It's that time again! Are you ready to become part of the group that works behind the scenes to make PWA happen? Do you know someone that should be? Although it seems early to think about board terms that begin September 1, 2006, the process is starting now to give each member time to consider what they have and would like to offer to PWA in terms of experience, knowledge and energy.

Being a member of the board is a wonderful way to make new contacts and learn new skills. I personally have met many members that I wouldn't have otherwise and I've made strides in areas such as public speaking and event organization.

If you'd like to learn more, you can find more information on our website in the members' area, or talk to any of the current board members at the next PWA event. May 15 (the deadline for putting yourself forward as a candidate) is just around the corner! Watch for updates on the website and in the May newsletter.

Maria Lassila
PWA Board Member

PWA General Assembly - 31 May 2006

PWA will hold the annual general assembly on 31 May 2006 at 7 p.m., and we're asking all members to mark their calendars now for this important event.

The general assembly is our opportunity to update the by-laws to reflect changes with regards to legal requirements and technological advances; for example, changing our legal address to the one currently in use and formally allowing email voting rather than requiring physical attendance at future general assemblies. In addition to changes to the by-laws, the 2005 financial results will be presented, and the financial outlook for the current year will be discussed.

You will also have the chance as a member to ask questions and discuss PWA policies that are set by the board each year, to help next year's board make decisions that reflect the needs and preferences of the membership.

In order to make the proposed changes to PWA's by-laws, we need a quorum of 75% of our membership (including votes by proxy). To ensure that a quorum is met, board members will be asking those of you not able to confirm your attendance to sign a proxy so that your vote can be cast in your absence.

As an added inducement, PWA member Maria Luisa Celoria, has graciously donated a dinner for 2 at her charming bistro, Gref Food & Charme. All members casting a vote whether in person or by proxy will be entered in the drawing for this special prize.

The current by-laws and the proposed changes will be posted shortly in the members' area of the website, along with the confirmation of venue. For any questions, please contact Lynn Chasson, PWA Treasurer, at lchasson@fastwebnet.it.

Networking Dinner

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Assertiveness is a trait that greatly enhances our success whether in our professional or personal life. How do we cultivate this tool and integrate it into our personal communication and style? Join us for the opportunity to learn the basics, share personal experiences and discover what it can do for you through interactive exercises throughout the meal.

This event will also provide a great opportunity to make new professional and social contacts, to renew existing ones, and to experience PWA networking at its best in a relaxed environment.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Dinner 8-10 p.m.
StarHotel Rosa, via Pattari 5 (MM Duomo)
€25 for members, €40 for guests

Reservations and prepayment are required. Space is limited to 65 participants

Members, please reserve and prepay online by credit card via the calendar section of EuropeanPWN <www.europeanpwn.net>. Alternatively, members as well as guests may prepay by bank transfer, or in person in cash or by cheque at any of the events preceding the Networking Dinner.

To request a vegetarian meal, to make a guest reservation and/or arrange advance payment, or for more information in general, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org.

Deadline for reservations: 12 noon, Monday, 3 April 2006. Please note that reservation priority will be given to PWA members until 28 March 2006.

Special Event

Success Story

Underqualified ...or Underestimating?

I'll start my story with a confession - I went to the speaker meeting on February 8 with the idea that I was going to hear yet another woman lamenting the fate of women in business, for all the usual reasons (they aren't taken seriously, they aren't promoted, they aren't paid fairly, they can't delegate, etc.). Shortly after Margaret Heffernan began her presentation however, I realised that she had a different approach to these and many other issues. Her lively way of telling her many stories, recounting her various professional lives, soon had me involved, as I recognised some of the obstacles she had faced as ones which I had also experienced, especially as she described and focused on the mindsets we get ourselves into.

Over the last few years, I have often found myself remembering (and quoting!) a saying I once heard from an American colleague, "it's not the reality that counts, but people's perception of the reality". I'm convinced there's a lot of truth in this, and that it is these mindsets, or perceptions, which can make us react, often negatively, to the behaviour of others, or even not react at all. Worse, they can obscure our own perception of the attitudes we think others (bosses, peers and our own staff) have towards us. Why? Because they lead us to think that others perceive us in a different way than they actually do, and we act accordingly. And as Margaret pointed out, we women tend to undervalue ourselves, our skills, our special qualities, and often think therefore that others don't see or appreciate these qualities either. In my career at various multinational companies, I've noticed that men, on the other hand, are very good at selling themselves, and even overestimate their abilities when there's credit to be taken for a good job done, or a promotion on offer.

Anyway, you must be wondering by now what my success story is! Well, it happened just recently, when I was offered a promotion, which was a fairly big step up from my position as Financial Director for a small security company. . I'd managed to convince myself that now, as I had several (perceived!) problems and weaknesses, it was better to stay in my small provincial backwater, be content, and live life as it was. This, despite having studied for many years (at night, at my own expense) to obtain the qualification of Certified Accountant, and despite having built up good experience over many years travelling the world as an Internal Auditor.

Until that is, a new Group President arrived on the scene, declaring that there were too many companies in the group, the approach to the customers was all wrong, and that revolution was mandatory. My boss was named Country Manager for Italy, and asked me to take on the job of Division Manager, Internal Services and Support. This meant putting four companies together in one new building, and giving full support in Finance, IT, Legal, Logistics, Building Management, etc., to five other Business Divisions. Needless to say, my mind immediately went into panic as it flooded with all the (perceived!) problems and weaknesses I thought would prevent me from succeeding in such an important and demanding role. What do I know about putting companies together? Legal and tax issues! It's been years since I studied any of that (or anything else for that matter!). Horrors, I'm professionally obsolete! My staff are already overloaded, I'll have to do it all myself! The job will involve travel. My husband, who is wonderfully supportive, is disabled and needs my help, we're alone here with no family etc., etc. I'm too distracted! There surely were other, better, more reliable candidates in the other companies. In other words, I had a full-blown attack of fear of failure!

Well, my boss was really amazed - he said, the reason he was sure I would be successful and wouldn't let him down was indeed because, despite my (perceived!) problems, I have always taken on challenges with great courage and determination, have always delivered convincing presentations on time, impressed senior management, was a good change-manager, and generally got things done! (My reasonable English skills were incidental). Well, what could I say? My husband also told me I had to be crazy to question the opportunity I'd been striving for all these years. Both said, who cares if you don't have perfect knowledge to do what will be asked of you? Who does? That's what consultants are for. Go for it. And I did. Now I've been asked to appraise new companies for potential acquisition.

So, my success story is that I finally realised, and accepted, that our perceptions of ourselves are not always how others see us, and if we let them, our mindsets can prevent us from going for it when the opportunity finally comes. And so we stay in our little backwaters. Sure, the problems haven't gone away, but I'm learning to pay more attention to my perceptions. When in doubt, ask! And don't let an opportunity pass you by for fear that you won't succeed - you're probably better qualified and more capable than you allow yourself to admit.

Lorraine Martin-Reeve
PWA Member

Networking Event

Speaker Meeting

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

How many times have you said to yourself "I'd really like to change careers" but didn't know how? Whether for personal or professional reasons, many of us would like to make a new start in the same field, or find a new direction altogether.

We've gathered a panel of PWA members who will share their experiences on how they've made it happen: reinventing themselves by developing their existing strengths and interests, and finding the way to make it happen.

Come hear their stories and learn what it takes to start a new venture or change the course of your career - you may find the inspiration to do it yourself!

Panel participants include:

• Delia Weissy, who left a career in the pharmaceutical industry to work for a yacht-chartering business.
• Axelle Brown-Videau, who used her experience with an Italian PR company to launch her own firm.
• Adele Fenstermacher, who combined her years as a lawyer, her passion for acting and her desire to live in Italy to initiate a new career as an "in-house" English teacher specializing in business/legal writing for a Milan law firm.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
StarHotel Rosa, via Pattari 5 (MM Duomo)
Free for members; €20 for guests, payable by cash or cheque at the event

Members: please register your attendance in the calendar section of EuropeanPWN <www.europeanpwn.net>

For guest reservations, and for more information in general, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org

How to Join

Individual membership
To join, simply fill in completely and submit the online application form at www.pwa-milan.org and pay the dues. Probably the best way to find out if PWA Milan is for you is to experience the association by coming to one of our events as a guest. Meet members, ask questions, speak to the members of the board and see whether joining would be beneficial for you.

Membership fees
January 2006-December 2006    €100

Corporate membership
Companies may join PWA Milan, enabling designated women employees to benefit from all that PWA has to offer. For further information, please refer to the website www.pwa-milan.org or email pwa@pwa-milan.org.