At TIAW, we are starting off 2008 with a feeling of great excitement and anticipation as much of the work we did in 2007 is poised to bear fruit in the coming year.
Our annual conference has been confirmed for November 9 to 11 in Toronto at the One King West Suites Hotel at the historic intersection of King Street and Yonge Street (the world’s longest street – it ends in Vancouver!). It’s a fabulous property that offers the ambience of a historic grand banking building combined with a luxurious new condo/hotel. TIAW has negotiated a fantastic rate for the hotel’s beautiful rooms, but consider treating yourself to a one bedroom suite that offers an absolutely stunning 270 degree view high over the city and onto Lake Ontario.(book early – there are a limited number!).
Through the conference, we will be bringing together leaders and change agents from around the world to one of the most cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse cities in the world. I am delighted that Canadian Women in Communications, the organization that I head in my “day job”, will co-host the conference, bringing some of the most influential and powerful women from Canada’s communications and media world into the TIAW orbit.
As part of our conference, we will be announcing the inaugural winners of the World of Difference 100 Awards, a brand new program to recognize women from around the globe who are “unsung heroes”. Stay tuned for more details – we expect to be opening nominations on March 8, 2008 – International Women’s Day.
Although the year is still young, we’ve already convened the leaders of our networks in a President’s Forum roundtable teleconference call. These calls enable us to hear from women leaders of all our member organizations, to find out what issues are foremost in their regions and to ensure that TIAW is responding as a leader in sharing best practice for the economic empowerment of women worldwide. A topic of great interest was the TIAW Entrepreneurs Program and how TIAW can shape the program to connect and empower women business owners, whether they are running microenterprises or building budding empires.
Momentum is also building for our Women on Boards program, where we are revising our best practices guide and developing strategies to connect more widely with other women’s organizations focused on this issue.
At TIAW, we not only want to connect, we want to make a difference so I invite you all to be part of this important movement to empower women. When we connect through TIAW to make all the difference in the world, we also broaden our horizons, make friends and see the world. Join us!
