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Women's Networking Groups

In the corporate world, great success for women also means success for the company.  That's why more and more companies are putting a lot of effort and heart into their own women's networking organizations.  Providing female employees with a resource for lessons in leadership and hands-on problem solving not only gives them a springboard for personal professional advancement, but also gives the company a boost as women become more powerful in their roles as business partners.  It's a win-win: invest in us and we will invest in you.

For large corporations, like General Electric, women's networks can reach a national-and even international-level.  Every year GE hosts a leadership conference that attracts senior business women from the U.S. and Europe.  The event brings together GE employees and GE customers, all women, to interact on a more personal level and build better business relationships.  It's a forum for women to share with and learn from each other, and a source of support and encouragement for those in high-level, high-stress positions.

All companies, whether international like GE or corner-shop mom ‘n' pop, can benefit from a woman's perspective as a problem solver.  Best Buy, for example, has a regional network for female employees-at all levels of responsibility-that focuses mainly on getting women involved in solving real business issues.  As a predominantly male-centric business, Best Buy was once having trouble garnering interest from women as employees and women as consumers.  But with ideas from its women's network, Best Buy was able to drastically cut the female turnover rate and increase sales by appearing more female friendly.

Looking for professional development outside of work? Look in the newspaper, check with your community center, or try searching online for "(your city or state) women's network."

Here are some national women's organizations that may have chapters in your area:

www.naofp.com - National Association of Female Professionals

www.nationalwomensinnetwork.com - National Women's In Network, Inc.

www.bpwusa.org - Business and Professional Women/USA

Do you, or someone you know, belong to a women's networking group?

What is most beneficial about it?