Membership Roster
Revision: June 20, 2011
Table of Contents
Summary Contact Information ..................................................................................................................... 0
ASTIA ............................................................................................................................................................. 0
The Boston Club ............................................................................................................................................ 2
The Center for Women’s Leadership ............................................................................................................ 3
Commonwealth Institute .............................................................................................................................. 5
Center for Women in Enterprise (CWE) ........................................................................................................ 7
Girls in Tech................................................................................................................................................... 9
Golden Seeds .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Harvard Business School ............................................................................................................................. 13
Ladies Who Launch ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Merrimack Valley Venture Forum (Women’s Collaborative) ..................................................................... 17
New England Women in Energy ................................................................................................................. 19
New England Women in Science Executive’s Club ..................................................................................... 20
NETSAW ...................................................................................................................................................... 23
Northeastern University ............................................................................................................................. 25
SHE-O Group ............................................................................................................................................... 29
Simmons College School of Management Entrepreneurship Program ...................................................... 30
Springboard Enterprises ............................................................................................................................. 32
Society for Women Environmental Professionals: MA Chapter ................................................................. 34
TCN .............................................................................................................................................................. 36
TiE Women .................................................................................................................................................. 38
Women's Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE) ................................................................................ 40
Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST) ....................................................................... 42
The Women's Business Collaborative of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge................................................ 44
Women Presidents Organization (WPO) ....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1
Summary Contact Information
ACG Women's Executive Forum
ASTIA
The Boston Club
The Boston Club
Center for Women's Leadership
Center for Women's Leadership
Commonwealth Institute
Commonwealth Institute
CWE
CWE
Entrepreneur Members
Girls in Tech
Golden Seeds
Golden Seeds
Golden Seeds
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Ladies Who Launch
Merrimack Valley Venture Forum Women's Collaborative
Merrimack Valley Venture Forum Women's Collaborative
MIT
NETSAW
NEWIEE
Northeastern University
North Shore Technology
Council’s (NSTC) Women’s Initiative
SH-EO Group
Simmons College
Elizabeth
Robert
Renee
Vicki
Janelle(Jan)
Madelyn
Aileen
Pam
Susan
Susan
Linda
Tara
Anita
Sheryl
Jean
Linda
Janet
Lena
Melody
Susanne
Kate
Fiona
Hanishi
Gayle
Cheryl
Hailer
Delman
Knilans
Staebler
Shubert
Sierra
Gorman
Reeve
Rittscher
Penta
Natansohn
Greco
Brearton
Schultz
Hammond
Applegate
Kraus
Goldberg
Bohl
Ferrara
McDonough
Murray
Ali
Koch
Mitteness
EHailer@kahnlitwin.com
rob@astia.org
rknilans@kpmg.com
victoria_staebler@ml.com
jshubert@babson.edu
madelyn@madelynsierraassociates.com
agorman@commonwealthinstitute.org
pdar@verizon.net
srittscher@cweonline.org
slpenta@midior.com
lindanatansohn@gmail.com
taragreco@hotmail.com
anita427@earthlink.net
sheryl@srsassociates.com
jean@jph-associates.com
lapplegate@hbs.edu
janetjkraus@gmail.com
lgoldberg@hbs.edu
melodybohl@yahoo.com
sferrara@mvvf.org
kate@waterfieldbc.com
fmurray@MIT.EDU
hanishi@mithraslaw.com
Gayle.Koch@brattle.com
c.mitteness@neu.edu
Michele
Bettina
Teresa
Liu Baillie
Hein
Nelson
mlb@nspatents.com
hein@pixability.com
teresa.nelson@simmons.edu
Simmons College
Simmons College
Springboard Enterprises
SWEP
SWEP
TCN
TIE Women
WAVE
WAVE
WEST
WEST
WISE
Women's Business Collaborative
WPO
Susan
Tessa
Joshua
Karen
Johanna
Michelle
Mona
Heather
Sarah
Mari Anne
Ilene
Shelley
Susan
Lisa
1
Duffy
Misiaszek
Henderson
Brody
Jobin
Hipwood
Chopra
Stone
Camougis
Snow
Fischer
Amster
Keller
Matthews
susan.duffy@simmons.edu
Tessa Misiaszek <tmisiaszek@gmail.com>
joshua@springboardenterprises.org
Karen.Brody@erm.com
johanna_jobin@millipore.com
michelle@thecapitalnetwork.org
mona.chopra@gmail.com
HStone@eapdlaw.com
SCamougis@eapdlaw.com
msnow@sophiathinkconsulting.com
ilenefischer@me.com
Shelley@shelleyco.com
SAKeller@eapdlaw.com
lmatthews@e-winslow.com
ASTIA
□ Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: www.astia.org
Contact:
Two line description: Astia offers programs for high-growth start-ups provide access to capital, ensure
sustainable high-growth, and develop the executive leadership of the women on the founding team.
Overview: Founded in 1999 in Silicon Valley, Astia is an innovative global not-for-profit organization that
propels women’s full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fueling
innovation and driving economic growth. Astia's mission is to increase the number of successful,
women-led start-ups in high-tech, life sciences and clean tech. We work with selected companies to
accelerate their fundraising and growth through four year long programs for Seed to Series D
companies. Through four customized programs, Astia provides C-level coaching, advice on successful
fundraising, leadership skills development, access to free legal advice, in-depth technology and
marketing analysis, and access to extensive networks of investors and potential customers. These
services are provided by our staff and our Advisor Network of more than 350 professionals including 70
current and former CEOs and 80 investors. These programs are anchored in New York, SiliconValley, and
London; Astia portfolio companies span across all geographic areas.
Admission Criteria:






ASTIA programs welcome innovative ideas in high-growth sectors, such as Technology, Life
Sciences or Clean Tech. Companies must:
Demonstrate high-growth investment opportunity (at any stage of growth)
Offer an exceptional team and business strategy
A significant market opportunity
Demonstrate defendable competitive advantage
Have at least one woman in a leadership role (at C-level) or in significant position of equity
Admission Fee:


$250 Application Fee
$5,000 participation fee if accepted into the program.

1% equity
What we can give to this group:
Pipeline development for female entrepreneurs, advisors, investors and sponsors
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The Boston Club
□ Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
□ High Growth
□ Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: www.thebostonclub.com
Contact: (781) 639-8002; info@TheBostonClub.com
Two line description: The Boston Club is a women’s professional networking organization that promotes
the advancement of women in business, and in particular on corporate boards.
Overview: Founded in 1976, the Boston Club is an organization of senior executive and professional
women committed to developing, promoting and recognizing women leaders by: providing professional
and personal support for members through networking and career development activities; actively
promoting the professional advancement of women; increasing participation of women on corporate
and nonprofit boards; becoming a driving force in the community and an advocate on issues that affect
women in business.
Vicki Staebler:
Having worked with successful individuals and families for over twenty years, I advocate a holistic
planning approach as the most helpful in the long run. An effective investment strategy must be
developed within the context of each family's overall financial goals and objectives. This means taking
the time to coordinate the strategy with other professional advisors and to help keep clients on task.
Simply said, my mission is to be a most trusted financial resource to my clients and their advisors for the
long-term. My practice is focused in three areas: families or individuals experiencing a significant
transition in their life, such as a death, divorce, or retirement; multi-generational families with complex
estate, trust and income tax issues; and families where women are the primary financial decisionmakers.
I began my career in 1984 at one of the big eight accounting firms, ultimately becoming a director in the
personal financial planning practice. In 2000 I opted to join the financial services industry so that I could
help clients with implementation of their investment management. Following four years at a private
bank, I joined Merrill Lynch in 2005.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and subsequently studied accounting at
the University of Vermont. I am a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
received the designation of Personal Financial Specialist in 1995. I sit on the board of directors of The
Boston Club, a women’s professional networking organization that promotes the advancement of
women in business, and in particular on corporate boards. I hold two honorary board positions: PCI
Media Impact, Inc. and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
2
The Center for Women’s Leadership
X Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: www3.babson.edu/cwl/
Contact: Dr. J. Janelle (Jan) Shubert, Director; jshubert@babson.edu Phone: 781-239-5585
Two line description: The Center for Women’s Leadership at Babson is dedicated to empowering
women leaders at all stages of their lives and around the world to create value wherever they go.
Overview: The Center for Women's Leadership's mission is to create, support and disseminate best
practice for women's entrepreneurial leadership through educational excellence, innovative
professional development and outreach and research that translates data into knowledge and
knowledge into action. We are focused on women at all stages of their careers, as well as
on organizations that are committed to leveraging the talent and market power of women. The Center's
programs, outreach activities and research all promote the use of creative and innovative approaches
that enable women and organizations to develop and act on opportunities that create value for
stakeholders and society.
Janelle Shubert:
Babson College has named Janelle Shubert Director of the Center for Women’s Leadership (CWL).
Shubert has been at Babson since April of 2004. In addition to serving as the Associate Director for CWL
she has been co-chair for Babson’s Executive Education (BEE) program for women: “From Managing to
Leading.” Shubert has over thirty years of experience in higher education. Prior to coming to Babson
she spent twelve years at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In addition
to designing and teaching a variety of degree program courses, she was also the Faculty Chair for
multiple Executive Education programs, including two programs specifically designed for Northern
Ireland, as well as the school’s two oldest professional development programs for women---the
International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellows Program and the National Hispania Leadership
Institute Fellows program. She has also taught at Harvard Business School and at the University of
Michigan and was a visiting faculty member at London Business School. An active consultant for over
thirty years to a wide array of organizations, she is a frequent presenter at conferences and professional
meetings. Shubert earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, her master’s degree at Michigan
State University and a B.A. from Southwest Missouri State University.
Madelyn Sierra:
Organizational change and leadership development consultant with more than 20 years of experience
helping executives envision and enact their goals. Adept at identifying key challenges, developing action
plans and supporting executives and organizations in realizing their goals. Trusted advisor, creative
thinker and champion who works closely with clients from planning through implementation.
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She is the Principal of Madelyn Sierra & Associates, a firm that consults to corporations and non-profits
in the areas of leadership development and organizational strategy. She is also an Executive Coach at
Harvard Business School Executive Education where she coaches executives in Program for Leadership
Development, New Path Career Transition Program and Women's Leadership Forum.
She has also served as a Senior Engagement Manager at Harvard Business Publishing. Prior to Harvard
Business Publishing, she was a managing partner at The Sierra Group.
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Commonwealth Institute
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
X Services
X Sole-preneur
XNormal Growth
X High Growth
□ Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.commonwealthinstitute.org/
Contact: Aileen Gorman, Executive Director; agorman@commonwealthinstitute.org;
(617) 342-7172
Two line description: The Commonwealth Institute serves to assist women in unleashing the potential
to change the face of business.
Overview: Since 1997 The Commonwealth Institute (TCI) has helped over 1,000 women grow
their businesses. Through membership, educational seminars, topic-specific programming and
signature events, TCI has gained the reputation of being a leading women’s organization in
Massachusetts and South Florida. The cornerstones of the TCI approach are CEO and Corporate
Forums, which feature facilitated peer mentoring. In 2009, TCI expanded membership to
include CEOs in New Hampshire and CEOs of nonprofit organizations.
Aileen Gorman:
Aileen Gorman has more than 30 years experience in business. Since 1999, she has been
Executive Director of The Commonwealth Institute - a not for profit organization whose mission
is to help women entrepreneurs, CEOs, and senior corporate executives build successful
businesses.
Previously she was a senior executive for The Stop & Shop Companies and Bradlees, where she
specialized in crisis communication and public affairs. She managed investor, customer and
media relations for such explosive issues as product tampering, contagious diseases,
downsizing, the sale and closure of operating divisions, a hostile takeover attempt and a
leveraged buyout. She also designed financial communications strategies, investor
presentations and collateral materials for such events as Initial Public Offerings and rating
agency presentations and has traveled domestically and internationally to orchestrate analyst/
investor/ management forums.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Gorman was the national spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch Inc., a
founding Director of the Food Safety Council, a public/private partnership in Washington D.C.
and Executive Director of the National Consumers Congress, a nationwide lobbying
organization. She is a past Trustee of Boston University Medical Center Hospital, the
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Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, and the South Boston Neighborhood House. She was
formerly on the Board of the St. Francis House - the largest day shelter in Boston.
Pam Reeve:
Pam Reeve is the Chair of the Commonwealth Institute and co-founder of Winchester Community
Service Foundation. She is also the Lead Director of American Tower Corporation, leading tower
company in US, with significant operations in Latin America. She serves on the board of Frontier
Communications and is a member of Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and former Chair of Mass
Technology Leadership Council. She was also the founding CEO and Chair of openairboston.com
and CEO of Lightbridge, Inc. She also worked as an Operations Executive at The Boston
Consulting Group for 11 years.
6
Center for Women in Enterprise (CWE)
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
X Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
□ Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.cweboston.org/
Contact: Ph 617-536-0700; info@cweonline.org
Two line description: The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is a national leader among women's
business development agencies and is dedicated to helping women start and grow their own businesses.
Overview: Established in 1995, the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to helping women start and grow their own businesses. CWE is a national leader among
women's business development agencies. CWE's mission is to empower women to become
economically self-sufficient and prosperous through entrepreneurship. CWE has served over 15,000
entrepreneurs. CWE offers education, training, technical assistance, women's business enterprise
certification and access to both debt and equity capital to entrepreneurs at every stage of business
development. Their clients are drawn from a wide variety of racial, ethnic and socio-economic
backgrounds, spanning the range from women living in public housing who may want to start homebased or small retail businesses to women running fast growth, multi-million dollar technology
businesses. As a non-profit, charitable organization, CWE provides scholarships for its services in order
to serve all women, regardless of their ability to pay.
What we can give to this group: Representation for solopreneurs and normal growth companies
What we need: Partnerships for capital connections to high growth audience and mentors for peer
support for our members.
Susan Rittscher: President and CEO at Center for Women and Enterprise.
She was the Director of Executive and Volunteer Development and Interim Director at YMCA University.
In the role of top leadership development professional for the largest not for profit organization in the
country, she managed all training, leadership development and education programs for 2600 YMCA's
serving 50,000 staff members and 500,000 volunteers.
She was also the President and CEO of YMCA of Greater Providence.
Susan Penta:
Board Chair & Director of Center for Women & Enterprise. Susan also served as Treasurer & Finance
Committee Chair, Development Committee Chair and Auction Chair in the past. She is the Partner and
Co-Founder of MIDIOR Consulting, a consulting firm focused on the discipline of product development
and product management, helping clients seize new opportunities and respond to changing markets.
MIDIOR’s proven leadership in product, platform and information management inspires organizations to
7
challenge conventional thinking and develop the skills necessary to build a sustainable pipeline of
successful new products and services. She is also a Trustee of Belmont Day School and Schools for
8
Girls in Tech
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target Audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: twitter.com/gitboston
http://www.girlsintech.net
Contact:
Tara Greco,
taragreco@hotmail.com,
(cell) 617-417-1353
Two line description: Girls in Tech is a social network enterprise focused on the engagement, education
and empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and influential women in technology. As young
women with the capacity to inspire, we made it our personal desire and passion to create and sustain an
organization that focuses on the collaboration, promotion, growth and success of women in the
technology sector.
Overview:
Created in February of 2007, ‘Girls in Tech’ (GIT) was founded by Adriana Gascoigne. GIT and was born
out of a need to provide a place for women to cultivate ideas around their careers and business concepts
involving technology. GIT is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and supports over 12,000
members spread between 57 chapters world-wide.
Girls in Tech aims to offer a variety of resources and tools for women to supplement and further enhance
their professional careers and aspirations in technology. Some of these resources include, educational
workshops and lectures, networking functions, round table discussions, conferences, social engagements,
and recruitment events.
What we need: Sponsors and partner organizations to co-host events, education sessions, etc.
Biographies
9
Golden Seeds
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
X Capital
□ Services
Target audience: Women led high growth businesses seeking angel capital.
X Exploring
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
Entrepreneurship
X High Growth
□ Extreme High
Growth
Website: www.Goldenseeds.com
Contacts:
Anita Brearton: anita427@earthlink.net, 978-758-8960
Sheryl Schultz: Sheryl@srsassociates.com, 508-380-5850
Two line description: Golden Seeds is an angel investment organization that invests in high growth
women led businesses across all industry sectors. Golden Seeds defines a woman led business as one
where there is at least one woman on the executive team holding a 10% or greater equity stake.
Overview
Golden Seeds is an angel investment organization that invests in high growth women led businesses (we
require that there be at least one woman on the executive team holding a 10% or greater equity
stake). We have more than 150 members spread across four cities -- Boston, New York, San Francisco
and Philadelphia which makes us one of the largest angel groups in the country. Our membership is
diverse in terms of expertise and industry experience and as such, we tend to look at businesses across
all industry sectors. Since our founding in 2004 we've screened more than 1000 companies, have
invested in 33 and put more than $22M in capital to work. Golden Seeds operates as a network rather
than a fund which means that each member makes their own investment decision on a deal by deal
basis. Investment minimums for each deal range from $10K to $25K.
We meet once a month to look at 2-3 potential deals. Our meetings are usually the third Thursday of
the month and are held at Edwards and Angell at 111 Huntington Street. Our forum begins at noon with
lunch and a review of the deals in progress and then we invite companies to present. Each company is
given 10 minutes to present and 10 minutes for Q&A. After they leave the room we assess the interest
of the group and if there is sufficient interest we invite the company back for a 2 hour deep dive session
(6 or more people). If there is still interest after the two hour deep dive session we then move into
formal due diligence and deal negotiation (this takes 6-8 weeks). The group invests anywhere from
$100K to $1M in a single round of any given deal and has led financing rounds through syndication with
other groups of up to $4M.
Entrepreneurs formally engage with Golden Seeds through an online application process. Please note:
we regularly meet on an informal basis with entrepreneurs that are in the early stages of thinking of
funding. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to reach out to us informally.
What we can give to this group:
 A place to send entrepreneurs who are thinking about angel financing, we are always happy to
speak with entrepreneurs at any stage of development
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


Coaches for entrepreneurs
Judges for pitch and business plan competitions
Speakers for events
What we need:
 Members (we invite prospective members, men and women who are accredited investors, to
come and experience our forum 2-3 times to see if it is a fit, there is no pressure to join)
 Deal flow (if you feel strongly about a company, please ask them to use your name as a referral
in their online application.)
 Places to send the entrepreneurs that come to us that are not ready or suitable for angel
financing.
Anita Brearton:
anita427@earthlink.net, 978-758-8960
Anita J. Brearton is a Managing Director and the Boston Forum Leader of Golden Seeds, an angel
investment group that provides early stage and growth capital to women led businesses across all
industry sectors. Passionate about supporting women led enterprises, Anita is the founder of the
Women’s Entrepreneurial Council in Boston, an Entrepreneur in Residence at Simmons College and an
investor in FashionPlaytes, Carnegie Speech, SweetRiot Chocolate, Gracious Eloise and Crimson
Hexagon.
In addition to her work supporting female entrepreneurs, Anita serves on the board of the Angel Capital
Association, The Sunflower Initiative and the advisory boards of Altruik, Inc. and Connect2
Communications. Anita also works with startup companies as a marketing and strategy consultant,
helping shape corporate positioning and the go-to-market strategies that enable her clients to achieve
their marketing and business goals. In this capacity Anita has worked with A123 Systems Airvana, Azuki
Systems, and others.
A seasoned marketing executive with more than 28 years working in high technology, both in the United
States and throughout the Asia Pacific, Anita has served in senior marketing management roles for earlystage to industry-leading networking and telecommunications companies. Anita served as vice
president of corporate marketing at Sycamore Networks, where she led the company’s marketing
strategy from its infancy through its highly successful Initial Public Offering. Prior to Sycamore, Anita
held senior marketing management positions with Cascade Communications, Artel Video Systems, and
General DataComm.
Sheryl Schultz
Sheryl@srsassociates.com, 508-380-5850
Sheryl R. Schultz is an expert in start up company dynamics, with a deep understanding of the marketing
and organizational challenges faced by early stage businesses. During her career, she has designed and
orchestrated the launch of some of the most successful companies in Massachusetts including Acme
Packet, ArrowPoint Communications, Sonus Networks and Wellfleet Communications.
Sheryl is currently a Managing Director and the Boston Forum Leader of Golden Seeds, an angel
investment group that provides early stage and growth capital to women led businesses, and an early
stage angel investor. With an interest in technology and internet-based businesses, she has investments
11
in Carnegie Speech, Crimson Hexagon, Fashion Playtes, Fab.com, Gracious Eloise, Gramify, InStream and
HitFix. Sheryl is a Board Director for Crimson Hexagon, a Harvard University spinout that that delivers
Social Intelligence from the billions of unsolicited opinions individuals are expressing online, and a Board
Advisor for both The Capital Network, Boston's leading non-profit organization providing education and
community to help early-stage entrepreneurs master the entire funding process, and Connect2
Communications, a NC-based PR firm supporting technology companies at all stages of growth.
Earlier in her career, Sheryl was the vice president of account services for a Cambridge, Mass.-based PR
firm, where she was responsible for more than doubling growth over a two-year period. Prior to this,
she spent four years managing the marketing communications and PR programs for an RCA subsidiary
targeting the satellite communications market. Sheryl began her career at Manhattan-based HWH PR.
Jean Hammond
jean@jph-associates.com; 781-416-5131
Jean Hammond is Founder & Principal, JPH Associates, advising early stage high-tech start-ups. She is an
active angel investor and was a co-founder of the Boston branch of Golden Seeds (which invests in
women-managed businesses) and a member of Launchpad and Hub Angels. Jean serves on the board of
The Technology Capital Network, Thompson Island Outward Bound and Boston Rising.
She is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience and co-founded Quarry Technologies and
AXON Networks. She plays or played an active board level role with a number of her Boston area
investments. Jean earned an MS from the MIT Sloan School of Management where she is currently a
part‐time Entrepreneur‐in‐Residence, a B.S. from Boston University.
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Harvard Business School
X Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target Audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.hbs.edu/mba/,
Contact: Janet Kraus, jkraus@hbs.edu
Two line description: Harvard Business School offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and
doctoral degrees, as well as more than 75 open enrollment Executive Education programs and more
than 60 custom programs.
Overview: Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and
doctoral degrees, as well as more than 75 open enrollment Executive Education programs and more
than 60 custom programs. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their
experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders
who have shaped the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.
Janet Kraus
Janet Kraus is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit. She will be teaching Building
Businesses in the Context of a Life (BBCL) in the Winter Term of the 2010/2011 academic year.
A two time business founder, Janet has been involved in every stage of the entrepreneurial process
including idea generation, product development, building teams, fund raising, identification of key
strategic partners, business development and direct sales, operational scaling, crisis and recovery,
buying and exiting companies.
After graduating from Yale in 1988, Janet started her career in consulting in the technology practice at
Temple Barker and Sloane. In 1991 Janet spent a year in Brazil working for a non-profit educational
organization before returning to attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business from 1992 to
1994. After matriculation she directed the social marketing and fair trade initiatives at The Body Shop.
In 1997, Janet co-founded Circles, a concierge and events company. By utilizating innovative strategies
to help its clients cultivate powerful bonds with their employee and customers, Circles quickly grew to
be a $50 million company, with nearly 1000 consultants in both Boston, MA and Burlington, Ontario.
Circles was sold to Sodexo in October 2007, and has since expanded its base of operations into five
countries.
In November 2007, Janet left Circles to lead Spire, a company designed to create social resource sharing
platforms specializing in travel and leisure. Janet sold Spire to Perfect Escapes in 2010.
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Janet is a recipient of Boston’s 40 under 40 and was a finalist of Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the
Year. Circles was awarded the Small Business of the Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce.
She and the companies she has lead have been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Fortune
Small Business, the New York Times. She has been a speaker at conferences and educational institutions
on the subjects of entrepreneurship, innovation, building teams, as well as vision, values and leadership.
Janet sits on advisory boards of six start-up companies and serves as the Co-Chairman of The Capital
Network (TCN) a non-profit that helps companies raise early stage capital. She is proud to be on the
Board of Big Sisters Association of Greater Boston, Massachusetts’ largest mentoring organization for
girls and young women. She currently lives outside of Boston with her husband and twin 3 year old
daughters.
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Ladies Who Launch
X Education
X
Coaching/Mentoring
X
Peer support
□ Capital
Normal Growth
□ High Growth
X
Services
Target Audience:
X
Exploring
Entrepreneurship
X
Sole-preneur
X
□ Extreme High
Growth
Website: www.LadiesWhoLaunch.com/Boston
Contact: Melody Bohl
MBohl@LadiesWhoLaunch.com
Two line description:
Everything you need to launch your dream, grow your business and connect with other women
entrepreneurs. It's not just a community, it’s a movement!
Overview:
Ladies Who Launch is the first new media company to provide resources and connections for women
entrepreneurs. Women are launching businesses at twice the rate of men, and they are doing it
primarily for lifestyle reasons–they want more freedom, flexibility, and creativity in their lives.
The Ladies Who Launch mission is to make entrepreneurship accessible to any woman with a
project, dream or aspiration to start her own business and be successful. We have found a
definitive link between launching a business and higher self-esteem and happiness. Women
come to Ladies Who Launch to take advantage of our trusted community, tools, resources and
success stories and live their dreams. We offer online tools and resources as well as in-person
workshops and monthly programs to assist women entrepreneurs in reaching their dreams.
What we can give to this group:
What LWL can give WEC is a small but qualified stream of women entrepreneurs ready to seriously grow
their business.
What WEC can give LWL is to recommend us, if appropriate, to aspiring women entrepreneurs and
small business women.
What we need:
Most important for LWL is to find free or inexpensive places to hold workshops.
15
Melody Bohl
Melody knew at an early age that women were not the weaker sex. Growing up in a family where both
parents worked corporate jobs and had side businesses, becoming a serial entrepreneur was completely
natural for Melody.
After completing her MBA at Simmons, an all-women business school, Melody spent a number of years
in the corporate arena of financial services. It was there that she became CMO in a division of an
established banking institution designed to build communities across New England. Much of her work
involved bringing banking services to emerging markets, pioneering multicultural marketing, anchoring
urban neighborhoods with new homeowners and helping small business people across the region
prosper and succeed.
Branching out on her own, Melody became a successful marketing consultant, helping clients both large
and small hone their marketing efforts to achieve measurable results. Melody has also consulted with
many women entrepreneurs, helping them find the support and resources they need to soar.
Melody has been a part of the Ladies Who Launch community since her 2008 incubator experience. She
and her incubator group continue to meet for dinner to this day to help inspire each other! This
extraordinary group of women entrepreneurs has proven to be a terrific source of support, inspiration,
referrals, ideas and laughter. Melody is thrilled to be taking the reins to lead Ladies Who Launch Boston
and build an incredible community of successful women entrepreneurs!
16
Merrimack Valley Venture Forum (Women’s Collaborative)
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.mvvf.org/
Contact: Susanne Ferrara at sferrara@mvvf.org
Two line description: The Merrimack Valley Venture Forum is a non-profit organization that facilitates
business growth in the region’s technology and scientific sectors.
Overview: The Merrimack Valley Venture Forum is comprised of technology-oriented companies and
professional service providers that serve regional, national and international markets located in
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other surrounding New England states. We are venture capitalists,
angel investors, strategic investors, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and business leaders serving the
needs of entrepreneurs, emerging and established companies, professional service providers, and the
academia and investment community. Much of the work of the Forum is performed by volunteer
committee members in the areas of marketing, membership, mentoring, and programs.
Susanne Ferrara:
President of Merrimack Valley Venture Forum. She was also involved in training at Avid Technologies.
Prior to Avid Technologies, she worked in Marketing for Intelligent Environments.
Kate McDonough:
A seasoned executive who recognizes that the rules of conducting business today have changed. More
people work from home than ever before, so its obvious that an office means more than just space to
today's business professionals. Our Virtual Office choices provide solutions to the newly created
demands of small businesses. We don't make you larger, but rather we help you project an image of a
sophisticated and savvy business professional who recognizes value. The Waterfield Business Center is
the premier provider of Virtual Offices in the State of MA (BBJ Book of Lists), and we offer all services a
la carte. We support a variety of resident businesses on site and virtual office clients, including
international companies. Over the past 5 years, we have nurtured 13 companies who currently operate
within 5 miles of our office. We are especially interested in providing the technology needed for small
businesses to compete at a cost that is affordable for small businesses, and we are working in
partnership with a number of like-minded companies to make this happen.
She is the Chair of Women's Collaborative and Board Member of Merrimack Valley Venture Forum that
provides women with access to educational events, specialized assistance and business networking in a
culture that promotes affiliations and strategic alliances. Kate is the Co-Founder and Director of The
Business Coalition which is nonprofit, non-partisan organization consisting of members of the private
sector working in collaboration with State, Federal and international agencies to assist small-to-medium
companies in their domestic & international business development initiatives.
17
She is also the President of Waterfield Business Center. Prior to Waterfield Business Center, she worked
as the General Manager at Park Plaza Executive Center.
18
New England Women in Energy
□ Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
x Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://newiee.wordpress.com/
Contact: gkoch@axlorllc.com
Two line description: NEWIEE is a networking and career building forum for women in the energy and
environmental sectors.
Overview: Founded in 2008, NEWIEE provides a respectful and open forum for women interested in the
energy and environmental sectors to actively exchange information, share interdisciplinary expertise,
and obtain advice from other women colleagues and mentors. NEWIEE harnesses the environmental
passion, intelligence and leadership experience of New England women to promote and encourage
public interest in the energy and environmental sectors. In particular, NEWIEE focuses on encouraging
women of all backgrounds to participate in and/or become more informed about the energy and
environmental sectors and issues related to these fields. It is the goal of NEWIEE to foster a dynamic and
enthusiastic environment for those who care about energy and environmental issues in order to
encourage the development of creative solutions to energy and environmental issues. We aim to
provide: educational opportunities for women interested in the energy and environmental sectors to
learn more about current issues and topics related to these fields; outreach activities geared toward
young women in order to encourage interest in the energy and environmental sectors; highlight the
achievements and contributions of women in the energy and environmental sectors and to educate the
public regarding such achievements and contributions through programs, publications and events.
Gayle Koch:
Principal at Axler Consulting LLC. Axlor (from Dr. Seuss's The Lorax) Consulting focuses on
environmental, product liability, insurance, and economic consulting. She was the Principal at The
Brattle Group for 21 years before joining Axlor Consulting.
19
New England Women in Science Executive’s Club
□ Education
√ Coaching/Mentoring
√ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
√ Sole-preneur
√ Normal Growth
√ High Growth
√ Extreme High
Target Audience:
√ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: www.newiseclub.org (Under development)
Contact:
Shelley Amster, Founder and Executive Director
978-371-5901 landline
978-239-1468 mobile
shelley@shelleyco.com
www.newiseclub.org
Yael Schwartz, Ph.D., Founding Member
CEO & President, Hygeia Therapeutics, Inc
774-242-1135 (cell)
yschwartz@hygeiatherapeutics.com
www.hygeiatherapeutics.com
Founding Executive Board:
Shelley Amster, Executive Director
Karen Borofsky, Officer
Betsy Ohlsson-Wilhelm, Officer
Sarah Cardozo Duncan, Officer
Yael Schwartz, Officer
Two line description:
The ‘Women in Science Executives’ Club is an organization that provides like minded-women
opportunities to connect, engage in dialogue on topics of mutual interest and relevance while
supporting each other.
Overview:
‘Women in Science Executives’ is an elite (club) group of accomplished women in the life science and
healthcare industries. For the most part, the members are CEOs (C-Level, Presidents, etc.), top
executives within an organization, principals/partners in a firm and serial entrepreneurs.
20
Mission:
•
Selectively connect, encourage, and unify like-minded senior level women in life science and
healthcare in top positions.
•
Offer an ‘environment ' to foster candor in managing confidential issues
•
Foster the raising the bar for others
•
Contribute our resources to the greater community as advisors and board members in forprofit and non-profit organizations and entrepreneurs
•
Catalyst for business and professional connections.
•
Having fun!
What we can give to this group: Access to our members who are to share their diverse cross-functional
expertise and decades of senior level leadership experience with others seeking guidance and support.
What we need: We want to stay connected and supportive to the greater community, especially to
other professional women and tomorrows entrepreneurs and leaders.
Biographies –
About Shelley W. Amster, Founder and Executive Director, The Woman in Science Executives Club.
Shelley is also, Founder and Principal, ShelleyCO, LLC, Shelley business model is based upon being a
connector and relationship catalyst. Shelley nurtures healthy business and scientific relationships,
uncovers new opportunities, and business development resources for her clients. With a diverse
Rolodex of strong relationships from the healthcare and life science industries, Shelley has an extensive
track record bringing leaders in industry, academia, government, the investment community, and (non)
locally, nationally, and globally together.
Prior to founding ShelleyCO, Shelley was a pioneer in the infertility/IVF industry. Besides being one of
the first IVF lab directors in the US, Shelley helped commercialize products and services in that industry.
Shelley is also a sought after healthcare and life science conference producer. She is known for
developing quality programming and bringing recognized leaders together as faculty and attendees to
facilitate partnerships and collaborations.
During her private time, Shelley is on the UNE Alumni Board of Directors as Secretary and reunion chair;
she is a competitive athleteplaying on a “A” level working women’s tennis team.
About Dr. Yael Schwartz, one of original 5 founding members of The Women in Science Executives Club.
Yael is a life sciences executive with more than 20 years of advanced training in pharmacology,
toxicology, human physiology and immunology. She is the President, CEO and Founder of Hygeia
Therapeutics, a small drug development company with a pipeline of topical drugs for the treatment of
vulvar and vaginal atrophy, age-related skin fragility, acne, androgenic baldness and hirsuitism. As CEO
of Hygeia Therapeutics, she has been successfully providing leadership during times of fiscal uncertainty.
Over the course of her career she exhibited tangible success in advancing small molecule therapeutics
from discovery through NDA submission across multiple therapeutic areas that successfully led to the
development and commercialization of 5 marketed prescription drugs.
21
She has just started a second company that is currently operating in stealth mode.
In her spare time, Dr. Schwartz hikes, kayaks, participates in pistol marksmanship events.
22
NETSAW
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
Target Audience:
X Exploring
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth X High Growth
Entrepreneurship
□ Extreme High
Growth
X Professionals
Website: www.netsaw.com
Contact: Hanishi Ali: Hanishi@mithraslaw.com; info@netsaw.com
Tel: 617-500-3233
Two line description: The Network for South Asian American Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals
(NetSAW) is a volunteer based organization that promotes career advancement and leadership
development of South-Asian American women entrepreneurs and professionals in all fields through
professional development, networking, leadership, mentorship, community service, and social events.
Overview:
NetSAW is a dynamic, fast growing, volunteer based organization that cultivates and promotes a forum
for knowledge sharing, personal and professional development opportunities, and is committed to
empowering South Asian American women executives, professionals and business owners by helping
them build connections and grow their businesses and careers.
NetSAW’s mission is to foster a rich environment for personal and professional growth, to educate, to
share resources, to leverage ideas, to inspire, to motivate, and to build long-lasting relationships as well
as be a valuable resource for South Asian American women and women with an interest in South Asia.
NetSAW reaches over 200 women in the New England area. NetSAW members meet once a month and
the attendees comprise of professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs in all different fields and
with varied levels of experience and in varied industries including IT, legal, educational, health care,
biotech, medical, financial services, accounting, manufacturing, and consumer service businesses.
What we can give to this group:
- Diversity outreach and networking opportunity for members
- A forum for development and promotion of women entrepreneurs and professionals
What we need:
- Members (we invite South Asian Women as well Women interested in South Asia or South Asian
related topics to join and be part of NetSAW)
- Speakers for seminars and workshops for professionals and entrepreneurs
- Contributions of articles/relevant written material for NetSAW members for our Resources
Library Section
23
-
Collaboration and alliances with other groups to develop mutually beneficial programming
initiatives
Biographies
Hanishi Ali: Founder of NetSAW and Founder and managing partner of Mithras Law Group, a law firm
specializing in all aspects of international business law and global immigration law. Hanishi is a qualified
attorney in the United States, and a registered solicitor in England and Wales, and Scotland. Hanishi is
also passionate about women’s issues, is actively involved in community issues and serves on the board
of several non-profit organizations. Hanishi has received a Citation from the President of the
Massachusetts Senate and a Citation on behalf of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for
public service and civic leadership.
Hanishi is appointed by Governor Deval Patrick and currently serves on the Massachusetts Commission
on the Status of Women. Hanishi was a recipient of the Worcester Business Journal's 2010 Women in
Business Award.
24
Northeastern University
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target Audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website:
http://www.northeastern.edu/
Contact:
Cheryl Mitteness
c.mitteness@neu.edu
617-373-3728
Two line description:
Northeastern University helps students and alums propel their entrepreneurial ideas into real,
successful businesses through a mix of coaching, network, and gap funding opportunities.
Overview:
Northeastern offers courses involving many different areas of entrepreneurship: founding and growing
small businesses primarily in the retail and services industries, technological entrepreneurship, new
business venturing in established corporations, and social entrepreneurship. The program offers a rich
set of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The Princeton Review has recently ranked
our program one of the top undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the United States. IDEA,
Northeastern’s venture accelerator, helps students and alums propel their entrepreneurial ideas into
real, successful businesses through a mix of coaching, resource network, and gap funding opportunities.
The Entrepreneurship Immersion Program is a student-run initiative operated by the Northeastern
University Entrepreneurs Club that connects growing companies with an enthusiastic student panel
through a semester-long partnership.
What we can give to this group:



A place to send individuals interested in having students work on a project for them.
Assistance in conducting high quality research to address areas of interest.
A place to send individuals interested in getting involved with students to mentor.
Cheryl Mitteness
Cheryl Mitteness received her PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville in
August 2009 and is currently an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at
Northeastern University. Cheryl’s research stream examines decision processes and has focused
on how and why angel investors choose their investments. The objective of this research is to
assist both entrepreneurs and angels by allowing angels to correct errors in their decision
25
process. Cheryl is also interested in researching how entrepreneurs incorporate the advice or
involvement of others and how gender differences impact various areas of the entrepreneurial
process.
26
North Shore Technology Council’s (NSTC) Women’s Initiative
Education
Coaching/Mentoring
Peer support
Sole-preneur
Normal Growth
Capital
Services
Target Audience:
Exploring
Entrepreneurship
High Growth
Extreme High
Growth
Website: www.nstc.org
Contact:
Michele Liu Baillie, Chair
North Shore Technology Council Women’s Initiative
(781) 990-0500 main
(781) 990-8085 direct
(781) 823-0416 fax
mlb@nspatents.com
100 Cummings Center
Suite 339-F
Beverly, MA 01915
Two line description: The mission of the NSTC Women’s Initiative is to facilitate connections among
industry sectors for the purpose of promoting and supporting women in technology in the North Shore
region of Massachusetts.
Overview:
The mission of the NSTC Women’s Initiative is to facilitate connections among industry sectors
for the purpose of promoting and supporting women in technology in the North Shore region of
Massachusetts.
Women continue to be underrepresented in the science and technology fields at all levels. This
Under representation is especially acute at the managerial, executive, board, entrepreneurial, and
tenure levels. Further, it is well documented that the United States lag behind other countries in the
number of students, both male and female, entering the science, technology, engineering, and math
fields.
NSTC Women’s Initiative seeks to “join the conversation” by facilitating connections among like-minded
organizations to foster relationships, education, mentorships, access, and –eventually – the full inclusion
of women in technology fields at all levels.
Women’s Initiative Goals
Our goals include:
• Facilitating joint networking events among organizations serving women and/or technology
• Facilitating career development by creating networking, mentoring, and educational opportunities
• Offering meetings with strong speakers focusing on issues of interest to women in technology
• Providing events/programs supporting STEM
27
Value to Members
We strive to bring value to our members by providing:
• Access to SIG that focuses on issues of particular interest to, or have specific impact on, women in
technology;
• Conscious integration of women in WI’s events and activities;
• Participate in and witness greater showcasing of women in technology;
• Platform for which men and women can demonstrate their expertise
28
SHE-O Group
□ Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: no website
Contact: hein@pixability.com
Two line description: Just for Women is a networking group for start-up CEO’s
Overview: Just for Women is a networking group for start-up CEO’s. The group was formed by
Bettina Hein of Pixability and draws a crowd with varying degrees of experience, from serial
entrepreneurs who have raised capital and sold companies, to those who are trying their hand
at startups for the first time. The gatherings are open to aspiring entrepreneurs working on
business plans or “on the cusp of founding,” companies, who hail from schools such as MIT,
Harvard, and Babson College, Hein says. The She-E-O attendees represent industries spanning
the consumer Web, software, healthcare IT, energy, and life sciences. They meet the last
Wednesday of every month, alternating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at restaurants or different
women CEOs’ homes. Note: The group is not open to investors or service providers – CEO’s
only!
Bettina Hein:
A technology entrepreneur with extensive experience in building new organizations - including strategy,
business planning, venture capital financing, operations and sales.
Founder and CEO of Pixability, Inc, a company that makes it easy to create marketing and event videos
for your company. We provide a simple and cost-effective video production service for web videos.
She was a Sloan Fellow of MIT Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership.
She was the Co-Founder, Chief Financial and Operating Officer at SVOX AG. She was also the Co-Founder
of START.
29
Simmons College School of Management Entrepreneurship Program
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target Audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: www.simmons.edu/som/centers/entrepreneurship
Contact: 617-521-3800;
E-mail (general): som@simmons.edu;
Dr. Teresa Nelson, Director of the Entrepreneurship Program: teresa.nelson@simmons.edu;
Dr. Susan Duffy, Undergraduate Program Director: susan.duffy@simmons.edu
Two line description: The mission of the Simmons School of Management Entrepreneurship Program is
to educate, connect and advise women as they imagine, develop, launch and grow sustainable, scalable
ventures with impact.
Overview:
The Simmons School of Management Entrepreneurship Program engages in research, teaching and
activism aimed at building a refined understanding and increased participation of women as
entrepreneurs and members of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Simmons offers one of three MBA
programs for women in the world its concentration in entrepreneurship actively engages women in
understanding creativity and innovation as the roots of entrepreneurial action. Business plans are
developed and a range of co-curricular events including the Silverman Business Plan Competition,
entrepreneurs in residence, the Winners Circle of nascent entrepreneurs, entrepreneur scholars and the
student network, Entrepreneur Connect! all foster connections, knowledge and enthusiasm for
entrepreneurship in action. The Simmons graduate entrepreneurship program was recognized by
Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the 25th best in the US in 2010. At the undergraduate level, we offer
women a minor in entrepreneurship reaching across disciplines to a population of nutrition, chemistry,
English, business and communications majors with a new view of careers for the 21st century. Our Edun
Live On-Campus business, one of the first 25 college programs in the US developed in association with
Edun apparel, gives students hands-on experience launching and running a business. Research and
policy work, particularly aimed at women and high growth ventures, new forms of for-profit, socially
minded organizations, and women in science engages us in a growing international network of
individuals and organizations dedicated to women and venturing.
Teresa Nelson:
Teresa Nelson's teaching, research, and consulting focus on issues of entrepreneurship and global
business, most particularly around start-up and growth company governance, including capital
acquisition. She has also been engaged for more than a decade with global business issues, including
especially China and the European Union.
30
Nelson has led travel courses for executives and students to many parts of the world, including China,
where she has experienced first-hand the emergence of the market economy over the last dozen years.
Having taught on five continents, Nelson now specializes at Simmons on teaching entrepreneurship in
the MBA program and she works with a dynamic team to assist, connect and educate women to launch
businesses and social ventures.
Nelson's primary research is related to the implications and outcomes of firms transitioning through
growth stages up to and through initial public equity offering. She has studied product, process and
performance changes as well as the implications of firm growth patterns on women executives.
Her experience in global business has translated into research on the markets of China and the strategic
implications of the organization of global stock exchanges and she has a special dedication to the life
sciences and biotechnology industry sectors. As an affiliate of the Center for Gender in Organizations at
Simmons, Nelson studies the patterns and strategies of action used by women entrepreneurs as they
access venture capital.
Dr. Nelson had more than 10 years of business experience in business consulting, government, and
politics before returning to school for her MBA and Ph.D. She has founded two businesses and now
manages an active consulting practice around strategy, business start-up and non-profit social venture
start-up. Nelson is a frequent speaker on issues of entrepreneurship, China and the European Union,
and women and business.
31
Springboard Enterprises
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: https://www.springboardenterprises.org/
Contact: 2100 Foxhall Road, NW | Washington, DC 20007
202-242-6282 phone | 202-242-6284 fax
infosbe@springboardenterprises.org
Two line description: Venture-catalyst Springboard Enterprises is the premier platform where
entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts meet to build great women-led business. Springboard
educates, sources, coaches, showcases and supports high growth companies seeking equity capital for
expansion.
Overview: Venture-Catalyst Springboard Enterprises is the go-to organization for information
about and support for emerging growth ventures led by women. A national, non-profit
organization that sources, qualifies, coaches and showcases high growth potential companies
seeking equity capital for product development and expansion. Springboard are dedicated to:
Accelerating women entrepreneurs' participation in the private equity capital markets
Educating women entrepreneurs on the sources and uses of capital available for growing
companies
 Promoting the success of Springboard participants
 Increasing equity investments in women-led ventures
Through a series of programs and initiatives, Springboard provides access to emerging-growth
businesses led by women seeking financial and corporate partners, trusted advisors and
business development opportunities. Springboard also provides a platform for media visibility
as well as access to active investors and sector experts.
Joshua Henderson: Director of Programming at Springboard Enterprises.
Joshua Henderson is responsible for organizing, managing, and ensuring the success of Springboard’s
programs and events. He manages the organization’s signature program, the Venture Forum, and is the
coordinator for Springboard’s membership Trust. Previously, Joshua founded and chaired the
Georgetown University Social Entrepreneurship Competition and he contributed to the development of
the entrepreneurship programming at the University organizing lecture series, pitch competitions, and
other related events. He graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Psychology and English.
32
Amy Millman:
Amy Millman has established a successful career as an advocate working for and with business and
government officials to develop and implement national business development and policy initiatives. In
2000, she co-founded non-profit venture Springboard Enterprises whose mission is to facilitate women
entrepreneurs' access to the equity markets. The organization hosts educational programs and forums
to provide women entrepreneurs with access to investors and information about sources and uses of
equity capital.
Previously, Amy served as the Executive Director of a federal government commission focused on
developing policy and initiatives concerning women's business ownership. Earlier in her career, she
represented the interests of several corporate and industry groups before the legislative and executive
branches of the federal government. Amy has served on the boards of many organizations including her
current service on the boards of JumpStartInc and Enterprising Women magazine. She is a graduate of
Carnegie Mellon University and holds a masters degree from The George Washington University. She
and her family reside in the Washington, D.C. area.
33
Society for Women Environmental Professionals: MA Chapter
X Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.swep-ma.org/
Contact: Sheila Warren; Boart Longyear; (781) 933-3210; swarren@maxymillian.com
Two line description: SWEP is a unique organization composed of professionals from a variety of
disciplines, providing members with greater exposure to information from and contacts in diverse
environmental practice areas.
Overview: The Society for Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP) is a national non-profit
professional association of women involved or interested in environmental law, science, engineering,
business, and policy. Our chapter serves as a resource for members in Massachusetts, providing
opportunities for professional development through networking, educational programming, mentoring,
social events and public service. The mission of the Society for Women Environmental Professionals of
Massachusetts (SWEP-MA) is to:
Encourage and promote the leadership, achievement, professional and personal development of
women involved or interested in environmental law, science, engineering, business, and policy.
To accomplish this Mission, SWEP-MA:
• Provides a forum for women to meet, share and discuss technical information and work experiences
in the environmental professions;
• Educates members on new developments and current trends in the environmental field;
• Encourages and supports members' involvement in leadership and mentoring;
• Encourages and promotes the development of business relationships; and
Encourages and promotes public service.
Karen Brody:
Chairperson at SWEP. She is the Partner based in the Boston office of ERM. ERM has a well- established
reputation as one of the world’s leading providers of environmental, health & safety (EHS) management
and technical consulting services. We have 30 years experience working with clients in the private and
public sectors to help them address environmental, health & safety concerns and challenges within their
organization.
34
With over 145 offices in 41 countries, means that ERM’s 3,500 staff can combine global capability with a
detailed, local regulatory, commercial and cultural understanding. Our corporate structure allows us to
assemble project teams with the best possible mix of technical expertise and geographic proximity to
our clients’ locations.
We have partnered with many of the world’s best-known FTSE 100/Fortune 500 companies to
develop an integrated management approach which transforms EHS functions into competitive
advantage.Prior to joining ERM, Karen was a Project Manager at Groundwater Technology.
35
TCN
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
X Services
X Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target Audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.thecapitalnetwork.org/
Contact: Michelle Hipwood, Executive Director; mail@thecapitalnetwork.org;
Two line description:
The Capital Network (TCN) is Boston's leading non-profit organization providing extensive educational
programs and a community to help early-stage entrepreneurs master the entire funding process and
successfully raise seed capital for financing their high-growth startup.
Overview:
The Capital Network (TCN) has educated and connected entrepreneurs and early stage investors for successful
outcomes for over 20 years.
For entrepreneurs seeking between $50K and $4M in seed, angel or venture capital investment, TCN provides
the most comprehensive set of early-stage financing education, networking and resources available.
TCN holds over 30 events a year, providing entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance they need to build
fundable businesses, including advice from leading experts in the field of early-stage financing. TCN events also
provide investors the opportunity to see some of the area’s hottest startups up close and gain exposure to
exciting new technologies and businesses.
Our programs are open to any entrepreneur seeking capital, investors, potential entrepreneurs, represenatives
of large companies that partner with or acquire entrepreneurial business and TCN and Sponsor personell.
We offer a popular Season Pass that entitles holders to free or discounted admission to all of TCN’s
programming. We also have discounts for students.
To learn more:
Visit our website - www.thecapitalnetwork.org
Read our blog - Getting Funded
Follow us on Twitter - @TCNupdate
Join our LinkedIn Group - The Capital Network - Boston
What we can give to this group:
- A place to send entrepreneurs looking for education about raising capital
- A place to send investors looking to meet new entrepreneurs and learn more about the current
funding landscape in Boston
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-
Speakers for events who are experts in the field of start-up financing and other support for highgrowth startups
What we need:
- New entrepreneurs, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors to attend or speak at our events
- Entrepreneurs and investors who are interested in blogging about the New England funding
landscape
Biographies
Learn about our Staff, Board of Directors, and Board of Advisors on our website:
www.thecapitalnetwork.org
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TiE Women
□ Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://boston.tie.org/
Contact: Mona Chopra, mona.chopra@gmail.com
Two line description: TiE-Boston is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to foster and support
entrepreneurship, either in a start-up context or within a larger company.
Overview: The organization represents a diverse set of industries, including software and information
technologies, biotech, financial services and other services. TiE-Boston is a comprehensive eco-system
for entrepreneurs with vital resources for every stage of the entrepreneurial process. It is part of the
global TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) group that is the largest not-for profit organization promoting
entrepreneurship. TiE-Boston runs several vibrant programs to educate, mentor, network and inspire
entrepreneurs in the community. TiE connects entrepreneurs with each other and other stakeholders in
the entrepreneurial world including other serial entrepreneurs, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists,
Vendors and Service Providers.
TiE as a concept was born spontaneously when a handful of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with roots in
the Indian subcontinent met by chance in 1992. Out of that meeting came the idea of an organization
that would bring together high achievers of the Indus region for the purpose of networking. From this
simple concept, TiE has evolved into an active, vibrant organization with three objectives:
• To network and to facilitate networking among members;
• To foster entrepreneurship and to nurture entrepreneurs and
• To help membership integrate with the mainstream community.
TiE-Boston is based in Burlington,MA serving the New England Region and it shares the values and
philosophy of the TiE Global organization. TiE Global has over 12,000 members in 54 chapters worldwide
and as power of networking grows, the network gets larger.
Mona Chopra:
Client focused and results driven professional with extensive experience in product development,
innovation and launch process. Strong track record of managing, initializing and launching time sensitive
and critical initiatives. Launched new business initiatives including web-based strategies and global
ground-breaking product launches.
Led the launch of several new products, from the Segway HT, an innovative and revolutionary personal
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transportation device to "Zero" dollar pricing for online equity trades at Banc of America Investment
Services and Merrill Edge. She is the Principal at Pinewood Partners LLC. She worked as the Product and
Program Manager at Merill Lynch Global Wealth Management.
She was the Co-Chair of The Young Entrepreneurs (TYE). She also as a Project Manager at Keane Inc,
Senior Project Manager/ Marketing Manager at Segway, and Project Manager at Sapient.
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Women's Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE)
X Education
□ Coaching/Mentoring
X Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth
□ High Growth
□ Extreme High
Target audience:
□ Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.women-wave.org/index.php
Contact: Fax: 800-894-3207; Phone: 877-928-3606; Email: fraser@theacademygroup.com
Two line description: WAVE is a membership-based association of professional women who work in or
are affiliated with the private equity and venture capital industry.
Overview: The Women's Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE) is a nonprofit organization,
which was founded in 2003 and is committed to the development and advancement of women
in private equity and venture capital. WAVE achieves this objective through a series of
developmental and networking events organized in financial centers each year. WAVE is a
membership-based association of professional women who work in or are affiliated with the private
equity and venture capital industry. WAVE's mission is to promote a spirit of cooperation and
understanding among its members and to create professional opportunities for them by providing a
strong network of contacts in the private equity and venture capital industry. WAVE's mission will be
accomplished by promoting personal and professional development of its members through its events,
programs, and resources.
Heather Stone:
Over 13 years of experience in a range of domestic and cross-border corporate and securities
transactions and fund formation work.
Heather has advised many private equity fund managers and investment advisors on a broad range of
capital formation, buyout/separation, internal governance and portfolio investment matters. In
addition, Heather has represented private and public companies in buy and sell-side acquisition
engagements. Heather has represented numerous issuers, underwriters and placement agents in public
and private equity and debt financings. She also represents many growth-oriented software, emerging
technology and media companies in all stages of development, from start-ups to multi-national public
companies.
In 2001, Heather was voted by Digital Industry as the "Best General Lawyer for a High-Tech Firm", and
has been designated a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics and Boston Magazine.
Heather is an active lecturer on private equity, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions topics,
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and has had articles on these topics published in American Venture, Women's Business and other
notable publications. She is frequently quoted in such publications as The Boston Business Journal, The
Deal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Mass High Tech, Mergers & Acquistions, Private Equity International and
the Venture Capital Journal. Heather frequently teaches for the Kauffman Fellows program, as well as at
Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, in Babson College's MBA program and at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Business.
Sarah Camougis:
Partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
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Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST)
X□ Education
X□ Coaching/Mentoring
X□ Peer support
□ Capital
□ Services
Target audience: Women in the business of science and technology, existing entrepreneurs, aspiring
entrepreneurs, and those who want to become innovative leaders and enhance their
professional and personal development
X□ Exploring
X□ Sole-preneur
X□ Normal
Entrepreneurship
X□ High Growth
Growth
X□ Extreme High
Growth
Website: http://www.westorg.org/
Contacts:
Ilene Fischer: ilfischer@westorg.org, (857) 998-4040, (603) 566-0299
Mari Anne Snow: msnow@sophiathinkconsulting.com, (401) 286-9828
Email: info@WESTorg.org
Two line description: WEST promotes the advancement of women in the business of science
and technology. By fostering innovative thinking in personal and professional development, we
inspire our members to realize their full potential.
Overview: WEST is a nonprofit organization for women in science and technology who are
existing entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and those who want to become innovative
leaders and enhance their professional and personal development. Our goal is to improve the
leadership status of women in science and technology by inspiring them to achieve success in
their organizations and create positive impact in their communities.
Individuals in our diverse community represent industries ranging from information technology
and biopharmaceuticals to Cleantech and environmental sciences, as well as organizations that
support and collaborate with these industries such as professional service firms, financial
institutions, and non-profit groups. We bring together peers to share their experiences and
passion in a supportive learning environment.
WEST encourages women to develop entrepreneurial management thinking, educated risk
taking, creative problem solving, and inspirational, supportive leadership for their
teams/organizations/businesses. Women who develop entrepreneurial thinking take risks,
learn how to solve problems in compelling new ways, and lead others to success.
WEST offers a rich and thriving community that provides support, guidance, and professional
development for professionals in science, engineering and technology industries. Members can
leverage a broad array of workshops and panels that include advice regarding career
advancement, alternative career options, professional skill building and exposure to
entrepreneurial thinking. Through education, mentorship, and engaged networking, we strive
to serve our diverse community.
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What we can give to this group:
 Workshops, seminars and events that support women in science in technology
What we need:
 Members and attendees at our many programs
 Visibility to the world of entrepreneurial women
 Speakers
 Corporate Sponsors/Partnerships
Ilene Fischer:
Executive Director, WEST. Ilene Fischer is an expert in helping organizations infuse innovation
into an organizational culture while producing extraordinary business results. Her consulting
clients have included: NASA Research and Technology, Pfizer Groton R&D Labs, Anthem Blue
Cross and Blue Shield, Duracell R&D, Coca Cola, Lucent Technologies, Unilever, and Novartis.
Ilene joined WEST from Enagility LLC, a performance and consulting firm focusing on
organizational change, where she served as Managing Director. Previously, she served as
Managing Director for consulting services, Tom Peters Company; Partner accountable for
organizational learning at PA Consulting Group; Associate Partner, Innovation Associates (IA),
founded by Peter Senge; Quality Manager, Honeywell; chemical engineer, Raytheon. Ilene has a
B.S. in Chemistry and has completed graduate studies in business at Harvard University. She
published an article on culture change published in Business 2.0 and she was a contributor to
The Fifth Discipline Field Book, Peter Senge. Ilene has been a mentor for the Healthcare
Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Boston Program in 2008 and 2010, Chairperson for HBA’s
Executive Women’s Series in 2010 and is a Board member for HBA’s Women Executive Series in
2011. Her pioneering efforts on behalf of women include establishing one of the first battered
women’s shelters in the US, leading the Boston Chapter of Wealth (Women Executives
Advancing Life Sciences, Technology and Healthcare) and serving as president of the National
Organization for Women, Northeastern Pennsylvania chapter.
Mari Anne Snow:
CEO and co-founder of SophiaThink Consulting, LLC. SophiaThink teaches clients the best ways to use
the latest technologies like social media and social networking for business advantage. If your company
wants to excite customers, engage employees or build a strong on-line brand; SophiaThink can help.
Mari Anne is also an adjunct professor at Bentley University; on the Board of Directors of WEST (Women
Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology)
She also worked as the VP, CSO Services Group at State Street and VP of Learning & Development at
State Street Bank. Prior to joining State Street, she was the Director of Training at Uno Restaurant
Corporation, VP HR and Talent Management at Roundgrille, Inc, Director of Training at Bertucci’s and
Assistant Director of Training at Ninety Nine Restaurants.
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The Women's Business Collaborative of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
X Education
X Coaching/Mentoring
□ Peer support
□ Capital
X Services
X Sole-preneur
X Normal Growth
X High Growth
X Extreme High
Target audience:
X Exploring
Entrepreneurship
Growth
Website: http://www.eapdlaw.com/ourfirm/wbc/
Contact: Susan Keller; SAKeller@eapdlaw.com
Two line description: The Women's Business Collaborative is for women decision makers and business
owners to promote business opportunities among one another. Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge’s
mission is to create value by providing superior legal advice and business counsel to protect and
advance the interests of our clients
Overview: The Women's Business Collaborative of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, now one of the
largest professional networking groups in New England, was initially formed in 1996 in response to the
desire of our women clients to have a meeting place to connect with other women professionals. The
Women's Business Collaborative is for women decision makers and business owners to promote
business opportunities among one another. EAPD has a core commitment to helping women thrive in
business. We believe that an effective way to do this is to provide a meeting place for women
professionals to connect and share ideas for professional advancement and business generation.
The Women's Business Collaborative has evolved with the explosion of women entrepreneurs and
women-owned businesses and the increase in women attorneys at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge.
Today, the Women's Business Collaborative provides relevant information on all issues that
professional women face and is a venue for professional women to connect and network. The group
also provides a support and mentoring component for the women attorneys of Edwards Angell Palmer &
Dodge through internal programs and resources that facilitate the development of their skill building
and networking skills.
Susan Keller:
Susan is the founder and chair of the Women's Business Collaborative at the Firm. Under Susan's
guidance, the organization has been providing women with tools for business success since 1996. Susan
is a co-founder of the Women's Association of Venture & Equity, a national organization for women in
venture capital and private equity.
Susan spends a considerable amount of time counseling women business owners and women
entrepreneurs. Most recently, Susan was recognized for her work with women entrepreneurs by
receiving the 2009 Business Women Award - Mentor to Women Business Owners from the Providence
Business News. In 2002, her efforts resulted in receiving the Women in Business Advocate of the Year
Award for Rhode Island and New England from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Big Sisters of RI
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honored Susan as one of the Magical Circle of Women We Admire in 2010, which recognized her as an
outstanding woman business leader and community volunteer.
Susan was a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Women's Business Research, a
Washington, D.C. based organization that is the premier source of data about women business owners.
Susan is currently the Chair of the Advisory Board for Providence Office of the Center for Women &
Enterprise and teaches classes on corporate and venture capital law to their clients. Susan has recently
been appointed the Chair of the Providence Chapter of the Women Presidents' Organization.
Susan is a Partner in Social Venture Partners Rhode Island, a collaborative community of experienced
business professionals focused on advancing the non-profit sector and effecting social change in the
community. Through SVPRI, Susan is involved with its Change Accelerator Program, one of the few
social venture incubators in existence and is a mentor to one of the entrepreneurs.
Susan is also involved in Springboard Venture Capital Forum, an annual venture forum of women
entrepreneurs presenting to the venture community.
Outside the legal community, Susan is very active in the community as a board member and Past
President of First Night Providence and Keep Providence Beautiful and a board member of Vision
Education & Media. She is an alumna of Leadership Rhode Island. Susan currently sits on the Board of
Directors of Trinity Repertory Theater and the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation.
Susan served on the Board of Directors of Nestor, Inc., a publicly traded company that provides systems
and services for traffic management and safety. She served on the Audit Committee and the
Compensation Committee, of which she was the chairperson.
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Women Presidents Organization (WPO)
x□ Education
x□ Coaching/Mentoring
x□ Peer support
□ Capital
x□ Services
Target audience:
□ Exploring
□ Sole-preneur
□ Normal Growth x□ High Growth
Entrepreneurship
x□ Extreme
High Growth
Website: http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com/
Contact: Lisa K. Matthews, Boston Chapter Chair
Two line description:
Overview: The WPO is a non-profit membership organization for women presidents of multimilliondollar companies. Members of the WPO take part in professionally-facilitated peer advisory groups in
order to bring the 'genius out of the group' and accelerate the growth of their businesses. There are
approximately 80 chapters globally and the average revenue of the members is $13 million, with over 20
years of business experience, and an average of 85 employees. The WPO also holds an annual
conference with world recognized speakers and business building workshops.
What we can give to this group:
1- Access to all levels and types of expertise in most industries.
2- Speakers for events.
3- Opportunity to join peer mentoring groups focused on business strategy, not networking
(though, of course, networking is a natural result) with women who have and are experiencing a
high level of success.
What we need:
1- Members with revenues of over $1 million if in a service business or $2 million if in a product
business.
2- Expert speakers from time to time on different business subjects.
Lisa Matthews:
Lisa K. Matthews is a Registered Financial Advisor and Investment Manager with Winslow, Evans &
Crocker, Inc. Winslow, Evans & Crocker, Inc. is a full service investment management and financial
advisory firm, with experts and resources in multiple areas of financial management. The firm manages
and advises on over $3 billion in assets for its clients.
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Lisa has brought her investment management and financial planning expertise to her clientele for over
twenty years, including the founding of her own firm in New York City in 1989. Lisa’s primary specialty is
providing business owners with their own private business suite of planning, consulting and benefits
that marries the business goals with their personal goals. Her clientele includes individuals, families,
businesses, and charitable foundations. Lisa educates her clients across the spectrum of financial
planning considerations and alternatives, including not only investment management, but also,
retirement planning and distribution, estate planning, charitable strategies, etc. Lisa works closely with
them to identify their individual needs, establish goals and develop customized plans and solutions that
evolve through their different stages of life and changing circumstances. Based on her many years in the
business, Lisa has developed a network of professional partners, i.e., attorneys, insurance experts, etc.,
whom she brings to her clients when the expertise is required for the achievement of their goals.
Lisa leads the Boston-based chapters of the Women Presidents’ Organization, for which she facilitates
business discussions and forums on such topics as strategic planning and implementation, business
growth and succession planning among women entrepreneurs of companies with average revenues of
$9 million. Lisa sits on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, The Home for Little
Wanderers Board of Directors where she Chairs the Development Committee, and the Enterprising
Women Advisory Board. She is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization Platinum Circle, the
Massachusetts Women's Forum, The Commonwealth Institute, the Boston Club, the Boston Estate
Planning Council, and the Financial Planning Association. Lisa is also a frequent speaker to many
organizations, associations, and conferences on topics ranging from building your business, to strategic
planning to exit strategies and succession planning.
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