We are pleased to announce Rice NAWMBA’s 12th annual women in leadership conference! As in years past, this event is aimed at educating, enlightening, and motivating MBA students and women from across various industries throughout the Houston area on current business topics and women’s issues in the marketplace. This year’s conference will be held on Friday, February 10, 2012 and the theme is “Chart Your Course: Developing a Long-term Career Strategy.”

12th Annual Women in Leadership Conference
Chart Your Course: Developing a Long-term Career Strategy
Friday, February 10, 2012
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
McNair Hall, Rice University

Keynote speakers:

• Martha Feeback, Catalyst (catalyst.org)
• Ambassador Cynthia Shepard Perry

Special thanks to this year’s sponsors:

• Chevron
• Shell
• Spectra Energy

Panel topics will include deconstructing career transitions, men’s perspective on working with women, successes of entrepreneurial women, and navigating male-dominated industries. We have some exciting panelists, so please check back for updates as we get closer to the conference.

We will also hold a silent auction in conjunction with the conference. Featured items include:

• Tempur-Pedic Mattress and Bed Set from Mattress Firm
• Houston Dynamo tickets
• Wine tastings
• Salon services (including manicure/pedicure package, Brazilian Blowout at Azur Salon)
• Designer jewelry (pieces by Emily Armenta, Impeccable Pig and Stella & Dot)
• Chanel sunglasses
• Gift certificates to the city’s best restaurants, bars, boutiques and more!

All proceeds from the auction will go directly to supporting scholarships for women pursuing their MBAs at Rice.

The first 100 people to register will be entered into a drawing to win an Apple iPad. Register today!

For more information, please contact Leah Brown at lgb2@rice.edu.

Registration

Ahoy! Breakfast & Networking
7:45 to 8:30 a.m.

Welcome & Morning Keynote Address

8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
Above Board: A state of the union address on women in the workplace
Martha Feeback, Catalyst

Since January 2011, Martha Feeback develops and supports Catalyst member organizations in Texas by making them aware of Catalyst resources, research, and events on topics related to opportunities for women and business.

Ms. Feeback is an experienced account manager who is familiar with business planning, business development, and cost savings. With a strong background in Consumer Products and Corporate Marketing, she has worked with many large corporations across the country. Previously, she wasan Area Marketing Manager forCoca-Cola’s Fountain Field Sales Division, building strategic plans for customers in the Southwest. Prior to Coca-Cola,Ms. Feebackwas Marketing Director for TCI West in Seattle, and Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble in Ohio.

Martha earned her B.S. in Business from Miami University in Ohio and her M.B.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has lived in Dallas for 18 years.

Panel Session One

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Panel Session Two

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

	Ready About: Deconstructing Career Transitions
	Panelists:	Betsy Bagley, Principal Consultant, NLC Strategies Deanna Fuehne, Executive Director- Career Management Center, Jones School of Business Kala Marathi, Managing Director, Houston Angel Network Evy Pappas, Architect, Pappas Restaurants Mary Anne Schweers, Consultant & Project Manager, Infosys
	All Hands on Deck: Engaging Men in Gender Initiatives
	Panelists:	Greg Broussard, Director – Global Commodities, Citi Bobby Hatcher, President & CEO, Cockrell Interests, Inc. Roderick Larson, President – Latin America, Baker Hughes Savio Rebello, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young Omar Sharief, Shell Wind Energy Dan Williams, Partner, Ernst & Young
	Anchors Aweigh: Tales of Entrepreneurial Ventures
	Panelists:	Allison Bagley, CEO, Tidbits Chloe Dao, Designer & Owner, Dao Chloe Dao Gita Kulkarni, President, Avinta Services Meera Naehr, President, Mom Corps Houston Gretchen Penny, Consultant, Former owner – Easy Expression Products
	Know the Ropes: Navigating Male-Dominated Industries
	Panelists:	Elena Demidova, Energy Analyst, Shell Joan T. Eischen, Advisory Director, KPMG Claire Farley, Co-founder, RPM Energy Jane Gadaska, Manager – Planning & Optimization, ConocoPhillips Carrie Lockhart, Technical Excellence Manager, Marathon

Lost at Sea Lunch

12:15 to 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Keynote Address

1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Chart your Course: Developing a Long-term Career Strategy
Ambassador Cynthia Shepard Perry

As a young woman, Ambassador Perry set a 25-year goal to become a United States Ambassador to nations of Africa. She served as ambassador to both Sierra Leone and Burundi, as well as holding the highest American position in the African Development Bank. Since leaving the service, she has aspired to serve as mentor, role model and facilitator for young people aspiring to public service roles in the various global services and offices. Her continuing goal is to successfully assist African nations in establishing viable private sectors and to serve both African and American interests in the process. She has lived, worked, and traveled in more than 42 African countries. Ambassador Perry lists her greatest strengths as diplomacy, human resources development and management, and peace negotiation.

Ambassador Perry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Indiana State University and a Doctorate in International Education from the University of Massachusetts.

Plain Sailing Champagne Reception

2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Anderson Family Commons

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Additional information: Dress is business casual. The first 100 people to register will be entered into a drawing to win an Apple iPad. Register today!

Campus Directions & Parking

Visitor parking is available in the Central Campus Garage, the underground garage beneath the Jones Graduate School of Business (McNair Hall). To park in this garage, enter from Rice Boulevard (Entrance # 20), and turn right at the second stop sign. The building and entrance to the garage will be on your left. Take the elevators at the east end of the garage to the first floor.

Please note that we will validate your parking during registration – bring your ticket with you.


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Thoughts from Past Scholarship Winners

All proceeds from NAWMBA’s Women in Leadership Conference go directly to supporting scholarships for female Rice MBA students.

NAWMBA has been an instrumental part of my MBA career at the Jones School. The opportunity to work with and lead such a fantastic group of intelligent, hard-working women has been an incredibly fulfilling personal and professional experience. NAWMBA’s efforts to connect its members to a wider women’s network, career opportunities, and other leading organizations are excellent examples of the value this chapter creates. I am honored to have been selected as a scholarship recipient, and extremely grateful for the opportunity that this award has created for me to continue to explore my academic endeavors.

- Mallory Engler, Class of 2012



NAWMBA is a wonderful organization and I am pleased to be part of a network fostering the next generation of female business leaders. I am grateful to receive a graduate scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year and the opportunity to serve on the board of the organization. NAWMBA provides essential programs and education to its members. It inspires and supports women to pursue their interests and further their careers. This scholarship will enable me to take the next step in my education and career.

- Leah Brown, Class of 2012



NAWMBA participation has been an essential part of my Jones MBA experience. In my two years at Rice I have been honored to work with both local and national NAWMBA leadership and am honored to include this group of strong, committed women in my professional and personal networks. The enthusiasm and commitment around NAWMBA’s mission of empowering and educating women has been exciting to witness in my time at Rice. I am grateful to be a recipient of the NAWMBA scholarship for the 2011-12 school year and am excited about the opportunity to continue building on NAWMBA’s mission in my future business career.

- Megan Manning, Class of 2012