Women TIES, Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success, announces national author Wendy Walker, as its keynote speaker for its first annual conference to bring regional women entrepreneurs together for a day of inspiration, education and strategic economic networking.
Wendy Walker, is a former commercial litigator who has been a stay-at-home mom for eleven
years. She began writing as a hobby several years ago and wrote her first novel, Four Wives, in the back
of her minivan. She recently edited Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms which was released in March. Her second novel, Social Lives, was just released by St. Martin’s Press on September 1st, and her two new Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Thanks Mom and Thanks Dad, will be available spring 2010.
The producers from the popular Twilight series are packaging a film deal to bring Social Lives to the big
screen, adding a new notch to Walker’s accomplishments.
Tracy Higginbotham, President of Women TIES, asked Walker to be the keynote speaker after working with her on the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms book. “Wendy has an impressive and diverse professional background. She has done a lot of the right things to gain national attention and propel herself to the public stage. I asked her to share her success strategies with Central New York
women entrepreneurs to inspire them to higher levels of national recognition.”
Walker’s speech will include the importance of focused strategic networking. “Networking is essential. From my work with Chicken Soup for the Soul to promoting my novels, there is nothing more powerful than personal relationships. The truth is, you never know where these relationships will lead. Some are dead ends, and others turn out to be the key to success. I also believe that you have to be creative in your thinking.
People tend to follow the same path. You have to be smarter than that by always looking for new paths to your target audience,” states Walker.
Prior to becoming a national author, Walker obtained her undergraduate degree from Brown University with a double major in economics and political science. Her junior year was spent at the London School of Economics. Upon graduating magna cum laude, she worked as a financial analyst in the Mergers and Acquisitions department of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York. She was also a private practice attorney in New York and Connecticut, and served as pro bono lawyer at the ACLU.
Walker will present on Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Lodge at Welch Allyn, Skaneateles at “Inspiring Success: The Women TIES Retreat,” an event created to bring together women entrepreneurs all over the Central New York region to help them open up new economic possibilities by connecting them with other regional women entrepreneurs, training them in timely topics to take
their businesses to the next level, and inspiring them to higher levels of entrepreneurial success. Nine other regional women entrepreneurs will present vital topics facing women entrepreneurs today including, “The Finesse of Feminine Selling,” “The Rewards of Courageous Leadership,” “Creating the Right Social Media Marketing Mix for a Business,”and “Breaking Internal Financial Glass Ceilings.” The day will also entail extensive networking opportunities including a regional one-on-one speed
networking event and signature sales piece for women to take with them.
This event is expected to sell out. Attendance is limited to 240 women. Sponsorship opportunities are
available along with a limited number of business booths. Major sponsors include SUNY Oswego,
Becky’s Graphic Design, Brophy Services, Mirbeau Inn & Spa, and Finger Lakes Lodging.
The admission cost is $75 for the full day event and includes a chance for one lucky attendee to win
an exclusive two day spa and lodging special valued at $1,100 from Mirbeau Inn & Spa. For more
general information about the event or about the Women TIES organization, visit the Women TIES
website at womenties.com or call 471-1987.
