EuropeanPWN joins European Commission’s Network of Women on Decisionmaking in Politics and the Economy

First of all, this “network of networks” will allow us to increase our impact in fulfilling our mission, which is to promote the professional progress of women in business. Over the years EuropeanPWN has developed a very strong base of knowledge derived from practical experience about the issues women in decision-making in business face. In our eight Women@Work publications we have published our collective experience on best practices
in developing female talent in corporations, new career paths, role model women, mentoring and on women on boards.

EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla in the middle

Combined with our research on the EuropeanPWN Board Women Monitor and our Board Room Round Tables, which bring together top executive women across Europe, we are convinced we can add value to the debate taking place at EU-level on how to improve the representation of women at decision-making levels. Another source of information is our Think Tank Community on our platform, hundreds of members who are active in discussing a wide variety of topics such as The first 100 days in a new job and “Dual-Career International mobility”, and the thousands of women visiting our over 500 events a year across Europe.

Mirella Visser

These women are positively and actively engaged in developing their leadership talent and making a difference in their own lives, and their environment.

Secondly, we wholeheartedly support the EU’s efforts to improve the position of women and in all spheres of life. As progress of women in decision-making is slow, and the issue is gaining momentum, the EU has taken the right approach in organizing this network. For the first time in history, these networks will gather and combine the wealth of knowledge and experience within their organizations.

The “network of networks’ will serve as a voice of experience, complementing and enriching the work already being done by the EU on this topic.

Although EuropeanPWN is and will remain focused on women in business, connecting with women’s networks that have different objectives or from different backgrounds will bring benefits to us all. Therefore we gladly contribute and connect to other organizations who are positively focused on bringing about change”.

EU Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite (2nd from the right)

Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission (Institutional Relations and Communication)

The second meeting will be held on October 14 2008 in Brussels.

The EU Network of Women in Decision-making in politics and the economy was established by the European Commission to contribute to the promotion of the advancement of women, particularly in decision-making, through facilitating partnerships and synergies between existing European networks. The meeting of 14th of October will provide a platform to share knowledge and exchange experience, with a view to action – drawing upon good practice and taking the discussions forward rather than analysing the problem(s). The theme of this meeting is Mentoring and Developing Leadership Potential. Mentoring has proven to be highly effective in retaining and advancing women (and men) in political life and the economy. The network meeting on 14 October will explore the potential role that mentoring can play in advancing women in decision-making, by discussing the issues, and placing an emphasis on the practical implications of mentoring, drawing upon models of good practice available to network members.

For more information contact Mirella Visser at president@epwn.net

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