EuropeanPWN Champions

EuropeanPWN recognizes the contributions of a number of our dedicated members, former Presidents, Board Members, Partners who helped make the organization what it is today. Over the year in the EPWN Newsletters we’ll highlight a few of our distinguished “champions” and interview them on what they thought was their most important contribution, what they gained from their experiences and how they see the futures of networks. Here are two of our Champion’s comments:

Avivah Wittenberg-Cox: Founder and former Federation Board President I founded EuropeanPWN when I was in my mid-thirties, with a full-time job running my own company, because I wanted space and time to spend with like-minded, happy and ambitious professional women. Listening to and understanding thousands of women from so many different cultures over a decade taught me what women needed, wanted, and dreamed. I learned to build and lead a large, international organization, run a board and motivate volunteers – no small feat! EuropeanPWN was an education in women, and an education in leadership. Both have been crucial to the work I now do helping the corporate world adapt to a more gender-balanced 21st century . Women’s networks will be necessary until our position in business, politics and power reflects our position in learning and education. About 60% currently. We have a little work left to do.

Margaret Milan, former Federation Board President

I’ve always thought a lot about women’s careers, from when I started out as the only girl in a class of engineers. When I launched my own business I had no network to turn to for advice. After I sold my company I wanted to help change things for the next generation, since I have two daughters. I helped build the Network over 5 years into the first truly European women’s network. The vision was right: women building stepping stones for other women across generations. Having a Web 2.0 platform was key: the Web is made for busy women! With the Think Tank we produced a lot of knowledge, like the women on boards study, that has had a real influence and I’m proud of having started up the entrepreneurship club. After focusing on my company for 15 years, the Network opened up my horizons by 360 degrees. The dynamics are different in women’s networks, but women need to be involved in many circles, if only to gain visibility in their fields.