Past PINK Event Top 10 Takeaways May 20, 2013ArchivesOff

More than 400 career women attended PINK’s sold-out, 6th Annual Fall Empowerment Event. Women business leaders shared their considerable wisdom. Now we wanted to share it with you!

Top 10 Takeaways from Atlanta’s 2010 Fall Empowerment Event:

1. “If you aren’t happy, quit your job and move to London… or at least find a way to follow your passion.” Emily Giffin, five-time New York Times bestselling author who quit her job as a lawyer to become a novelist.

2. “Think of ways to expand business without more overhead in the new economy.” Lisa Price, owner of Carol’s Daughter, who broke the HSN record by selling more than $2 million-worth of product in six hours when they debuted Mary J. Blige’s first fragrance.

3. “Always be true to yourself. If you can’t, you’re probably doing the wrong thing.” Pam Blalock, VP of Distribution for Individual Business, MetLife

4. “Put on your ‘big girl shoes’ and get out there.” Penny McIntyre, Group President, Newell Rubbermaid

5. “You grow and learn from fear. Being uncomfortable means you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone and moving forward.” Lisa Price

6. “I’m a recovering perfectionist.” Pam Blalock

7. “If you don’t know anything about football, don’t apologize.” Penny McIntyre

8. To get the job: show you have “thick skin, strong past successes and work well with others.” Pam Blalock

9. “Accept that you can’t be perfect to avoid being exhausted and unhappy. You can’t be all things to all people all the time.” Emily Giffin

10. If you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to have your husband “deliver products on roller blades.” Lisa Price

Top 10 Takeaways from Atlanta’s 2010 Spring into Ownership Event:

1. “Ask for help. Ask for what you want.” – McGhee Williams-Ossee, CEO and owner, Burrell Communications Group: a $200 Million ad agency.

2. “You’ll find the money if you have passion, a great idea and a support network.” – Susan Nethero, owner, Intimacy: $39 Million in annual revenue.

3. “Stay on the cutting edge of innovation. Then you’ll keep your customers.” – Mei Xu, owner, Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blissliving Home: a $60 million company.

4. “Think outside the shoebox.” – Taryn Rose, founder, Taryn Rose Shoes: sold her company and now is back and expanding product lines.

5. “They’ll tell you, ‘You’re crazy.’ Use that to your advantage.”

6. “Show how your product or service will enhance your customers life.”

7. “Get a female banker. She’ll understand that your customers really will spend $300 on a pair of shoes.”

8. “Reduce your overhead. Use Skype. Little things add up.”

9. “Luck and timing help.”

10. “You don’t have to be great to start. You have to start to be great.”

We had a sold-out crowd at our 5th Annual Fall Empowerment Event Series in Atlanta, Chicago, New York and San Francisco.

Top 10 Takeaways Atlanta’s 2009 Fall Empowerment Event:

1. “Take time to celebrate when things go well; look for reasons to celebrate.”

2. “When it comes to mistakes, be honest, confess and trust that others will be sympathetic.”

3. “Slow down.”

4. “Step away to give another full responsibility – to allow someone else to shine.”

5. “Act like you belong.”

6. “If you see a fire – throw water on it – not wood.”

7. “Be genuine and authentic. Others will always know when you are and when you aren’t.”

8. “Stop conforming! You were hired because of your unique self.”

9. “You’re not perfect. Get used to it.”

10. “Live each day. Enjoy what you’re doing – or do something else.”

Top 10 Takeaways from Chicago’s 2009 Fall Empowerment Event:

1. “Remember, you can overwhelm your male counterpart by talking for 17 minutes straight.” – FedEx SVP Laurie Tucker, who said her “most embarassing moment” came when she realized she hadn’t let the boss get in a single word during a conversation.

2. “You know what you need to do – so put your hand up.” – MetLife EVP of Technology and Operations Maria Morris on the importance of women taking action based on their good intuition.

3. The women said they are successful because they build relationships, take action, can influence others, are trustworthy, don’t settle and aren’t afraid to ask for what they want.

4. “The trick to balancing is focusing on results, realizing it’s important to be a whole person and using technology to enjoy flexibility.”

5.  To keep stress at bay, remember that iIf you don’t get something done today, [don’t worry], it’ll still be there tomorrow.” says PepsiCo Marketing VP Danielle Vona. “Eat well and exercise,” adds the American Heart Association’s first female CEO Nancy Brown.

6. “Take six weeks off after having a baby. Your direct reports will get a lot more work done!”

7. “Take more time to connect with other women. That’s partly how men get ahead and get things done.”

8. “Recession opportunities come to those who know what they want in their career and ask to take on more leadership roles. Say, ‘coach put me in.'”

9. MetLife’s Maria Morris says employers are looking for, and willing to pay for, the best talent. When it comes to negotating pay and benefits, “understand your value and set the bar for what you deserve.”

10. “Enjoy the journey and, if you don’t know the answer, say ‘please help me understand.'”

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