The second WIE Symposium is coming to town in a big way on September 18th and 19th. Co-founders of the WIE Network, Dee Poku and June Sarpong have put together a stellar lineup of women and men from the fields of politics, philanthropy, media, fashion, education and the arts to explore and discuss the very relevant question of "what it means to be a woman now." The success of last year's Symposium created a new set of goals and plans for building the WIE Network. Poku and Sarpong bring their unique skills, experience and energy to the creation of a brand that unites women from different backgrounds, ages and passions.
Social change is a common thread among the hosts, participants and speakers at the Symposium. Poku and Sarpong had this to say about the mission for the WIE Network and the Symposium, "As New York based British women of Ghanaian heritage, we consider ourselves to be citizens of world. And as such our mandate is to unite and empower women everywhere. We all share common goals of wanting to be happy and successful, to have families and dynamic careers. And that's what the WIE Symposium is about, setting aside our differences and uniting behind our common aspirations."
The two met four years ago and connected over their shared vision to bring women from different walks of life together. Poku's background in branding and entertainment marketing combined perfectly with Sarpong's experience as a television host and political commentator to bring the WIE Network to life. Sarah Brown, Arianna Huffington and Donna Karan have put their full support behind WIE Network and are once again hosts for the Symposium.
The first day of the Symposium is Enterprise Day. With the goal of empowering women leaders in business, Poku and Sarpong are bringing together an impressive and diverse group of speakers such as Ted Turner, Tamara Mellon, Nancy Pelosi, Sonia Kashuk, Estelle and many more. Arianna Huffington has been a mentor to both June and Dee so it's very fitting that she's hosting WIE Enterprise Day. Steven Strauss of the NYCDEC will join Arianna in hosting the day's events.
Day two is Inspiration Day. Dr. Jill Biden will deliver the keynote address. Speakers such as Wendy Kopp, Christy Turlington, Van Jones, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Abby Disney and Deepak Chopra will share their stories of working with mentors, discovering their calling and creating change in the world.
As Poku and Sarpong have recognized, there is a real need to connect women on a global scale. There is a desire among women the world over to tell their stories, share their success and come together to find creative resolutions to pressing issues. With the WIE Network, Poku and Sarpong set the goal for themselves to create an organization that joins together women from a variety of areas, concerns and interests to find common ground. Inspired to meet up, find mentors, uncover new ideas and reflect on what it means to be a woman, WIE can, in the words of Sarah Brown, "help shape the world for others."
Please join us for this incredible two-day event. For details and ticket information and to learn more about Dee and June, go to www.wiesymposium.org.
You can find us on Facebook and Twitter and join in the conversation at WIE Interactive.
Can't make it this year? The WIE Symposium will be broadcast live through FORA.tv. Click here to register.
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Carla Buzasi: WIE Will Make Change
And how much do you want to bet there will be endless trashing of males, with complaints about the wage gap, the discrimination gap, the trans-gender gap, the CEO gap, the housework gap, the child raising gap, etc.
"Uniting behind our common aspirations" is short for : demonize men and blame them for everything.
You could be quite right, maybe the WIE will be different than the TED, and if it is, than you my sincere apologies for jumping to a false conclusion.
You will forgive me, perhaps, when I point out the vast number of female authors and speakers who complain about "gaps" or "inequality" and blame it all on men. If you think I'm wrong, you will find ample proof of my argument right here on HP on an almost daily basis.
Invite soldiers and will be impressed.
Is Michelle Bachmann going to be there? How about Sarah Palin?
Ann Coulter?
Laura Ingraham?
Phyllis Schafley?
Unfortunately, the idea of "getting past our differences", whether as men, women, Americans or humans is really more of a pipe dream than anything else. The only time we seem to get past our differences is when there is a truly horrific event like 911 - and even that unity is ephemeral at best.
I don't blame you for trying - but I think you have to be honest about what you're doing here. It's really a forum that will attract women with progressive values, rather than conservative ones.
Or am I wrong?
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Exactly so. Let us all set aside our differences, and all meet under my big tent, and all speak as I speak about the issues I think are important.
Sounds like a plan.