President’s Council of Cornell Women | Monthly eNews | April-May 2013
We're pleased to share our April eNews with you, in which you'll hear from fellow member Pamela
Ellsworth, chair of FIT's Global Fashion Management program, and her insights into some of the
trends in K-12 and higher education in the U.S. and beyond. We have also included the remainder
of the session summaries from last month's annual meeting and announcements from PCCW's
various committees, along with some great updates from our members.
Congratulations to Monica Gelinas on the arrival of her son, Wyatt Samuel Shapiro, on March 7 at
a whopping 9 pounds! Wyatt and his toddler sister are keeping Monica on her toes, along with her
own business, so Monica has decided to step down as co-vice chair of the Communications
Committee and eNews editor. Our committee thanks her for her service in general and her
leadership and vision in taking the eNews in a new direction. Moving forward, Heidi Grenek will
continue on as editor, along with Debra Wein, to bring you future eNews.
As usual, we ask you to share any feedback with us and feel free to make suggestions for future
editions.
Fond regards,
Liz Ngonzi
Chair, PCCW Communications Committee
enn1@cornell.edu
Connect with us on
MEMBER INTERVIEW
Pamela M. Ellsworth
BS HE '90
Danbury, CT
PCCW member
since 2012
Pamela Ellsworth is
the chairperson of the
Fashion Institute of
Technology’s Global
Fashion Management
program in the School
of Graduate Studies, a
campus of the State University of New York in
New York City. Global Fashion Management,
which confers a Master of Professional Studies
degree, trains managers in the fashion industry
for executive positions through a partnership
with graduate programs in Paris and Hong
Kong. Pamela joined FIT’s faculty in 2005 as an
adjunct professor in the department of
International Trade and Marketing, teaching
CALLS TO ACTION
Calling all PCCW committee chairs!
This section is your chance to ask the PCCW
membership at large for their help or simply get
the word out about your recent activities.
Please submit your “call to action” requests to
Heidi Grenek, Communications Committee
member, no later than the third Monday of
each month for inclusion in that month’s eNews.
Development Committee
We're seeking contributions to Cornell from
100% of our members by June 30 (the end of
Cornell's fiscal year) in any amount that you
feel comfortable with. We'd love you to
contribute to one of the PCCW funds, but a
contribution to anywhere in Cornell is equally
appreciated.
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
For members interested in helping people with
disabilities, Cornell and PCCW’s Diversity and
international marketing and sourcing for the
apparel industry. Prior to her appointment at FIT,
she spent several years as a consultant for
apparel factories in Africa and Asia, assisting
companies in refining and marketing their
products to successfully export to the U.S. and
the European Union. Prior to consulting, she
held the position of product development
manager for Burlington Worldwide, Burlington
Industry’s international division, focusing on
companies and markets in Western Europe and
Mexico. In the early years of her career, she
worked as a costumer for theater, dance, and
opera throughout the country, specializing in
pattern drafting, draping, and construction after
training
with
Seventh
Avenue
fashion
companies. Pamela received a Master of
Professional Studies in Global Fashion
Management from FIT, a Bachelor of Science
degree from the College of Human Ecology at
Cornell University in Apparel and Textile
Management, certification in fashion design from
The School of Fashion Design in Boston, and
studied textile technology at FIT. She is active in
numerous FIT committees, including the
Diversity Council, established by FIT’s
President.
Inclusion Committee have an option for you.
Via the committee (co-chaired by Rita Redberg
and Dale Bernstein), Cornell’s Disability
Colleague Network Group is looking for PCCW
volunteers. Its mission is to raise awareness,
serve as an educational resource, and provide
support to help Cornell be recognized as an
exceptional workplace for people coping with
disabilities, both short- and long-term.
The Colleague Network is an on-campus
employee resource group guided by Lynette
Chappell-Williams, Associate VP, Department
of Inclusion and Diversity, and her staff. Its
activities range from dissemination of disabilityrelated information and peer mentorship, to
interacting with Cornell staff who may be hiring,
and identifying job opportunities. Help from
PCCW members would be appreciated. To
volunteer or learn more, contact Dale at or
Lynette.
PCCW ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
What are some of the trends in K-12 and higher
education in the US? Internationally?
Although my educational area is rather
specialized—graduate-level training with a focus
on the business of the global fashion industry— I
am seeing trends that do, I believe, exist in
general education. Chief among them is an
interest in entrepreneurship, motivated and
enhanced by internet communication and social
networks, with the United States setting the
standard in successful models of profitability. In
my field, the chasm between business and
creativity is closing as it becomes clear that
success requires some knowledge and practice
of both. As a result, the intensive seminars that
Global Fashion Management students attend in
New York, Paris, and Hong Kong, focus on the
creativity and aesthetic of early-stage designers,
as well as profit and loss statements and the
ability of a management team to accommodate
both.
Following Part 1 last month, we're happy to
offer Part 2 of the recap. Thank you again to
our PCCW reporters for bringing you this
summary. Planning is already underway for the
2014 meeting!
As I’ve just returned from Paris, I’ve found that
the bleak European economy has had
considerable impact on apparel industry
professionals’
interest
in
starting
new
Stay connected by joining PCCW's
Facebook group! The group was
developed to help create a virtual community
experience for our geographically dispersed
members, who all have busy schedules and
Annual Meeting PowerPoints, Livestream
recordings, and photos.
Join PCCW's Facebook Group Now!
businesses in that city, where consumption has
decreased, jobs are harder to find, and
employers are more cautious than ever when
hiring (since it’s more difficult to terminate
employees in France). Our case study
assignment for the Paris seminar required
students to guide six established fashion design
companies (all in business for at least ten years)
through a “crowdsourcing” campaign to attract
investors to their businesses. This is a largely
unknown phenomenon in France but well
established in the United States where the most
famous
“share
economy”
organization,
Kickstarter,
inspired
French
company
KissKissBankBank to raise the profile – and
revenues
–
of
French
entrepreneurial
companies.
The Kickstarter project brings me to another
important trend prominent in my industry and
many others, which is the collaboration through
cross disciplines. In fact, a recent Kickstarter
“staff pick” project involved a quantum physicist
and a fashion designer who were creating a
collection of functional laboratory and street
wear. As fashion designers have become aware
of the importance of business training and seek
that knowledge at my college (Fashion Institute
of Technology), among others, I’ve never
witnessed so many newcomers to the industry
from other fields, bringing rich new sources of
inspiration.
What critical skills and subjects should we be
focusing on in education to prepare our students
for success in the global economy? What are we
doing in our educational institutions to develop
these skills? Are there skills/subjects that are no
longer relevant and should be deemphasized in
favor of new topics?
As I write this essay, I’ve just returned from
Paris where 55 graduate students from
approximately twelve countries worked in
intercultural teams to prepare a case study
assignment. The results of the study would
benefit a selected group of fashion designers to
reach a broader audience through a
Crowdsourcing campaign. Although students are
not aware of it when they enter the Global
Fashion Management program at FIT, their
biggest struggle will likely be working in
intercultural teams. For those of us who live in
New York City, we tend to make the assumption
that we’re already pretty good at intercultural
communication. But when it comes to reaching
are therefore limited in the amount of in-person
interaction they are able to have with each
other. Our hope is that the Facebook group will
increase the benefits of PCCW membership
and enable us to connect more frequently and
meaningfully. On Facebook, you’ll find lots of
current information about PCCW activities, as
well as useful resources to help keep you
engaged with the organization and each other.
How to Join
To join the group, sign into your Facebook
account, then use the link below to send a
request to join:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/156186507785516/
Once your request is made, one of the group's
administrators (Tara Murphy or Liz Ngonzi) will
accept your request and you can begin to
enjoy the photos and links we've already
added, as well as add your own PCCW-related
information.
Guidelines
We ask that you help the group activity focus
on the PCCW mission. Please refrain from
using this Facebook group as a solicitation
vehicle for your respective businesses or
projects unless you first obtain permission from
the PCCW Chair or Vice Chair. Additionally,
the private Facebook group is only for the use
of PCCW members, and we therefore, ask that
you do not share it with any people outside of
the PCCW membership.
Tips for Anyone New to Facebook
For those of you who do not have a Facebook
page but are curious to check it out, it's easy to
get started! You can control the information
you share and what you put on your page, so
you have the option of signing up on Facebook
without adding content. That would enable you
to stay connected with the PCCW Facebook
page and to receive messages if you are
interested. All you need do is go to
www.facebook.com and sign up using a name
you create, an e-mail address, and a
password. Here's a great video to help you
setup your Facebook account.
MEMBER NEWS
PCCW Member, Dr. Nina Shapiro '87,
partners with “Got Milk?”!
The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB),
consensus and delivering a professional
presentation to company executives under
severe time constraints, our students always
express amazement—and frustration—at how
emotionally demanding it is (and physically,
given the long hours).
I’ve heard the results of several industrial
surveys which place “working in teams” at the
top of their requirements for new employees, yet
our schools often tend to take a passive
approach, even as the importance of developing
effective teams across cultures increases. The
temptation to rely on stereotypes is always
present, but can also be helpful, as students are
more likely to examine their own working style in
contrast to one where the learning system is
appreciably different than our own.
I would also include written and oral
communication and analytical skills among
those that need to be emphasized in schools. As
writing skills continue to deteriorate, students
are being called upon to make convincing
arguments to managers under more condensed
time constraints. And, we’re at a critical point
where virtually every discipline requires an
aptitude for analysis and problem-solving.
Students from elite colleges may be prepared,
but for others, the missed learning opportunity is
disheartening. In the program that I chair, I’m
attempting to bridge the gap by introducing a
new course which would concentrate on
communication and analysis through case
studies that will be offered in the first semester
of the program.
the creator of GOT MILK?, has partnered with
renowned sleep expert, Dr. Nina Shapiro to
educate Californians about the importance of
establishing a nighttime routine that starts with
the real and simple beverage, milk. "Whether
you drink it warm or cold, drinking milk has
been scientifically proven to help relax the
body," says Dr. Shapiro, who practices at the
University of California, Los Angeles' Geffen
School of Medicine and the Sleep Center. "Milk
is high in protein, vitamins, calcium, and the
amino acid tryptophan which all have a positive
impact on sleep quality."
As a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard
Medical School, Dr. Nina Shapiro has been on
faculty of the UCLA Department of Head and
Neck Surgery since 1997. She's currently an
Associate Professor at the David Geffen School
of Medicine at UCLA. At the Sleep Center, she
has treated tens of thousands of patients with
sleep disorders. She's the author of two books,
including the bestseller "Take a Deep Breath",
has written over 70 peer-reviewed journal
articles and 14 book chapters. She is a regular
guest on the TV show "The Doctors", and has
appeared on "Extra" LifeChangers, CBS "The
Early Show", NPR, the Los Angeles Times and
The Hallmark Channel's "Home and Family."
Sustaining Member, Jennie Chua '71, named
Singapore’s Ambassador to the United
Mexican States
Sustaining member Jennie Chua has added
another title to her impressive list of
accomplishments. She was recently named
Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Mexican
States and is concurrently Singapore's NonResident Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, a
position she has held since December 2006.
Ms. Chua is Chairman of several organizations,
including Sentosa Cove, The Old Parliament
House, the Community Chest of Singapore, the
Singapore
Film
Commission,
Alexandra
Health/Khoo
Teck
Puat
Hospital,
the
International Advisory Council for Tourism, and
the Tourism Industry Skills and Training
Council. She is also Deputy Chairman of the
Temasek Foundation.
Ms. Chua is a Director of CapitaMalls Asia
Limited, Ascott Residence Trust Management
Limited, and GuocoLeisure Limited. She is also
a member of Singapore's Pro-Enterprise Panel
and a Board Director of the Ministry of Health
Holdings Pte Ltd. In addition, Ms Chua is on the
Board
of
Trustees
of
the
Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore.
Ms Chua is also a Justice of the Peace of the
Republic of Singapore. She was awarded the
Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1984, the
Public Service Medal in 2004 and the Public
Service Star Award in 2008.
Congratulations to PCCW Member, Eva
Sage-Gavin '80!
Sapient® (NASDAQ: SAPE) announced that
Eva Sage-Gavin has been elected to the
Company’s board of directors, effective April 12,
2013. Ms. Sage-Gavin, currently the executive
vice president, global human resources and
corporate affairs for Gap Inc., will also serve on
Sapient’s compensation committee.
Alan Herrick, Sapient CEO and board cochairman commented on the election, “Eva has
tremendous knowledge and experience in
building high-performance cultures globally and
at scale. We are thrilled to find someone who
shares our belief that exceptional cultures
produce exceptional results. Her counsel will be
invaluable as we seek to further enhance and
strengthen our global culture and our ongoing
commitment to diversity.”
In her role overseeing the human resources and
corporate affairs of Gap Inc.’s 136,000
employees worldwide, Ms. Sage-Gavin sets the
strategy for the company's communications,
government and public affairs, foundation, as
well as social and environmental responsibility.
Ms. Sage-Gavin has been regularly recognized
for her contributions to human resource
excellence. In addition to her recent receipt of
Cornell University ’s Groat Award in 2012 for
her professional accomplishments, she was
recognized by HR Executive magazine as one
of the 25 most influential and prominent women
in the profession in 2005. In 2006, she also
received the distinguished honor of Fellow from
the National Academy of Human Resources.
Ms. Sage-Gavin is also active in national
education
and
workforce
development
initiatives. She is a member of the Skills for
America’s Future Advisory Board, working with
the White House, Aspen Institute, community
colleges and corporations to build skilled
workforces. She is a member of the HR Policy
Association board and
chairs its Workforce
Development
committee.
Boston area PCCW
dinner
On Thursday, March 21, Boston-area PCCW
members gathered at The Beehive in Boston’s
South End to keep the energy and networking
from the annual meeting going. If you are
interested in hosting a PCCW get- together in
your area, please contact the Alumnae
Engagement Committee and submit photos of
your gathering to the eNews!
President's Council of Cornell Women
Office of Volunteer Programs
Alumni Affairs and Development
pccw@cornell.edu
alumni.cornell.edu/pccw/