Executive Women of Goizueta celebrate five-year anniversary

by Elizabeth Kurylo

When Sarah O'Brien and her female Executive MBA colleagues noticed few business and networking events geared specifically to executive women, they decided to take action. Encouraged by finance professor Jeffrey Rosensweig, Executive Women of Goizueta (EWG) was created in 2003. Its mission? To share experiences and business strategies, learn about business trends, and motivate other women to be successful business leaders. "Women empowering women" is the vision and atmosphere of each EWG event.

As EWG celebrates its first five years, its officers can boast about events ranging from annual conferences and intimate breakfast meetings with global business leaders to a dinner for 400 at the Georgia Aquarium in 2006. That year, EWG partnered with TIAW (The International Alliance for Women), the Georgia Executive Women's Network, Global Executive Women, and the Atlanta Women's Network to sponsor the conference and dinner. EWG is also supported by Emory University and Goizueta's Alumni Relations department.

This year's conference, set for October 17, features keynote speakers Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO of CARE. Other speakers include Rosalind Brewer, president, Southeast Operations of Wal-Mart, and Brigadier General Maria Britt, the first female commander of the Georgia Army National Guard.

EWG President Carol Romashko 02EMBA says her work with the group adds value to her degree and keeps her connected to professors and fellow alumnae. "I want to strengthen the alumni networking at Emory, and strengthen the brand of a degree earned from Goizueta Business School," says Romashko, senior marketing manager for RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Corporation.

EWG members mentor both male and female Goizueta students and welcome all alumni to events, which are advertised via traditional mail, email, and the EWG web page on the Alumni Community website (www.bus.emory.edu/ewg).

"EWG provides a forum for women to network and meet other women going through similar life and work experiences," adds Romashko. "In addition, through the breakfast leadership series and fall conference, we offer informative and motivating speakers." Recent topics include "Playing the Game in Heels," "Leading During Change," and "Entrepreneurship vs. Intrapreneurship." Other speakers have discussed financial freedom, corporate leadership and the advancement of women, reinventing your life, and leveraging technology.

EWG board members volunteer to recruit members, organize events, and raise more than $50,000 to cover program costs. "Most of our work is in the evenings or weekends, after we devote time to our day jobs, families, and other responsibilities," explains Romashko.

The group hopes to add members and "reach up" to more senior women alumnae and women business leaders to learn from their experiences. "We greatly value and solicit their advice and input," Romashko says.

To stay in touch with the group and Goizueta, alumnae may update their email address at http://www.goizueta.emory.edu/alumni/update_address.html.

About Emory University’s Goizueta Business School

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is home to an Undergraduate degree program, a Two-Year Full-Time MBA, a One-Year MBA, an Evening MBA, the W. Cliff Oxford Executive MBA (Weekend and Modular formats), a Doctoral degree and a portfolio of non-degree Emory Executive Education courses.