Irene Peter, an American writer, once said that "just because everything is different doesn't mean that everything has changed". PWA in 2006 is different from PWA in 2005, just as each year PWA should, and does, change so that it can develop and better serve members. However, what doesn't change is the community of English-speaking women who live, work or study in the Milan area. You, they, are our foundation.

Unfortunately, changes aren't always greeted warmly nor do they always proceed smoothly. There are lessons for us all to learn when change occurs; yet change remains good and necessary if we are to adapt to the world we live in and succeed, rather than cling to the past and remain stagnant, or even be left behind!

I would like to share a story about Chiyoshi Misawa, founder and president of Misawa Homes, the largest homebuilder in Japan. At least once a decade Mr Misawa "dies". At the time of each death, everyone in the organization receives a formal announcement that is intended to make them rethink how and why they do things. By doing this, change is encouraged and out-of-date assumptions and policies are prevented from becoming entrenched.

To employees resistant to change, he has a simple response. "That was how things were done under Mr Misawa. He is now dead. Now, how shall we proceed?"

While PWA certainly isn't dead, maybe we should consider issuing Mr Misawa's notice. Parallels can indeed be drawn with our own evolution as an association striving to remain relevant and proactive. I hope you will join me in saying, "now, PWA, let's proceed".

Rebecca Loades
PWA Board Member

Correspondence

Recently you may have received an email from a PWA member referring to correspondence between current and former PWA members, and the PWA Board. While we do not consider it appropriate for our members to send unsolicited mass mailings, it occasionally does occur. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you. If you are interested in reading the correspondence that it refers to, it has been posted in the members' area of our website and will remain there through the end of February 2006.

Speaker Meeting

Speaker Meeting - All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Is it true that women can't manage to break the "glass ceiling" because they don't have enough ambition and do not feel attracted to power? "Contrary to popular belief, women do seek power and we are ambitious," affirms Margaret Heffernan. "We just don't think about these terms the same way that men do."

Margaret will provide her personal insight and explain why she is firmly convinced that it's time for women to take themselves seriously. Her presentation will focus on the following areas:

• Why does power matter to women - and what gets in our way?
• What is it that we are truly ambitious for - and how can we achieve our goals without sacrificing our sense of self?

She will talk about the common themes that emerge in women's careers, the obstacles most women are bound to face and the strategies for overcoming them.

Margaret was born in Texas, raised in Holland and educated at Cambridge University. She enjoyed a 15 year career in broadcasting, including a stint at BBC, and has run five companies in the UK and the US.

Margaret now writes about women and business in the US and the UK. She is a regular columnist for Fast Company and Real Business magazines. Her first book The Naked Truth: A Modern Woman's Manifesto about Working and What Really Matters was published in October 2004 by Jossey-Bass, while How She Does It, about the rise of female business owners, is due to be published by Penguin in 2006. The Naked Truth was recently published in Italian by ETAS as "La nuda verità - Il manifesto per le donne che lavorano sulle cose che contano veramente". The Naked Truth will be available for sale at the meeting.

Margaret will be joining PWA members at a nearby pizzeria for further conversation after the meeting. No reservations are necessary for this portion of the evening.

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

Networking Event

Speaker Meeting

Speaker Meeting - All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Of all the decisions we make, none is more critical to our personal and professional success than that of how we choose to present ourselves to those around us. In the first 30 seconds of every encounter - before any words are exchanged - we have already made a lasting impression on those we interact with. Our choices of clothing, hairstyle, make-up and demeanour affect the way others react to us. The natural instinct for people to read visual cues can be used to our advantage, once we understand what image is and how to make it work effectively for us.

Giulia Rebora, professional image consultant and PWA member, will explain the power of image, what it is and why it matters. She will cover the following topics:

• The importance of appearance as one of our most powerful forms of communication
• How to maximize the benefits of nonverbal communication as a strategic marketing tool
• The hierarchy of colour and the statement your wardrobe makes
• Being in control of your body language and the messages that are conveyed without words

This presentation will help you to cultivate your image deliberately and strategically, so that who you are and what you represent are evident from the very start.

Giulia was born and raised in Milan and acquired her fashion and marketing finesse at institutions in Seattle and Florence. Having worked in various sectors in the fashion industry, she brings her creative experience and natural flair for observation to Style On You <www.styleonyou.com>, her image consulting and fashion styling agency in Milan.

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

A Work in Process

I want to write a success story but I don't have one to write yet.

I am happy for those who have made their success story happen through PWA: I wish I was one of them. I am still struggling to make mine happen, often wondering why I haven't yet. So many nagging questions inside me: Am I not good enough? Is there something wrong with me that I am not aware of? Am I not working hard enough? Am I simply unlucky?

But at the speaker dinner in January, I met another member who is trying to establish her career and - like me - not seeing results as quickly as she'd like . Yet another member told me that she didn't like her colleagues - neither do I! It made me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one not happy with her current situation. I always knew it, but it certainly helped to hear it from others, to remind me that I am not alone.

We all join PWA for networking and self-improvement. Some members have had amazingly fast and tangible results while others of us are still "works in process". I congratulate those who are doing well, but I also want to say to others, "you are not the only one - keep coming to PWA. Let's support each other more to go further!" Don't be shy about letting people know that you are looking for a new or different job, or that you are seeking potential customers for your business. Be specific with your networking requests and never miss the opportunity to promote yourself and what you have to offer. You never know what the person to whom you are speaking might suggest or who they might know.

If you are a new member and you find it difficult to meet other PWA members (who seem to know each other well and are happily chatting to each other), challenge yourself! At the next PWA event, put out your hand and introduce yourself to the first person you see. Or find a board member and introduce yourself and ask her who else is there that you should meet. Or look for me and tell me that you are taking me up on my offer to aid you in your networking quest. I've been through it before myself as a new member and will be glad to help.

Always remember - you are not alone. Keep coming to PWA - you cannot expect opportunity to come to you if you don't put yourself out where it can find you. Keep talking about your projects and dreams - nobody can help you if they're unaware of what you are trying to achieve. Ask for help - but don't forget to offer it as well. We all have skills and knowledge that are useful to others and sooner or later you will be repaid in kind when you least expect it.

Amy Juan
PWA Member

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.