Prominent entrepreneurs share business tips at Women’s Business Development Center’s Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference
CHICAGO, IL – “You can never know too many smart people.† “Go with your gut, and don’t be afraid to ignore advice you don’t agree with.† “How you deal with failure determines how you deal with success.â€
Those pearls of wisdom were among scores of business tips delivered by Christie Hefner, Laura Ricketts, Sue Bhatia and Richelle Shaw at the Women’s Business Development Center’s (WBDC) 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference held September 20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place-West.
The women were panelists at the 26th Annual Women’s Forum Breakfast, moderated by Chicago Sun-Times syndicated financial columnist and best-selling author Terry Savage. Hefner is executive chairman, Canyon Ranch Enterprises and former CEO, Playboy Enterprises; Ricketts serves as director of Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball and chairman of the board, Chicago Cubs; Bhatia, CEO of Rose International, Inc., is one of the largest certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) companies in the country; and Shaw is CEO, RTS Publishing, LLC and, at one time, the only female African American public utility owner in the nation.
Lisa Price, founder of the multi-million-dollar company Carol’s Daughter (lovingly named after her mother), headquartered in New York, NY, delivered an inspirational address at the 26th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, where the WBDC honored successful female entrepreneurs as well as supporters of women’s economic development, including: Cassandra Sanford, CEO, KellyMitchell Group, 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year; Heather Sanderson, president, Overture Premiums & Promotions LLC, 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year – WBE Success; Danielle Hrzic, president and co-founder, Gourmet Gorilla; 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year – Rising Star; Joset B. Wright, president, National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC), and Pamela Prince-Eason, president & CEO, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), 26th Annual Advocacy Awards; and Allstate Insurance Company, 26th Annual Corporate Support Award.
The Conference also featured the Women’s Business & Buyers Mart, the oldest business opportunities fair for WBEs in the country; Contract Connections, pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings between certified WBEs and corporate and government purchasing decision-makers; and several workshops and roundtable discussions with practical advice from business experts. The event concluded with a Get Down to Business Networking Reception.
For more information about the WBDC, please visit www.WBDC.org or call (312) 853-3477.
