10 year anniversary and Xmas party
Festive thoughts of the 3 former presidents
Barbara Wilson - the founding president
Barbara Wilson – the founding president
I want to start with a quotation that has guided me in my actions –even if I have not always followed it!
‘Whatever you can do or dream, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now’ (J.W.Goethe)
So let me start by sharing my story of how this networking group came into being. This starts in a very personal way.
15 years ago I came here with my partner and daughter of 7. I had left a full time job as a principal lecturer and manager in an HE college and had been working freelance doing some interesting things.
I was however missing my professional networking and development form the past. So 12 years ago I jointly with three other women, developed the predecessor of this network – the BPWG
3 reasons:
- Personally I missed the professional networking I had been involved in the UK and my French was not so good to get me into French networking groups
- I saw some very strong networks existing here at that time, men’s informal networks and also the DEC networks of consultants that were around
- I wanted to continue to develop and a network I felt would help me.
The BPWG grew to about 45 members and was at times very successful. I recall one of our most successful evenings when Bridget Cosgrave, came to speak at our Christmas diner. She was at that time deputy Director General of ETSI and a member of the network.
It was also at this meeting that I first met Tracy, who Wendy had invited and had assured me that Tracy was a vibrant and fun professional person who I would be happy to meet. This certainly turned out to be true and was the start of a great partnership for a number of years.
The group became a little unfocussed and so three of us, Tracy, Mary McDonald and myself created the group that was to become the SPWN. In the early days we agonized over a set of values for the group and were clear that this was to be a network for professional women working in and with corporate in Sophia. Ref to the first brochure
The network had 2 main objectives networking and professional development and it’s interesting to see that in the first brochure mention is made of workshops such as marketing yourself, MBTI and creativity – so not much change there!
There are changes and the group has become more professional in itself. One of the developments which is good has been the mentoring group. As a lecturer in HE I had always believed we need to really support young women and offer them role models. It is great to say that I can finish here another personal note in that the recent Paris newsletter included a CV of woman working in consultancy and teaching at Science Po. My daughter on seeing this has taken her as a role model and is being inspired to follow in her steps.
If this network has achieved this for just a few women then it has been a success.
I have said nothing about the years of developing the SPWN into what it is today and I think at this point I will hand over to Tracy to do this.
Barbara Wilson, 4 December 2009
Tracey Stanley - followed Barbara
Tracy Stanley – following president
The focus of my speech covered the benefits that that I had received from my involvement with the network at a local and European level over the last 10 years….
These included the wonderful diverse learning that I had received from the many presentations organised by the network, each providing different models of success. I then learnt equally as much from the conversations among members after the presentations. We have such a rich body of experience to draw upon. And I also learn a tremedous amount from my involvement with the Board at both a local and European level. It was a wonderfully inspiring and supportive environment in which to test and implement new ideas.
The second major benefit I received was inspiration. I was really challenged by the limits I set on myself in terms of what I could achieve. They Sky was really the limit if I was prepared to reach for it.
And finally the network gave me the courage to pursue my new objectives, to really put my plan into place.
I closed on an inspiring quote from Margaret Mead:
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead)
Tracey Stanley, 4 December 2009
Susan Forsmann-Hey (right)
Susanne Forsmann-Hey
Susanne reflected upon the evolution of the network and the occasion to celebrate.
As Barbara explained it, the Network was started without the ambition of it lasting 10 years or more… and yet its relevance has accomplished just that – with a steady increase in membership. The way the Network operates has changed in that there are a lot more events every month, and the activities of taking care of members, organizing events, interacting with partners’ etc. have been improved by increasingly putting relevant business processes in place. But the driving forces remain intact: it is the interaction and inspiration from guests, speakers and fellow members that continuously create the impetuous for us all to learn and try new ways.
The network as a catalyst for individual change is so obvious and such a gratifying element of serving in a non-profit association. The best proof of this is probably the fact that we have gathered all past Presidents and a huge, energized crowd for this evening. Ten years IS a milestone, and celebrating our anniversary is a great excuse to party, so let’s pop the champagne and toast to the next 10 years!
Susan Forsmann-Hey, 4 December 2009
