Update us with your news!

[Editor's note: For this issue's Community Update we polled you, our alumni, to learn more about your news. The replies, as well as some we learned about on our own, are below. As I read them, they seem to have a consistent spirit of freedom, resiliency and 'joie de vivre' that was infectious!]

Donna Berry donna@esourcecoach.com ( WLC 06/03) has achieved her dream of having her own business! Ironically, according to Donna, she helps others explore the possibility of having their own business through a proven process.

Using education, coaching and the knowledge of opportunities around the world (she has a client in Australia right now), she helps people find businesses that meet their needs and lifestyle goals. She has also had the pleasure of working with several IWL alumni. She reports she's deriving great personal satisfaction from the growing list of clients who are now pursuing options that they would not have considered on their own. She also enjoys flexible nature of her business. According to Donna, she "works when and where she wants."

Sandy Caldwell sandycaldwell@pacbell.net (WLF 1994) was the subject of a recent documentary on birth doulas or professional labor assistants and how they fill emotional support and informational gaps that were, in prior times, filled by the 'tribe or village' of mothers, sisters and friends. Serena Downs, a film maker at Stanford University, was seven-months pregnant when the two met. The film also features a single mother whose own family lives in China and England, who benefited from the warmth, knowledge and support provided by her doula.

Sandy has also joined the boards of several birth-related non-profits, including Blossom Birth Services in Palo Alto, CA and Bay Area Birth Information in San Jose, CA. She also co-founded the San Francisco Peninsula Birth Circle to create a 'virtual pregnancy, birth and early parenting center,' a resource comprised of all manner of care providers who are committed to serving their clients/patients and approaching these vital rites of passage as normal, human processes rather than solely medical events.

Savannah Jackson savjack7@msn.com (WLC 07/00) reports, "What happened to me was an experience in dichotomy. I was laid off from my job after 30 years of service. At first it made me very sad. I was lying under a blanket on the couch crying when my husband burst through the back door and proclaimed, "Guess what?" to which I paused and responded, "What?" [I was wondering if he was still playing with a full deck.] He gleefully continued with, "If God took something that wonderful from you, just think what He's going to replace it with!" I was so excited and rejuvenated.

I found out about the 'Trade Adjustment Assistance' (TAA), went back to school full-time, and graduated in May Magna Cum Laude with my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Human Resources Management. [Ed. note: the TAA assists people who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports from, or shifts in production to, foreign countries.]

I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future! I'm so ready to conquer my next challenge. The personal integrity and strength that I gained from IWL's Women Leading Change program has been a source of positive energy. I know I'll be using the principles in my next opportunity as well.

Linda Maybury lmaybury@sbcglobal.net (WLC 02/02) shares "I attended WLC about 3 years ago and my life has changed significantly since then. Roxio, the company I worked for, sent me to Women Leading Change (WLC) and brought in an executive trainer to groom me for growth within the company.

After WLC, among other factors, I realized that growth within that company was NOT what I wanted. Six months later I started my own business, which branched out into three businesses and was later incorporated. They were marketing consulting, a DVD authoring company, and I purchased a local bar  (okay - very diverse businesses)!

Sounds like a great success story, no?  The truth was, that only consulting was profitable and it wasn't consistent, so I've been trying to dig my way out of that hole ever since. Although the decision to leave the first company was most definitely the right one, the direction I went to was most definitely the wrong one!

I've decided to go back to corporate America. In April I started work at SanDisk and am loving being back in this world. I've had some serious time away and other life changes that have stepped me back from the executive track I was on, but I'm okay with that. I'm running programs instead of people and I love it.

The last change is that I'm also five months pregnant. It is amazing how my priorities have changed! Actually, my priorities changed two years before becoming pregnant. I created a balanced life for me which far outweighs the very large sacrifices I would have needed to make to go to the next level. I'm glad I've chosen to work to live and not live to work; yet it has been a rocky ride to get where I'm at today. I've learned some extremely valuable life lessons.

WLC and IWL have given me the strength and wisdom to try something unique - to go out on my own. How many people live their lives and never take that chance? I did it and although it may not have completely worked for me I'm proud I did it. I'm glad for the life lessons and I look forward to where I go next.

I can't predict my career path with as much certainty as I used to; will I re-enter the executive track? Will I remain an individual contributor? I just don't know. Next project is to get the new 'product' out the door; a baby boy, due October 6 th!

Elspeth MacEachern elspeth.maceachern@vac-acc.gc.ca (WLC 04/01, LIA 10/01) opened her interior design business in October 2002. She reports, "this is my secret passion and I am working on a comfortable balance between what I love and what I feel I must do until my beautiful 16 year old is out of high school and braces!"

Elspeth also 'told on' another IWL alumni. She proudly continued, "Now to my point. I am sure you recall Teresa Mellish tmmellish@gov.pe.ca (WLC 04/01), who was in our WLC group. Her breakthrough project was to raise the profile and humanitarian contribution of the group Farmers Helping Farmers that she helped found. See the coverage on the web site's links! Teresa has done such a fabulous job in this area that gets so little glory and press!! This is a huge humanitarian accomplishment for our little Islanders [ed. note: Prince Edward Island, Canada] and the amazing people that they help!"

Here's some links to Farmers Helping Farmers information:

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/0/538e1132cc636b3a85256cc300651ef5?OpenDocument

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/world/inquiry1.html

http://pei.cbc.ca/features/kenya/

http://www.gov.pe.ca/news/getrelease.php3?number=3387

Women & Philanthropy recently chose Kavita N. Ramdas , gfw@globalfundforwomen.org (WLC 10/99) President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, for its highest honor: The LEAD Award (Leadership for Equity and Diversity).

The LEAD Award is presented by Women & Philanthropy to individuals representing foundations or corporate giving programs in recognition of significant accomplishments in developing and supporting creative programs or practices that promote equity and diversity for women and girls.

The 8th Annual LEAD Award honors Ms. Ramdas' championship and commitment to funding for the global human rights of women and girls.

In April, Kavita also appeared on PBS's NOW with Bill Moyers and in June, she was featured on ABC7 KGO-TV's 'Profiles of Excellence.' Congratulations for the award and visibility you most certainly deserve, Kavita!

Toni Riccardi Riccardired@aol.com (ELSC 2002) happily reports, "After 15 years with PwC, I am retiring on July 2. While there is always a little sadness about leaving the people and what you have built, the overwhelming feeling is excitement. I am shaping my own sabbatical and am very excited about what's next. The first order of business is a travel hiatus so that I can see what summer is like in Chicago, get fit and hope my cooking skills come back to me.  In the fall, I will begin planning a trip to Asia or Africa for early 2005 and then use the spring to shape my third act."

Diane Rooney DianeRoone@aol.com (WLF 02/97) is expanding her marketing and business communications consultancy in San Francisco. She recently joined the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the SF Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Starting in July, she will be VP of Professional Development Programs for the SF Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, offering a wide range of communications services, including business plans, public relations, and speeches and presentations. She is also doing a lot of freelance writing, a pursuit, she reports, she never took time for when working in a corporate environment.