Women in Entrepreneurship
by Braden Rawls
The Woman’s Networking Program is an extension of the Minor in Entrepreneurship that seeks to prepare and empower aspiring business professionals for the opportunities ahead in their career. The group meets monthly over pizza to discuss the unique perspective that a woman in business offers and the challenges that she is likely to face along the way. The program features successful business women from all over the country who share their “path to success” stories with young movers and shakers. Unlike traditional lectures, the setting is casual, encouraging students to interact with the speaker on a wide variety of business and personal issues that women face in business.
The group was founded in 2005 by Julia Grumbles, who served as the right-hand woman to Ted Turner for 20 years. Julia has experienced firsthand the challenges of being a female entrepreneur in business, and hopes the Women’s Networking Program will provide young women with the training and guidance they need to become successful business professionals and make a difference in their communities.
Guest speakers include:
LaurieAnn Goldman: CEO of Spanx
Susan Grant: Executive Vice President of CNN News Services
Frances Gravely: Founder and Principal of VIETRI
Susan Gravely: Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VIETRI
Kimberly Jenkins: Founder of Microsoft’s Education Division and former President of the Internet Policy Institute
Etta Pisano: Vice Dean for Academic Affairs in the UNC School of Medicine, Kenan Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Engineering and Director of the UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center
I didn’t think I would ever be one to get involved with a “women’s group.” In fact the first time I heard about the gro up, I admit that I snickered at the thought of a business networking group that excluded men. But just two years later in the “working world,” I am truly grateful for all of the tips that I picked up from successful business women who spoke at our networking sessions. I am currently working to build a small company with three men and—let me tell you—it’s not always easy for the young, soft-spoken blonde to make her points heard. But every day, thanks to my involvement in the Women’s Networking Program, I can smile thinking back on stories from the fabulous women who spoke at our group sessions and am proud of the opportunity to relate to them.
Braden Rawls
Class of '08
The program is unique from other CEI speaker series in that it is a laid-back, say-anything opportunity to discuss career challenges that are distinctive to females. My participation has helped me discover my own biases, strengths, and weakness as I find myself considering topics I would not likely discuss with any other group. As a first year UNC graduate student, I continue to attend to keep in touch with women in the minor, explore my career goals, and meet speakers who are genuinely interested in helping young women like me be successful.