European Professional Womens Network has five main categories of membership: (1) Corporate (2) Members (3) Honorary (4) MBA Students (5) Staff. Each one of these designations is centrally defined at the Federation level for all of the affiliated networks.

Now-a-days membership in an organization is fairly fluid, in that we have a “rolling admissions” process. There is no fixed “apply by” date – so the membership database is constantly being updated. For the purposes of this data analysis – a capture of the membership data was taken in November 2009. Some of the data has previously been described in the December Newsletter article.

Amsterdam’s membership in 2009 totaled approximately 303 members and is distributed amongst the five categories.

We come from 36 different countries (43 if you include our second affiliation – dual citizenships). A representative distribution in percentages of those reporting data is show below. 214 of our 303 members are included in the following diagram:

Slightly more folks report their nationality as compared to their year of birth. Age is under reported in our database, however the distribution of reported ages is as follows:

An exciting and successful 2009 comes to an end and we want to use the holidays to thank you for your participation, support and dedication for EuropeanPWN-Amsterdam. Only with active members like you, were we able to host 12 main events, 6 workshops and many borrels in Amsterdam & The Hague.

The venue is arranged. Eleonore is flying back the day before. The website should be “ready” for show and tell…(sorry my html is a bit rusty and it’s taking a bit more time than I planned. I struggled for far too long yesterday on the Table of Contents – it’s almost done).

This is a member only event – so there is no guest registration.

Please join us at the Renaissance Hotel on 16 December for an overview of the mentoring program, to fill in your mentor/mentee profile, and to work toward your perfect mentoring match.

This year we also have a possibilty to work with other EuropeanPWN networks to share with their excess mentor’s & mentees. All kinds of new possibilities exist for 2010! Come hear about them.

Folks that pre-register will be sent a link to the new Mentoring workbook that we’ve been working on so you’ll have a chance to read up a bit before we begin on the 16th.

Anna’s also promised to bake some of her xmas cookies so save some room for dessert.

Gone already on the 16th – don’t worry. Send me an email and I’ll fill you in in January.

mentoring@europeanpwn-amsterdam.net

p.s.
html wizards are also welcome to contact me to browse through my code to see what I missed first time round…

We’ve taken a poll and decided to try something new – spread some cheer in the run up to the holi-daze. Join us at a new new venue.

Bar Italia
www.bar-italia.nl/

Rokin 83
Amsterdam

Beginning 18:30
23 December 2009

Jackie Cuthbert: Senior Vice President Global Recruitment & Learning

December 7^th 2009, Renaissance Hotel, Kattegat 1, Amsterdam

DSM: Passion for People, Commitment to Diversity

Jackie Cuthbert: Senior Vice President Global Recruitment & Learning

Jackie Cuthbert is the Senior Vice President Global Recruitment & Learning at Royal DSM N.V. She started her career in her homeland UK where she held various senior HR positions in Retail, Merchant Banking and the ICT industry (Sainsbury’s, Credit Suisse and Unisys). Having worked amongst others in the US and Germany, Jackie moved to the Netherlands when she joined DSM in 2002.

Jackie’s career focus has primarily been on establishing best practice performance management programs to develop and retain highly skilled resources within international businesses. Her current responsibilities also include Diversity and Change Management in DSM.

Royal DSM N.V., a € 9.3 billion company, creates innovative products and services in Life and Material Sciences. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics, life protection and housing. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands and employs about 23.500 people worldwide.

At DSM the Passion for People strategy has been a major driver in strengthening the diversity of the leadership team, not only in terms of gender and nationality but also in terms of leadership styles. A key element of Passion for People is to support employees in dealing with the challenges of a changing company in a fast-moving global marketplace. The intensified efforts with regard to diversity pay off: the number of non-Dutch and female professionals entering DSM continues to grow and we will hopefully see many women crossing the board border.

Jackie Cuthbert will talk about the Diversity at DSM and her view on the critical success criteria. In addition, her colleague Xander Wessels, President DSM Food Specialties, will share his experiences from a business perspective. Following their presentations, Dana Krueger from Russell Reynolds Associates will facilitate an interactive discussion.

Registration and Guest Policy

Registration is required for members (free including dinner and drinks) and guests (guests are welcome at a cost of 25 Euro which includes dinner and drinks). Guests are allowed to attend two EuropeanPWN-Amsterdam functions per year.
Please contact Caroline van Leuven, our VP Membership.

 

Let’s go GOLFING!!

Dorhout Mees B.V.
Strandgaperweg 30
8256 PZ Biddinghuizen (NL)
Tel.: 0321-331138
Fax.: 0321-331057

Meeting at the club house 13:00
Tee off for experienced golfers at 13:30
Lesson for beginners at 13:30
Borrel at 17:30 with prizes

Our golf pro is Peter Ackerley. Peter is a golf pro since 1966. He has twice won the Dutch National Golf Championship and has played on the European Tour Circuit. Since 1984, Peter is a professional golfing instructor.

The Course “http://www.dorhoutmees.nl”

Dorhout Mees is in Flevoland (about 45 min/1 hour from Amsterdam and Utrecht). The course is good and there are 4 9-hole courses, which means that we can play at our leisure. Flevoland can be windy which makes a bit of a challenge to the average golfer. The course, while challenging, is not exceptionally difficult.

Peter suggests the following program.

for the golfers: 18 holes tournament
for the beginners: 1.5 hours learn a bit of golf: swing, chip and putt + 0.5 hour break + 1 hour on the par 3 course to play some holes

Peter will provide the lesson and take care of the beginners while the experienced golfers are on the course.

Early birds are welcome to reserve a table in the restaurant for lunch before-hand.

Folks that rather stay on after the borrel are also encouraged to make dinner reservations with the restaurant. (You are free to adapt the pre/after program to your Saturday schedule).

Anna is handling the web & logistics.

FEES – the precise cost will vary based on the number of participants. We are trying to keep the lesson, green fees, and practice balls inclusive golfing price to about 50 Euros (very very reasonable).

If you are less mobile – we have not yet included the cost of a golf cart (for example) that would cost extra. Just let me know and I will make the necessary arrangements. Also if you are an experienced golfer but need to hire clubs – that is also not presently included in the price. (not to worry: Clubs are included in the lesson package).

REFRESHMENTS – are not included in the “inclusive” golfing price and will be paid per consumption on site.

Andrea van der Loos is our member golfer-liason with the pro and course. (She will answer “inhoudelijk” questions).
Rieke is the instigator of this activity. (She gets credit for organizing).

We look forward to welcoming you on the links!
If you don’t want to golf but do want to join – you are also welcome to keep Anna company in the clubhouse.

If the weather is truly terrible we can reschedule for the 24th.  Do come rain or shine on the 10th.  The weather in Amsterdam is not the same as in Flevoland.

If you need transportation – please contact Anna and she will be happy to help you to coordinate.  Please also specify if you will be joining the lesson or the round with Andrea.

The amount of knowledge and wisdom within the EPWN group is deep and wide. Speed networking is a great way to extract and share it.

Think about all of the ideas, information, and contacts that each person in the network has. Imagine how much we can help each other and what kind of opportunities we will be able to create by meeting face-to-face and exchanging our knowledge.

In one evening of Speed Networking you will have the chance to meet between 10-13 people and exchange ideas, information, and resources. Bring loads of business cards, you’re going to need them!

In preparation for the event, please think about:
1. A very brief introduction of yourself
2. What you have to offer people in the network
3. What you need from people in the network

This Speed Networking event will be hosted by Stephanie Ward, owner of Firefly Coaching, who is passionate about helping business owners build successful businesses!

If you’d like to know more, check out this review from one of the attendees of a previous EPWN speed networking event: http://tinyurl.com/le6l5w. Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire. You can get a copy of her free special report, 7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time, plus monthly business building tips at http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

She is also the author of the book, No Sweat Networking: Simple Solutions to Overcome Networking Obstacles which can be purchased at http://www.nosweatnetworking.com.

Participants are welcome to network from 19:00 to 20:00.
The program begins at 19:45 at the Renaissance Hotel Amsterdam (Katengat 1).

Registration & Guest Policy: Registration is required for members (no charge) and guests (guests are welcome at a cost of 25 Euro which includes snacks and drinks). Guests are allowed to attend two EuropeanPWN-Amsterdam functions per year. Please contact Caroline van Leuven, our VP Membership.

SPECIAL NOTE:

If you’re having trouble with the payment process – there has been a law change in France with respect to on line banking.  We are using a new “3D” system that must be supported by your browser and by your bank.  If for any reason you have difficulties with registration, please email Anna Farrenkopf <social@europeanpwn-amsterdam.net> and I’ll help the folks in Paris with debugging and/or you with your particular issue.

Organisational Savvy for Women

What makes an individual successful in the “political arena”? According to research successful politicians possess both mental empowerment (they “think and feel” positively about politics) and the skills to build a powerful reputation, network and presence within the organization.

Plenty of women excel at public relations, relationship building and conduct themselves with style and grace. All of this comes easy to women. Research shows that women are more intuitive, able to use both the right and left side of their brains simultaneously and more emotionally intelligent. They possess the skills that lead to success in the political arena.

So why do women struggle with “being political”?

Michelle Brailsford, founding partner of Jupiter Consulting Group, will codify the rules of the game to help you identify our power source, how you are perceived, and to read the organisational politics in situations. With this knowledge you will be able to develop strategies to gain power, build alliances, manage perceptions about yourselves and your teams and to be “political whilst maintaining your ethics”.

If you have ever:

• Been unable to sell a great idea

• Failed to receive credit for work well done

• Been underestimated or pigeon holed

• Felt left out of a key network

• Found you had a negative image or reputation within your company

• Been unable to uncover the hidden success criteria of the organisation

… you may have underestimated the impact politics can have on your success. This event will open your eyes and help you to be more successful in the political game.

Participants are welcome to network from 19:00 to 20:00.
The program begins at 20:00.

Registration and Guest Policy: Registration is required for members (no charge) and guests (guests are welcome at a cost of 25 Euro which includes snacks and drinks). Guests are allowed to attend two EuropeanPWN-Amsterdam functions per year. Please contact Caroline van Leuven, our VP Membership.

How to Improve Your Relationships at Work Using ‘The Work’ of Byron Katie by Sagar Simon

“My Boss doesn’t listen.”
“No one does what I ask.”
“My boss doesn’t appreciate me.”

Thoughts like these enter our minds throughout the day and cause us to experience stress, anger, fear, depression, and other negative emotions. When we live with these thoughts, our lives become difficult, painful, and confusing. Whether you are having difficulty with someone in your life, or simply tired of feeling anxious about seeking love, approval, and appreciation from others, this workshop is for you.

This workshop is designed to give you the experience of applying the work of Byron Katie’s four questions and turnarounds to your stressful thoughts in your work place, about relationships with co-workers, employers and employees that lead to anxiety, anger, depression, and an inability to act with clarity.

The Work, is a way to end confusion, miscommunication and frustration in the work place. Through 4 simple questions and a turn around, you will learn to free yourself from stress and feelings of being unappreciated or the daily unhealthy frustrations of work situations. You will learn to apply this technique to any situation that arises. Come and join me for this evening if you want to challenge your thinking.

This workshop is about identifying and recognizing thoughts that cause us stress at work. Most of the time we recognize the emotion or the feeling but you don’t recognize the thought that drives you.

PLEASE NOTE: This evening is not for everybody. Some people don’t agree with the work of Byron Katie. To find out if it is something for you, please download and read the excerpt of her book, Loving What Is , before you sign up for the event.

Also, if possible, fill out the Judge Your Neighbor worksheet before you come to the workshop. And there will be time to fill it out at the workshop.

You can find valuable information:

• about me at: www.changeyourmindchangeyourlife.org
• on The Work at: www.thework.com
• additional resources found here: Byron Katie - More Resources

AGM MEETING EuropeanPWN 2009

On June 26-27 2009 the EuropeanPWN board and presidents of all networks gathered in Nice for the Annual General Meeting (AGM). In a 1 ½ day session they looked back on past achievements, exchanged best practices and developed plans for the next year. Organized this year by the team of Nice Cote d’Azur’s president Susanne Forsman-Hey, participants were warmly welcomed by Team Cote D’Azur’s Ségolène Pin-Monsaingeon.