
The participants were invited to share their experience as a coach or being coached or as a mentor/mentee. Learnings from the Paris and other EPWN networks were presented and discussed at the lunch.
July 6, 2006 – Strategic Planning Forum & Dinner
Following a review of findings from the SophiaPWN member survey, the draft Sophia Antipolis Strategic plan was presented. After a general discussion there were facilitated workshops to discuss those priorities and needs of most interest to members.
It was a key opportunity for all members to contribute to the direction of the network. Our Treasurer provided a financial update including a balance of funds currently available for investment in new initiatives.
There was an explanation of the current Board roles, time commitments and nomination process. While our AGM isn’t scheduled until January, the Board wanted to give all members advance notice of both the time requirements and learning value to be obtained, from contributing to the network via one of our official Board roles.
Throughout the evening, a photographer was available to take two professional portrait photos. After the formal part of the program, we continued our discussions informally over dinner.
September 12, 2006 – Women on Boards
The findings of our 2006 European Board Women Monitor were released to the press in June. The findings reported the change in the percentage of women on boards in private sector companies across Europe and received extensive press attention with articles in the Financial Times, Le Monde, Les Echos, La Tribune and La Figaro Economie.
On 12th September, the findings were presented by Annalisa Gigante who is leading the EuropeanPWN Board Women Initiative. Her presentation was followed by a panel debate on the implications of the findings. A number of senior executives were invited as panel members.
The last part of the program was a presentation on the key skills and competencies required for a Board position. Overall, an informative and lively evening.
October 3, 2006 – Launch of our mentoring program
Being mentored can be a wonderful support in achieving your career and life objectives, and that being a mentor can be an extremely rewarding and rich learning experience.
Having learnt from the experiences of our colleagues in Paris, Oslo and Geneva and from from our own members experiences we launched a one year formal mentoring program here in Sophia.
At the launch event we provided a process for the matching and creation of mentoring relationships. Before the event, those who have expressed interest in the program were briefed regarding the responsibilities of their role in the program as either a mentor or mentee.
November 7, 2006 – AVOID THE ELEPHANT IN THE BOULES COURT!! Make cultural diversity work for you, when you work!
A fully subscribed event which left most participants buzzing. Maybe because it seemed
that everyone learnt something/had an aha-moment. Maybe it was because Sheilina created an environment where many people were ready to share their views. Maybe it was because Sheilina is a woman of strong and fascinating views – but who still creates respect around those (opposing) views of others? In any case, the subject matter left many of us talking long after Sheilina finished.
The French are always… The English are always… How would you complete these sentences?
Today’s rapidly changing business context and environment requires increased cultural understanding and flexibility. Culture is readily portrayed in a theoretical context but often the unspoken discussions are the critical ones. We explored the dimensions of the term “culture” and the need to extend ones agility in interactions every day.
December 1, 2006 – Christmas Dinner at Côté Mougins
The last event of the year was our Christmas dinner set in an elegant and cosy restaurant: Côté Mougins. We enjoyed a delicious meal whilst talking and laughing amongst network friends.
