The Buzz at PINK

There’s a lot going on right now at PINK! With the wild economy and the upcoming election, our office is buzzing. Through recent appearances on shows like CNBC’s On the Money (we talked about the recession – check out the article in our current issue titled “Recession Lessons”) and last week’s story in Time (yes, it’s those pesky “Men Working” signs that just don’t seem to go away), we’ve had the chance to share our perspective with a broader audience. Our message? The economy may be in a super slump, but there are opportunities!

A recent internal “Pinkstorming” session on the economy for our new small business section brought a handful of women business owners to our office: Liz Lapidus, founder of Liz Lapidus PR; Joyce Lucas, founder and owner of Pinque Inc.; Lauren Leonard, designer and owner of Leona LLC; Molly McCoy, founder and president of HR Search Firm Inc.; and Christine Williams-Timme, co-founder and CEO, FinListics Solutions and SmartSamantha. Together we talked about what works and what doesn’t when trying to grow business in a tough economy – with some surprising results and tips you’ll be reading about in upcoming issues. The big takeaway, of course, is not unlike what my father taught me growing up – that those who succeed are the ones who refuse to give up.

The Democratic National Convention reminded me of this when former PINK cover woman Hillary Rodham Clinton quoted Harriet Tubman. As she spoke, I thought about all those women business owners and career women working to get ahead and to live their passions while forging on – despite the economic hardships and other obstacles. Tubman said, “If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they’re shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” When Michelle Obama spoke from the heart at the convention, she made me proud to be a woman today. “We want our children – and all children in this nation,” she said, “to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”

You’ll be reading about Michelle Obama in our next issue! And you’ll have the chance to meet some of America’s most influential women in person at our events this fall. We’re busy gearing up for our best conference series yet. This year, for our fourth annual series, we’ve added a seventh city. Danielle Truesdale and Myesha Brown in my office are moving nonstop to create fantastic events for you. I hope you can attend so I can meet you in person. It’s safe to bet that our panelists will inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us! The first blockbuster event will be in Chicago on September 24 with – get this – these women in the same room: the CFO of The Home Depot, the CMO of McDonald’s, the woman who wrote Sex and the City and the chairwomen of Playboy and Alberto Culver! Inevitably at these lunches the panelists speak from the heart in a very open and vulnerable way, so those who attend are privy to stuff you’d never be exposed to otherwise. I personally can’t wait for it all to begin, since every time I’m around these women I learn tons and grow as a businesswoman and a person.

A friend just yesterday said he often asks himself, “Who am I to be lavished with God’s love?” That’s how I feel – so grateful to be alive and to have the chance to learn and share the wisdom from so many amazing women just like you! .

By Cynthia Good