AS/COA's Fifth Annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference in NY

(Image: Roey Yohai Photography)

Share

Americas Society/Council of the Americas Hosts Fifth Annual Women's Hemispheric Network Conference in New York

The half-day forum was crammed with personal stories, advice, and networking opportunities to help women from throughout the Americas reach leadership positions.

Under the slogan “Lead to Inspire, Inspire to Lead” this year’s conference gathered a diverse group of accomplished women and men to discuss gender parity in the workplace and share advice on overcoming hurdles to rise to the top.

New York, October 19, 2016—How should women network in a male-dominated business world? How do successful women maintain a work-life balance? Are business cards a thing of the past?

On October 13, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) assembled a group of successful executives and entrepreneurs, along with an audience of female young professionals, for its Fifth Annual Women’s Hemispheric Network Conference in New York City—a half-day forum crammed with personal stories, advice, inspiration, and networking opportunities to help women from throughout the Americas reach leadership positions.

“As I look around the world and as I travel around Latin America, I see how important this network is, and how important it is that we inspire young women to participate in the workforce and to stay in the workforce,” said AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal.

Under the slogan “Lead to Inspire, Inspire to Lead,” speakers at AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network Conference welcomed over 120 participants and challenged them to take risks in their careers, whether as part of the corporate world, in public service, or at the helm of their own businesses.  “You cannot wait to be offered a political role or a political place in your organization or in your life. You must take it,” said Telefónica Director of Public Affairs Global Strategy and Spain's former Minister of Foreign Affairs Trinidad Jiménez, in her keynote remarks.

At a panel moderated by CNN en Español business anchor Gabriela Frías, women entrepreneurs spoke about their experiences, as well as personal strategies to cope with failure. “I’m going to allow myself one minute, two at the most to say I’m throwing in the towel,” said La Newyorkina founder Fany Gerson, recalling a challenging episode. The conversation included Beleza Natural founder and CEO Leila Velez and LOVILL – Latamlex Founding Partner Cristina López.

MSNBC and NBC News anchor Richard Lui moderated a panel on building a brand and creating quality work relationships. "Nobody knows about your hard work unless you tell them,” Bloomberg's Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion Erika Irish Brown said. “People need to know your story.” Head of Latin America at Pfizer Innovative Health Om Arora and EVP of Global Distribution at HBO Bernadette Aulestia completed the panel.

In a panel moderated by HSBC Co-Head of Global Banking for Latin America Katia Bouazza, four of HSBC’s female bankers discussed how women can take advantage of professional connections. Participants also included Head of Security Services for the Americas Alexis Meissner, Chief Operating Officer for Global Market Businesses Suzy White, and Relationship Manager for Institutional Clients Courtney Wright.

AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network launched in October 2012 as a workshop on economic empowerment and leadership in New York, bringing together more than 100 women at different stages of their professional careers, along with then-UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet and First Lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala, who served as keynote speakers. Since then, the Network has held roundtable discussions in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Miami, Lima, Panama City, Santiago, and São Paulo.

Learn more about AS/COA’s Women’s Hemispheric Network:

  • View more videos of our Fifth Annual Women’s Hemispheric Network Conference.
  • Check out our 2016 events.
  • Get updates via the Women's Network portal.
  • For more information, contact women@as-coa.org.
  • For press inquiries contact: AS/COA Media Relations | mediarelations@as-coa.org | 212-277-8384 | 212-277-8333.

AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network is sponsored by HSBC.

Americas Society is the premier organization dedicated to education, debate and dialogue in the Americas. Established by David Rockefeller in 1965, our mission is to foster an understanding of the contemporary political, social and economic issues confronting Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, and to increase public awareness and appreciation of the diverse cultural heritage of the Americas and the importance of the inter-American relationship.

Council of the Americas is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.

 

 

Related

Explore