Inspiring. This is how Valerie Ryder defined the W.I.N. Conference to me. My curiosity grew as I found out more: the program sounded really interesting and it would be held in Rome - an exciting location that was also easy to reach.

Having done little else but work for the last six years, this couldn't have come at a better time as I was planning to make some changes in my life. Plus, I needed to make time just for me: to think, to meet new people, to learn, to become inspired. With that in mind I signed up for the conference. It turned out to be an experience that not only changed how I looked at business but also how I relate to other women. I would like to share just some of the key learnings I brought home.

During the opening ceremony, Kristin Engvig, founder and CEO of W.I.N., shared networking tips that can be effective in all aspects of our lives:

• Be open to learn (and learn to be more open)
• Be willing to connect
• Be quick to contribute
• Be ready to help others
• Be ready to take risks
• Commit
• Be prepared to have fun and expect magic

Change was a central theme and was no better echoed than in a speech by Jordy Kool from HP in which he quoted Charles Darwin: "It is not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change". This is a key message for the 21st century as we, as women, have a natural aptitude for change.

I discovered how important women are in making consumer decisions. In recent years the number of wealthy women has increased dramatically in comparison with their male counterparts. Why, then, do most companies still not take into account our needs when they develop and market their products? This is an interesting issue for those among us who work for such companies: how can we persuade them that they should intelligently recognize that gender differences are relevant?

A wide variety of workshops provided invaluable opportunities to interact, exchange ideas and meet extraordinary people, including Maryann Valiulis, a bright funny woman who I like immediately and whose workshop, "Women and Ambition", I attended. I'm confident that she and I will collaborate a great deal in the future.

The conference is an eye-opening experience that will enable you to learn new ways of doing old things and overcoming difficulties. Should you go? If you are willing to connect with other women, are prepared to give and to take and want to commit and take some risks, then it will make a difference. The exuberance and passion at W.I.N. is highly contagious.

By attending the conference I started an important journey to better understand my inclinations and priorities are. I want to grow, to focus on my future goals and improve my abilities to reach them. W.I.N. provided an inspirational setting and highly useful tools for doing just that.

I would like to close quoting something I heard during the Gala dinner. It sounds funny but still is something we should really remind ourselves more often: "Remember that there is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women".

Monica Pesce
PWA Member

After three years at the StarHotel Rosa, PWA will be 'moving' to Centro Svizzero.

Starting with our next speaker meeting - a panel discussion on 18 October - all future events will be held at the very centrally-located Centro Svizzero. The cocktails preceding events will be in the bar of La Terrazza (4th floor) while the speaker portion of the evening will be held on the 3rd floor. For those of you who have already joined us at either the September or October networking aperitivi, you will be pleased to know that while so far we've been lucky enough to enjoy their terrace - and its spectacular view of the Giardini Pubblici - I would hazard a guess that we may not be outside again until spring! Instead, during the colder months, you will find us inside.

Confused? Please don't be. At our next meeting, and all those in the future, prominent signs in the Via Palestro entrance will indicate where you need to go.

I look forward to welcoming you to our next, and all our future, events at Centro Svizzero.

Maria Lassila
President, PWA

SPEAKER MEETING

All professional women welcome whether members or guests

Does your cultural heritage impact your working life? What benefits can changing cultures and geographies bring to your career? These questions and more will be explored in our panel discussion that brings together perspectives from Europe and Asia.

Dominique Ottavi and Tina Han, our panelists, share a number of common characteristics: neither of them comes from Italy; both work in traditionally male-dominated manufacturing industries; and both have been, and continue to be, successful in Italy. During our panel discussion, Domininque and Tina will share what they have learned through working in locations as different as Colombia, France, Taiwan and Italy, far from their original cultural and social origins.

Join PWA for an interactive discussion and come ready to explore the achievements of Dominique and Tina to date and find out more about the lessons they have learned along the way and the impact of their different cultures on working life.

Join us for an informal dinner 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.
Centro Svizzero, via Palestro 2 (MM Palestro, Turati; trams 2, 61, 94)
Cocktail at La Terrazza, 4th floor, while the presentation will take place on the 3rd floor.
Free for members; €20 for guests, payable by cash 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

The new Career Services Directors would like to extend you a warm welcome and tell you about some features of our services that you may not be aware of.

The PWA Career Service includes a wide range of career-related services and tools offered via both the PWA and EuropeanPWN websites and the Career Services directors.

On our website you can post job vacancies or messages in several different sections. These are:

• Employment Offered: As Directors, we get information from numerous different sources. If you have or know about any job openings that could be interesting for our members please contact us.
• Employment Sought: This is still under construction but if you are looking for a job or a career change contact us and we can post a message for you in this section in the near future.
• Professional Services Offered: This section is a great marketing tool for all those who have their own business or who want to offer and promote their professional services to both PWA site visitors and members (see the link from our home page).
• Message Board: Finally we have the message board where you can post all kinds of messages - job-related or not - yourself.

The EuropeanPWN website (<www.europeanpwn.net>) has a message board and a job board, in the members only section, on which you can exchange information, ideas and requests with all EPWN members. This is not only effective when looking for a job outside of Italy but helps on a national basis as well. For the entrepreneurs among you, it is tool to promote your business, get in touch with potential business partners, meet new clients or just exchange opinions and get advice. Don't forget to fill out your profile - and keep it updated - to maximise the benefits. The more detail you add, the more focused potential contacts will be as the website offers numerous different ways of finding you!

If you want to post an advert, a message, or if you have any questions or ideas regarding PWA Career Services, please contact the Directors, Barbara Niemann Fadani and Alessandra Vizzardi, at careers@pwa-milan.org or come and meet us at our table at the Networking Aperitivi or any other PWA event.

Wishing you all a very successful experience with PWA and EuropeanPWN.

Barbara Niemann Fadani
Career Services Director, PWA

NETWORKING EVENT

How to Join

Individual membership
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.

To join, simply fill in completely and submit the online application form at www.pwa-milan.org and pay the dues.

Membership fees
September 2006-December 2006    €50
January 2007-December 2007    €100
September 2006-December 2007    €135

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.