President's Messages, Recent Media Exposure, and Press Releases

About Women In Consulting

Women In Consulting^® (WIC) helps members build strong businesses through a variety of educational, mentoring and networking programs. The organization offers monthly meetings with highly regarded speakers throughout the Bay Area while the online community shares everything from best practices, consulting leads and technical assistance to professional recommendations and productivity tools.

Women In Consulting also offers a tailored mentoring program, its popular Mastermind groups, plus discounts through its partners. Women In Consulting offers sponsorship and partnership opportunities for those organizations interested in reaching this professional network of Bay Area businesses.

For more information

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President's Journal February 3, 2022

President's Journal January 28, 2022

Unexpected Insights Learning About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Last fall I initiated a book reading group for Women In Consulting members. I did this for several reasons:

1. In the wake of the protests in the summer and fall of 2020, exploring racism in the US became important to me as a citizen of this great nation and as a leader of this organization.
2. To bring smart people together for discussing and digesting thought-provoking books on racism.
3. I wanted to get to know more members in Women In Consulting and have found the best way to do that is over time and talking about things that matter.

We have continuously met for the last 14 months and I look forward to every Wednesday evening.

This exploration has transformed my understanding and galvanized my commitment to action.

And contrary to the clickbait soundbites on various ‘news’ outlets, I feel more hopeful about the US than I did when I was clueless. Knowledge turns out to be empowering, not despair-inducing.

I have gained a ton of insights and perspectives through the thoughtful reading motivated by discussing chapters every week – more than I ever would on my own. Putting those insights into words for you to read in one of the emails will take some time and deeper thinking about how to organize those thoughts, since so much of my understanding comes for the context of the conversations, sequence of the books, and depth of the writing in each book. I’ll endeavor to create that for a future email.

An Eye-Opening Experience

I’d like to share an eye-opening experience I had last year as a result of all these book discussions, study, reading, thinking, and shifting of perspective I’ve had on racism.

I was involved in an effort to look for some leaders for a project. For a variety of reasons, some of which come from the thinking I was doing, we were looking for diversity among accomplished women: economic, experiential, cultural, and racial diversity.

The first step I took was to take a look at all my LinkedIn connections and see who might be a candidate. Two facts about how I use LinkedIn make this a good option: I connect with everyone I want to remember and am impressed with; and I have over 1700 connections. I figured if I did a search, I’d have 2nd degree connections come up as well as 1st degree.

Here’s what I discovered:

I had mostly people that look like me as connections. Is that surprising? Probably not, but on the other hand, it’s disturbing. That means I fall into the norm of meeting and working with people that…look like me, have similar backgrounds as me, and pretty much are in my economic tier. And that made me feel like I’ve not been trying very hard to really understand what it takes to create equity.

Secondly, I did have connections with women from other cultures. Quite a few. That gave me a little hope to grasp onto. Well, maybe I’m not so myopic after all.

And finally, the coup de grace: I had only 1 connection out of more than 1700 that is a black woman (not true anymore). I could hardly believe that. I had to stop for a moment and admit to myself that I was a shining example of talk the talk but not walk the walk. EEK.

I invite you to take a look at your connections. Look for the groups they fall into. It’s kind of a shorthand assessment of where you’re at in this process of understanding racism and then doing something about it.

And here’s the kicker. I know you know that women who are working hard to get ahead in business often need to excel more than the men they’re competing with. They (we) have needed to prove ourselves in ways we don’t perceive men needing to do. Take that and multiply it by 5 or 10 and you have roughly what it takes to be successful in the same world but as a black woman, a woman of color, other cultures, and so on. That translates into some brilliance not getting the same opportunities – brilliance in women that we’re not bringing into our connections and our work, our partnerships and collaborations, and our clients. 

Now I look at this differently and act differently. I now intentionally seek out a variety of women to meet, see what they’re up to, explore how we can collaborate, and stay connected and in conversation with. 

And here’s the part of that I misunderstood before: I’m doing this to expand my own perspectives, opportunities, and resources. Because these women are amazing. I’m not doing this for some altruistic, patronizing reason – that wouldn’t reflect any of the insights I’ve gained over the last year and a half and it wouldn’t make sense in any other way. 

I encourage you to not only do my quick LinkedIn assessment of taking a look at all your connections, but also think more about what you might be missing.

We have a speaker for our Business Health Check on May 7 who will be talking about this and offering a checklist of ways you can level up the resources for your business and your clients by diversifying.

Wishing you a great weekend and I hope Thursday January 27 was a wonderfully fun National Chocolate Cake Day for you!

Kathryn Gorges, President 
Women In Consulting

President's Journal January 21, 2022

How I Got Lasting Value from Being a Women In Consulting Member

When I first joined Women In Consulting – back in 2010 I think – I was looking for insights on how to be a successful consultant. I wanted information I could put to use right away on fees, contracts, scope, subcontractors, insurance, and all the pieces I knew I didn’t even know enough about to name. Essentially, I was looking at the organization in a transactional way, much like other organizations and institutions where there’s value to get in exchange for membership to be paid.

What I didn’t realize was the deep, abiding business friendships I’d develop among high-powered and very independent-minded women.

Before joining Women In Consulting, I had a sense of being frustrated by the lack of serious business conversation among the friends I’d made from my kids’ schools and sports programs and other activities. I missed being surrounded by people talking about all that was going on in the business world: technology innovations, leadership philosophies, mergers, new products, and the day to day of making business happen. And those people had primarily been men in my life as an employee.

Those deep, abiding friendships didn’t happen immediately. They have taken a long time, but more importantly, they’ve developed because I’ve taken a different approach to getting to know people in the Women In Consulting community.

I’ve always had an approach to becoming part of a group or organization of jumping in through volunteering for key activities. That helps me get to know more keenly what’s important to the people in the organization and how things get done. Then I can feel more comfortable about the lay of the land and what’s important. (This likely comes from me moving around every year or two growing up and figuring out how to participate in new schools and social groups.)

I could stop here and say that the way to developing relationships in Women In Consulting is to volunteer for activities. In part, that’s true – and it’s that way for any organization you want to actually get value out of (you don’t get much value just by joining, you actually need to get involved). But I discovered an additional component to getting involved that has made all the difference.

Working together with other members over a period of time in an effort to accomplish a particular objective or to work through challenges has created the circumstances for me to get to know more deeply quite a few amazing women in this community. I know them enough to understand their personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and how they fit into my life. I love that I now have 5-10 women that I can rely on having an engaging and potentially transformational conversation with about business.

The keys to making these deeper connections:

• Working together
• Regularly meeting over 3-6 months at least
• Accomplishing something meaningful to us
• Encountering and working through rough spots

This relationship-building resembles the forming, storming, norming, and performing stages of teams: likely because trust sits at the foundation of any business relationship and that mostly develops by ‘walking through fire’ with someone. Hence the need to tackle meaningful challenges together over time.

Now, this is not to say you can’t get to know people through networking at events. I suggest that those interactions are transactional and easy to let go of unless you invest more into the relationship. They’re a good first step in figuring out if you can do business together or be friends. Going beyond that first step is where a richer business friendship begins.

How This Applies to Women In Consulting

I’m working to apply my experience, and similar experiences of other people I’ve talked to about this, to our volunteer activities in Women In Consulting. So much of what needs to be done can be completed individually, independently, on your own. That may be efficient when measured against the objective of just getting it done. And sometimes that’s going to make sense. But in looking at our volunteer needs as opportunities to have everyone get the full value of being in Women In Consulting, we need to set this up so people work together and get to know each other. Even if it’s coordinating, touching base, brainstorming, or just being there.

Here’s an example that’s effective but not efficient by traditional standards: I get together with one of our members regularly to help them think through and do the work they need to do to get stuff done for our organization. I’m there to support, encourage, ideate, refocus, solve problems, and be present. I do that because I care about this person and what I’m doing makes a difference for them – just being present to what’s needed.

I invite you to think about how this might help you get to know the special people in our community better – so that you too have connections that can keep you moving through challenges, celebrate good times, and just be there for you and your business.

I’ll be writing more to you about how this looks for our volunteer needs. You can start thinking about the categories of activities you’d like to participate in for 3-4 months at a time, meeting a few times a month – limited commitment but an opportunity to get to know exceptional women committed to business success.

Here’s to greater business success, deeper relationships, and a balanced life in 2022.

Kathryn Gorges, President  
Women In Consulting

A Message from the President | January 13, 2022

Happy New Year! And welcome back into the stream of business and demands of your consulting practice.

I am inspired by our Board of Directors and the combination we have of passion, enthusiasm, vision, experience, leadership, and deep connection to the Women In Consulting culture with a strong desire to get that known in the wider world. We have great opportunities to make a difference for our members and the larger community with our new status as a 501c3 nonprofit.

I am delighted to introduce you to the new members of our Women In Consulting Board and re-acquaint you with our continuing members. Please reach out and connect with them – all of them are awesome, friendly, powerfully connected, and excited to make things happen for Women In Consulting.

And before we get to introductions, please put on your calendar January 27, noon – 1:30pm Pacific/ 3pm – 4:30pm Eastern time to join me in a roundtable discussion of the topics you want to have Women In Consulting cover this year and potential speakers.

We’ll have brainstorming, discussion, and identify actions to take. You are welcome to participate in the discussion only or also help with action items. We hope to form small teams so you can get to know more of our community by working together. You can register here to get the information to attend.

Enjoy the introductions below and you can read more on our Board of Directors page.

Hope to see you January 27!

Kathryn Gorges, President  
Women In Consulting

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Our New Board Members and their passion for Women In Consulting

Four New Board of Directors Members

Shannan Herbert
EVP Chief Credit Officer, City First Bank  

Shannan Herbert has dedicated her work to helping marginalized and historically underserved and underrepresented groups succeed. As a fierce advocate for women and women led organizations, she believes that an organizational culture that supports inclusivity and diversity of thought, is one where innovation and growth naturally occur. Serving on the Board of Women In Consulting would allow her to bring her unique perspective to the member services offered and provide support around the strategic goals of the organization. 

Neema Mayhugh, PhD
Healthcare Innovation and Commercialization Expert  

I have had a passion for consulting since finishing my PhD back in 2002. I have had various roles in consulting, academia and industry, and was always compelled to go back to consulting because it offered the me the ability to stretch my strategy chops while providing expertise to clients in order to accelerate their efforts to commercialize lifesaving technologies.

I’d particularly like to focus on increasing membership within global consulting organizations as well as increasing the visibility of the Women In Consulting in these circles and on a wider geographic scale.  A secondary interest is creating more robust programming for our members to have a deeper impact as women enter the consulting arena, and more particularly, grow their practices.

Kate Stephenson, PhD
Innovation & Engineering Strategist for Medical Products, DYAD Engineering

I am deeply passionate about connecting individuals with the resources, education and networks that allow them to enter and excel in the profession of their choice. As a first-generation college student who would go on to obtain a PhD, and then start her own business, I am deeply grateful for the information that allowed me to pursue opportunities I would otherwise have never known existed.

Having discovered it only a few years ago myself, I firmly believe that independent consulting is one of the greatest opportunities for a passionate, intellectually driven individual to freely chart out their own professional path. Joining Women In Consulting’s board at this critical time in the organization allows me to act on my professional convictions through direct service. Women In Consulting’s goal aligns closely with my own: empower other women with the tools and opportunities to find their own professional freedom, defining success in whatever way matters most to them. 

Brenda Swiney
Motivator, Influencer, Enabler, mieCFO  

I believe that businesswomen have not had the same opportunity to find mentors or champions as their male counterparts. As a result, these women were required to forge their own way, making mistakes that someone may have made before, or worse, becoming discouraged. I see Women in Consulting as a collective of women who are ready and willing to help each other, and future generations of businesswomen, succeed by providing an environment that is safe to share challenges (both professional and personal) and seek support and advice. This community is a way for women to get mentorship and support and expand their networks which, in turn, strengthens the community further. I think this is fundamental to women’s continued success and want to support that in any way I can.

New Board Member in 2020

Anna Brambilla, MBA
Career Ownership Coach, The Entrepreneur's Source  

As a Career Ownership Coach, Anna provides a safe, pressure-free space for people to dream and plan, explore their income and lifestyle goals. She is passionate about helping people recognize the strengths and transferable skills they don’t necessarily see in themselves and has mastered the art of listening to understand people.

Continuing Board Members

Ellen Grace Henson  
Women In Consulting Past President, Director
Managing Director & Founder, Marketing Mechanics

Ellen Grace was the 2017-2019 President of Women In Consulting. She currently serves the organization in the role of director of programs, responsible for planning and recruiting speakers for the Women In Consulting monthly programs: Expert Series and the Wednesday Monthly Sandbox series.

Deb Siegle
Women In Consulting Corporate Secretary, Director, Past President
Principal Consultant, Strategic Marketing Solutions  

Deb started Board service in 2003 and since then has held numerous leadership positions with Women In Consulting. She was President from 2015-2016, vice president of membership, and currently holds the position of director of strategic audiences, heading up Women In Consulting’s Executive Members’ Network.

Nancy Nelson
Women In Consulting CFO/Treasurer, Director
Principal Consultant, HRProse, LLC 

Nancy is a returning board member, leading the team responsible for member advocacy and partner engagement.

Angel Rampy 
Director 
Executive Coach & Corporate Trainer, Success through Learning, Silicon Valley

Angel is a returning board member, providing direction to satellite chairs. Angel also is interim director of sponsorship. She has served as a satellite director and co-hosts the South Bay Women In Consulting meetings.

President's Message ~ December 23, 2021

Women In Consulting wishes you Peace, Joy, and Abundance during this holiday season and throughout the coming year: in your professional life, in your family, among friends, in conversations, and in your community. 

One of the hallmarks of Women In Consulting I especially appreciate is our generosity with each other and our larger community to help move us all closer to whatever success we’re working towards in our lives. That commitment to generosity cuts across social, cultural, and racial lines as we each freely offer our insights, lessons learned, and our support for all women devoted to making our mark professionally. I have learned so much from this community that continues to make a difference in how I operate my business, create opportunities for myself and others, and present myself as a consultant. This season, as we celebrate the return of light in every tradition, Women In Consulting and I thank you for your generosity toward each other and our organization.
  

2021 Recap for Women In Consulting

Four New Board of Directors Members

This year we added four new Board Members: Shannan Herbert, Neema Mayhugh, PhD, Brenda Swiney, and Kate Stephenson, PhD. You can learn more about them here. I’ll also be introducing them in my weekly emails starting in January 2022. They bring an impressive set of experience and accomplishment to our board. Our nine-member board is now in a great position to continue the transition to a 501c3 focus from our 501c6. I feel honored to be of service to this group on the board, as well as our amazing organization and greater community.
  

Women In Consulting Spirit Award

The Women In Consulting Spirit Award honors members who go beyond the normal level of contribution to our community and show a deep dedication to our mission of helping women be successful in their businesses.  In November, we acknowledged a long-time member who has given her heart and soul to Women In Consulting in time and attention and commitment since 2003. She has been on the board since 2003 and has held positions of responsibility in various capacities for Women In Consulting, and still does, and spends a lot of time and energy holding the heart of our organization, bringing other people in, and making things happen. We presented the spirit of Women In Consulting award for 2021 to Deb Siegle. Please congratulate her when you have a moment. She has made a huge difference for all of us over the years.
  

New Partnership with the Association for Strategic Planning (ASP), US West Coast

Women In Consulting and the Association for Strategic Planning (ASP), US West Coast Chapter are now partners. Look for ASP US West Coast Chapter events on our calendar and take advantage of a $5 on their events!

Office Depot Benefit

Our Professional, Contributing, and Executive Membership Levels have an amazing set of benefits from Office Depot. Take advantage of that so we can continue to be a partner. Members who are getting this benefit are raving about the savings… don’t miss out!

New Date for the Business Health Check: Late April/Mid-May

We are moving our annual Business Health Check Mini-Conference to late-April/mid-May to help prevent the spread of the latest COVID variant.

Many events and venues are postponing events to help keep our healthcare system from getting overcrowded during this surge. We are in the process of confirming the same venue at the College of San Mateo for an April/May date. We’ll have more information about that after they return from winter break. We’ll also be revamping slightly to add more interactive working sessions that include both remote and in-person attendees so you’ll have opportunities to get to know people across the US as well as locally. Stay tuned.
  

President’s Weekly Update Starting January 2022

I will be sending out a weekly update on all the activities, leadership initiatives, opportunities, and topics Women In Consulting has going on. I’m excited about hearing more back from you, so please reply whenever something piques your interest.

I have intended to start this for some time. I have, however, been dealing almost nonstop with personal health issues for the last two years. I believe I’ve turned the corner on that and look forward to sharing more about what we’re doing and enlisting your thinking and suggestions on those ventures.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I hope you have a wonderful end of year. Remember to take a break, breathe, and contemplate your many achievements and embrace your future.

Thank you for being a part of this community,

Kathryn Gorges
President, Women In Consulting 

Women In Consulting Announces 2020 Annual Best Practices Survey Report

Consultants said staying in touch was the best investment in their business

Key Findings will be provided in the forthcoming report ~ stay tuned for more information!

These results are available at no fee for Women In Consulting Professional, Contributing and Executive members, as well as all survey respondents, each year. Starting in 2016, we began selling report access to others for a fee. Purchase access to the report here.  

BIG NEWS!!! Matching Donor Challenge for Virtual Food Drive ~ 2021

Help us meet our $2,000 goal and it will be matched, providing 8,000 meals to Silicon Valley Families Food Drive dates: November 2021 - January 2022

Virtual Food Drive Results ~ June 2020

Help vulnerable neighbors during the COVID-19 crisis | June 2020

WE MADE OUR GOAL!!!

As our community deals with the COVID-19 public health crisis, neighbors experiencing or on the brink of poverty are disproportionately impacted. Working families who rely on hourly wages are scared as shifts and pay are being cut.

One consequence of California/the Bay Area locking down is our infection curve has been effectively flattened—that's good! But flattening it also lengthens it, meaning area residents will need to stay locked down for many weeks to come to avoid a surge in new infections. Area food banks are already reporting unprecedented demand, and it's only going to get worse as the weeks stretch on.

MANY THANKS to the anonymous donor who matched our contributions of $3,260 dollar-for-dollar, allowing us to meet our goal of $5,000 in donations made by Women In Consulting members with a total donation of $6,520!

Virtual Food Drive Results ~ 2019

Annual Holiday Giving | December 2019

In 2019, we were again for the tenth year in a row, awarded the GOLD service award. We are so honored to have had that much of an impact in our community!! We also had a great time at the food sort:

Women In Consulting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to being anti-racists in our actions, our policies, our membership outreach, our speakers, and our outreach and mentorship for ongoing leadership.

Women In Consulting Announces 16th Annual Best Practices Survey Report

Consultants are optimistic about the future, investing in their business

Key Findings

2018 Best Practices

“The results from this year’s survey are exciting. The majority of participants are projecting revenue increases from 2017 to 2018 and beyond, while investing in their businesses whether by relaunching their web presence, evolving their business models and even getting advanced degrees. The message we got from the consulting community was loud and clear - it’s a rewarding business to be in.”

Ellen Grace Henson, WIC President 

Survey Scope

Women In Consulting announces 15th Annual Best Practices & Compensation Survey Report

Top findings to grow business – strong networks, project vs. hourly fees, using sub-contractors

San Jose, CA — October 1, 2017—Women In Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and business owners across the San Francisco Bay Area, announces the findings of its 15th annual Best Practices survey.

The survey takes an in-depth look at the state of best practices across consulting firms. All consultants, including those beyond the Women In Consulting community, are invited to participate in this confidential survey. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2017 with over 200 respondents across the United States reporting on calendar 2016 results. Fifty-three percent of respondents were Women In Consulting members.

Key Findings

• A decline in application of best practices is correlated with a decline in revenue – Consultants who continued to apply best practices saw revenue growth while those who didn’t saw some decline.
• Networking is still the number one way to build business and resources.
• Value-based project fees generate more profit than hourly rates.
• Use of subcontractors enables growth through:
• Freeing the business owner from administrative tasks
• Enabling delivery of more projects and a broader set of services

In comparing Women In Consulting members to non-members, the survey found:

• 88 percent of Women In Consulting respondents charge project fees instead of hourly fees, compared to 51 percent of non-WIC respondents. 
• Women In Consulting members are more likely to use subcontractors (82 percent compared to 67 percent). 
• 64 percent of Women In Consulting members who use subcontractors markup fees compared to 58 percent of non-WIC respondents
• 78 percent of Women In Consulting members collect a percentage of the project fee up front, compared with 60 percent of the non-WIC group.

“Each year this survey provides real-world, actionable ways consultants and independent business owners can improve and grow their business. In this 15th year, we are better positioned than ever to validate the correlation between the use of best practices and increased profits.”

Ellen Grace Henson, WIC President 

Survey Scope

The survey asks detailed questions about strategies and tactics consultants use to more effectively manage and drive growth for their businesses in the previous calendar year. These include:

• Total revenue
• Average hourly rate (if applicable)
• Average retainer fee (if applicable)
• Average project fee (if applicable)
• Target hourly rate in project fees (if applicable)
• Number of subcontractors used
• Total amount paid to subcontractors and/or employees

All survey participants, as well as Women In Consulting Premier and Leaders Network members, receive a free copy of the survey report when it is published in September.

If you are not a Premier or Leaders Network member of Women In Consulting or did not participate in this year’s survey, you can purchase a copy of the report here.

Learn more about the survey here.

Consultants – Your Participation is Requested. Women In Consulting announces 15th Annual Best Practices Survey, open March 14 - April 14

A comprehensive analysis of the state of consulting businesses in the Bay Area and across the US

San Jose, CA — March 16, 2017—Women In Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional female consultants and business owners across the Bay Area, announces the opening of its 15^th annual Best Practices survey.

The survey takes an in-depth look at the state of best practices across consulting firms. All consultants, including beyond the Women In Consulting community, are invited to participate in this confidential survey, and will receive a free copy of the final results when it is announced in September.

The survey is open March 14 to April 14, 2017 and takes only 10 – 15 minutes to complete. The survey is available at: http://surveysoftware.net/hostia/wic201601.htm

Quote from Jen Berkley Jackson, survey program director:

“It’s hard to believe this is the 15^th year Women In Consulting has run our best practices survey. Over the years, it’s offered interesting insights into the evolution of consulting businesses, such as billing trends and rates, consulting expertise and specialties, structure and operations. These in turn help our Women In Consulting community and beyond review their own practices to ensure they are in line with industry norms.”

In addition to a free copy of the final survey, participants will also be entered into a drawing for a free Women In Consulting workshop or one of three general meeting passes.

Some Important Details

• All participants who complete the survey receive the results (normally a member-only benefit!) and are entered into a drawing to win one of four prizes (whether or not they’re Women In Consulting members).
• Contact Women In Consulting if you have any questions or encounter any problems.
• All information collected during the survey is confidential.
• The survey asks some detailed questions about your business for the 2016 calendar year, so be prepared with the following information:

Survey Results

In addition to the report that Women In Consulting sends to all respondents (an email address is required), we also present the preliminary results at a members-only meeting held at Michael's at Shoreline on Thursday, June 15.

For more information on joining Women In Consulting, please visit our website for full details. Women In Consulting also offers sponsorship and partnership opportunities for those organizations interested in reaching this professional network of Bay Area women-owned businesses.

Women In Consulting (WIC) Names 2017 Board of Directors – Ellen Grace Henson is New President

Long-Established Bay Area Organization Provides Networking and Education Programs for Female Consultants and Business Owners

San Jose, CA — March 13, 2017—Women In Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional female consultants and business owners across the Bay Area, announced its 2017 Board of Directors. Ellen Grace Henson takes over the two year role of President.

Women In Consulting, now in its 19^th year, supports members in building strong businesses through a variety of educational, mentoring and networking programs. The organization offers monthly meetings with highly regarded speakers throughout the Bay Area while the online community shares everything from best practices, consulting leads and technical assistance to professional recommendations and productivity tools. WIC also offers a tailored mentoring program -- its popular Mastermind groups -- plus discounts through its partners.

The Board provides strategic and tactical direction for the organization, working with a team of volunteers to drive the various programs on offer.

“Our members represent a diverse and highly experienced collection of independent business owners and consultants, who actively share and learn from each other. We are all focused on building our own businesses while helping others succeed,” explains Ellen Grace Henson, incoming President of Women In Consulting. “In 2017 we plan to amplify that collaboration, as we build on the value of membership for existing and new members.”

The 2017 WIC Board of Directors consists of the following individuals:

President, Ellen Grace Henson

Ellen is the 2017 President of WIC, guiding its strategic direction and success. She is also the director of programs, responsible for planning and recruiting speakers for the WIC monthly general meetings. She is Managing Director and Founder of Marketing Mechanics, and has been working in product management since the mid-’90s and consulting for 15 years. A thought leader with experience across multiple markets and technologies, Ellen Grace brings a unique combination of analysis and creativity to business and product strategy, market and customer insight, product-delivery process design, and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver high levels of customer satisfaction and strong business results. 

Corporate Secretary, Katherine Van Diepen

Katherine continues her second year as WIC’s corporate secretary, responsible for the management of WIC secretarial duties. She is the CEO of digital marketing agency Surfwoman, LLC and has over 20 yearsof strategic sales and marketing leadership.

Past President, Deb Siegle

Deb has held numerous leadership positions with WIC, as President, vice president of membership, and director of strategic audiences, heading up WIC’s Leaders’ Network, a role she held for six years. The principal of Strategic Marketing Solutions, she is an astute marketing leader, problem solver and communicator who is an authority in market research, strategy, and customer loyalty and experience.

Vice President of Marketing, Ann O’Leary

Ann leads all efforts around the promotion and communication of the WIC mission and activities. Ann is an experienced marketing communications professional, with particular focus on the software and services sector, working for major name companies in Silicon Valley to early stage companies and agencies.

Director of Finance, Candis J Lipe

Candis manages the finances of WIC. She owns and operates Adminologist.com, a service company that provides onsite or offsite contract administrative support.

Director of Sponsorship and Partnerships, Angel Rampy

Angel is a returning board member, leading sponsorship and partnership opportunities for WIC. She has served as a satellite director and co-hosts the South Bay WIC meetings. As founder of Success through Learning, Angel specializes in coaching and training technical and foreign-born professionals.

Director of Education and Mentorship Programs, Michele Molitor

Michele is new to the board and is responsible for the Education and Mentorship programs at WIC and also serves as the East Bay Satellite co-chair. Michele is the CEO of Nectar Consulting, Inc. and is a nationally recognized speaker, certified executive coach and consultant.

Director of Social Media, Nancy Nelson

Nancy is a returning board member, leading the team responsible for WIC’s social media presence across all channels, including WIC’s blog. She is the principal of HRProse, LLC, an HR consultancy dedicated to building HR policies and practices that work for small businesses.

For more information on joining, please visit http://bit.ly/2m1RVyh for full details. WIC also offers sponsorship and partnership opportunities for those organizations interested in reaching this professional network of Bay Area women-owned businesses. 

Survey Sees Increase in Consultants’ Income and Use of Best Practices

14th annual Women In Consulting (WIC) survey finds consultants optimistic

San Jose, CA — August 4, 2016 — Income for Bay Area consultants and other women business owners increased last year, and more of them regularly use best practices in their businesses. These are some of the findings of the 14th annual Women In Consulting (WIC) Best Practices research survey.

WIC helps its members build strong businesses through a variety of educational, mentoring and networking programs.

The survey covers overall trends in revenue and best practices, including the choice of business structure, use of employees and subcontractors, billing practices, networking, and marketing approaches. The WIC survey team analyzes the responses of the top-earning consultants to identify successful best practices. The team also tracks evolving trends in consulting by comparing results to previous years.

“This survey is known for highlighting practical ways women business owners and consultants can strengthen their businesses right now,” said Jennifer Berkley Jackson, WIC’s executive vice president and president of The Insight Advantage.

Key Findings: Revenue

Half the consultants saw their revenue increase last year. Average gross revenue increased slightly (5 percent) to $137,000 over the previous year’s survey. This is the first time the average gross revenue for the survey respondents has exceeded $130,000 since the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009. Profits for the general group increased 11 percent to $89,000.

The gross revenue for the top 20 percent of the respondents increased 15 percent. Their profit, which only increased one percent, still averaged more than twice that of the group as a whole.

The average hourly rate jumped more than 20 percent over the last survey period. The average project fee remained steady while the average monthly retainer increased a dramatic 25 percent.

Key Findings: Business Practices

Consultants are generally optimistic about the future. More than two-thirds of them expect revenues to increase next year. Some of that optimism may be the result of increased collaboration and a consistent emphasis on networking.

Other findings:

• Respondents are using monthly retainers (46 percent) and project fees (81 percent) rather than working solely on an hourly basis. This is the highest percentage of consultants using project fees in the history of this study. 
• More than a third of the respondents usually collect a part of their fee upfront.
• More respondents (74 percent) renegotiate fees when the project scope changes.
• Most respondents (83 percent) use subcontractors and 70 percent of them mark up the subcontractors’ fees.
• Social media has become an intrinsic part of the lives of consultants, and LinkedIn remains the overall favorite. 
• Overwhelmingly, consultants consider networking to be the best way to build a business.

“This survey is an example of how WIC fulfills its mission to help its members grow professionally and build strong businesses,” said Deb Siegle, WIC’s president and the president of Strategic Marketing Solutions.

The survey, which was open to both WIC and non-WIC members nationwide, covered the 12-month period from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. Forty percent of this year’s 105 respondents also participated in the previous survey.

A comprehensive report of the survey findings is available free for WIC Premium Members and Leaders’ Network members and other respondents. The report is available online for WIC Basic members and non-members for $75 and $110 respectively.

Women In Consulting (WIC) Names 2016 Board of Directors | April 29, 2016

Bay-Area-Based Collaborative Organization Helps Consultants and Women Business Owners Succeed through Educational and Networking Programs

San Jose, CA — April 29, 2016—Women In Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and women business owners, today announced its 2016 Board of Directors.

WIC helps its members build strong businesses through a variety of educational, mentoring and networking programs. The organization offers monthly meetings with highly regarded speakers throughout the Bay Area. Members of the email community share everything from best practices, job leads, and technical assistance to professional recommendations and productivity tools. WIC provides other benefits and services such as its new mentoring program with its popular Mastermind groups, and value-added partnerships with companies like Apple Computer and Office Depot.

“WIC focuses on support and collaboration for women business owners and consultants,” said WIC’s president, Deb Siegle. “WIC is the premier resource for businesses seeking industry experts to deliver high-quality results. We generously share best practices, expertise, advice and resources to expand our capabilities, shorten timeframes, and take our businesses to the next level. WIC has been doing this successfully since 1998.”

The 2016 WIC Board of Directors consists of the following professionals, who bring years of experience to the organization. 

President—Deborah Siegle is in her second year as WIC’s president. She previously was the vice president of membership and strategic audiences’ director heading up WIC’s Leaders’ Network, a role she held for six years. The principal of Strategic Marketing Solutions, Deb is an authority on market research, strategy, market and product development, and customer loyalty and experience. She has a talent for aligning a company’s products, solutions and messages with the customer’s needs, and brings a combination of strategic and tactical skills developed through line-management experience at fast-growing companies. The “Silicon Valley Business Journal” named Deb a 2016 Woman of Influence.

Executive Vice President of Operations—Jennifer Berkley Jackson returns for her fifth term as executive vice president of operations. She has also served as WIC’s treasurer and vice president of membership. The owner and founder of The Insight Advantage, Jen has a thorough understanding of the impact of customer insight for organizations. She works across a variety of industries, giving companies the means to gather customer input via telephone interviewing, web or print surveys, and focus groups. Jen also teaches the Power of Marketing Research at University of California at Santa Cruz Extension in Silicon Valley.

Programs Vice President and Satellite Director—Bobbie LaPorte is new to the WIC board. She is the founder and principal of Bobbie LaPorte & Associates, which provides executive-advisory and leadership-development services to Fortune 500 organizations and promising start-ups. Previously, Bobbie served in GM, COO and CMO roles in several Fortune 50 companies—including IBM, GE and United Healthcare—as well as in two healthcare technology start-ups. A thought leader on how to handle challenges and an endurance athlete, Bobbie understands how today’s professionals can benefit from the strategies and disciplines of athletes. She is currently training for her seventh IRONMAN triathlon.

Programs Director—Ellen Grace Henson is the new Programs Director, responsible for planning and recruiting speakers for the WIC monthly general meetings. The managing director and founder of Marketing Mechanics, Ellen Grace has been working in product management since the mid-1990s and has been consulting for 15 years. A thought leader with experience across multiple markets and technologies, she brings a combination of analysis and creativity to business and product strategy, market and customer insight, product-delivery process design, and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver high levels of customer satisfaction and strong business results.

Finance Director—Joanne Lehmkuhl is returning as WIC’s finance director for the fifth consecutive year. The owner and founder of Virtual Ms Moneypenny, LLC, Joanne provides administrative support solutions to small business owners. She helps clients free up time to generate more profits by taking noncritical, but essential, tasks off their plate. Her specialties include marketing support, client relations, online research, business systems and resources, and publishing services.

Sponsorships & Partnerships Director—Angel Rampy is a returning board member. She served as satellite director for WIC and co-hosts the South Bay WIC meetings. As founder of Success through Learning, Angel specializes in coaching and training technical and foreign-born professionals. Her relationship-systems work with teams has earned her the reputation of being the “team whisperer.” She is one of only a handful of facilitators in California who are certified in cultural intelligence.

Social Media Director—Nancy Nelson is WIC’s new social media director. She is the principal of HRProse, LLC, an HR consultancy dedicated to building HR policies and practices that work for small businesses. She is also the program chair for the HR Management certificate program at UCSC Extension Silicon Valley In addition to her work for WIC, Nancy has held various volunteer leadership positions with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at national, state and local levels, including president of the Bay Area Human Resource Executives Council and director of the California State Council of SHRM.

Director of Mentorship Programs—Robin Weintraub is returning as WIC’s director of mentorship programs for the second year. A seasoned strategist and trusted advisor, Robin helps companies create the action roadmap to seize new growth opportunities. After running her strategy consulting firm for 15 years, Robin recently returned to the client side, accepting a full-time position with Salesforce as a director, experience strategy. She has been mentoring professional women since the early days of her career, and is committed to helping high-achieving women develop the skills they need to attain their personal and professional goals.

Corporate Secretary—Katherine Van Diepen is new to the WIC board and is the CEO of the digital marketing agency Surfwoman, LLC. With more than 20 years of strategic sales and marketing leadership, Katherine is an expert in B2B and B2C technology marketing, and helps clients in a wide variety of industries fill their sales pipelines. She has lead global teams, and marketed to more than 90 countries worldwide. She’s spearheaded initiatives in product research, development and launches. Her communications experience includes demand generation, marketing operations, product brand management, public relations, social media, website development, and direct marketing.

Virtual Food Drive & Community Service Opportunity

Annual Virtual Food Drive | Online Oct. 16 - Dec. 31

The buying power of the Second Harvest Food Bank is phenomenal!! Did you know that a donation of $1 is enough for the SHFB to provide TWO complete meals? Cans and other non-perishable donations are certainly appreciated, but you can see the buying power of cash donations. Please consider a cash donation and participate in our food drive.

Last year (2014), we were again for the fifth year in a row, awarded the GOLD service award. We are so honored to have had that much of an impact in our community!!

Second Harvest Food Bank Sorting -- Community Service Event | Tuesday, January 5, 2016 1:30-3:30pm

Please note: no walk-ins will be accepted at the Second Harvest Food Bank. All participants must be pre-registered. Space is limited to the first 15 participants only!!

• Second Harvest Food Bank - Cypress Center, 4001 North First Street, San Jose CA 95134

"Working at Second Harvest in San Jose really helped me understand how far even a small amount of money can go. Second Harvest is a smart service organization that helps people who really need it. I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to help and continue learning about the needs of our community. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun!"
—Melody Appleton

Special Notes

• Participation at Second Harvest location is limited to the first 15 people who register, so register early!
• Donations of nonperishable food are welcomed—but Second Harvest can make cash go further
• Dress is casual for Second Harvest—we’re going to work
• Carpooling to the event is encouraged to minimize parking difficulties at the sites  

We had a great time at the Second Harvest Food Bank last year (2014). We sorted 194 boxes of apples! 5,000 pounds!

Women In Consulting Launches Mentorship Program  

Consultants Will Benefit from Actionable Advice from Peers and Subject Matter Experts

SAN JOSE, CA — July 29, 2015— Women In Consulting (WIC) today launched a mentorship program that will help consultants and other women business owners address the challenges of running their own businesses. The highly practical WIC Mentorship Program, which is open to non-WIC members, will allow participants to bounce ideas off their peers, get feedback from experts, and celebrate their successes. 

“Running your own business can be incredibly exhilarating,” says Robin Weintraub, WIC’s director of Mentorship. “At the same time, you can feel isolated and may not know where to turn for advice and counsel. Based on feedback from our members, we have put together an engaging three-faceted program that includes Mastermind groups, webinar coaching and speed mentoring to help enrich the participants’ personal and professional lives.”

WIC Mastermind Groups

WIC Mastermind groups are designed to help participants share resources and networks, develop a trusted support system, and benefit from tested ideas and business practices. The Mastermind participants will act as personal advisors, giving professional advice and opinions, alerting each other to opportunities, and helping each other navigate smoothly past blind spots.

Learn more about WIC Mastermind groups here. 

WIC Speed Mentoring

WIC’s first speed mentoring event occurred on June 18, 2015. More than a dozen experts provided real-time input on business challenges and answered a host of questions—all in tidy, seven-minute segments. The response to the event has been extremely positive. (“It’s like speed dating, but much better!”) WIC plans to host another session in 2016.

Learn more about WIC speed mentoring here.

Survey Finds that Consultants’ Income is Steady, Optimism is High 

13th annual Women In Consulting (WIC) survey also finds increased collaboration and continued emphasis on networking

SAN JOSE, CA — December 18, 2014 — Gross revenue for Bay Area consultants has remained steady for the past two years; consultants are optimistic about the future; and more of them are using business practices that increase profitability.These are some of the findings of the 13th annual Women In Consulting (WIC) Best Practices and Compensation Survey.

WIC is a collaborative community offering professional consultants and small business owners a powerful resource for building strong businesses.

“Each year hundreds of consultants and small business owners take this survey, making it a prime source of information about practical ways to strengthen and expand a business,” said Kathie Sherman, WIC’s president and the president of Ten Four Marketing. “This survey underscores WIC’s mission to foster collaboration and help consultants and small business owners improve their skills and thrive.”

The survey covers overall trends in revenue and rates, and examines best practices, including the choice of business structure, use of employees and subcontractors, billing practices, networking and marketing approaches. The WIC survey team analyzes the responses of top-earning consultants to identify best practices. The team also tracks evolving trends in consulting by comparing results to previous years.

The survey covers overall trends in revenue and rates. It also examines best practices, including the choice of business structure, use of employees and subcontractors, billing practices, networking, and marketing approaches. The WIC survey team analyzes the responses of the top-earning consultants to identify successful best practices. The team also tracks evolving trends in consulting by comparing results to previous years.

“For years, consultants and small business owners nationwide have told us how valuable the survey information is to them and how it has helped them improve their businesses,” said Jennifer Berkley Jackson, WIC’s executive vice president and president of The Insight Advantage.

Key Findings: Revenue

The key revenue findings contained a few surprises.

Gross revenue numbers overall are the same as the previous year ($130,000). Average project fees and hourly rates are fairly consistent, and retainer fees are slightly down overall for respondents.

However, gross revenue for the Top 20% dropped 10 percent (from $440,000 to $400,000) after growing for two consecutive years. At the same time, the Top 20% made an average of $100,000 more in net profit than the group as a whole.

Anecdotally, several consultants reported that projects and budgets are larger than in previous years, especially from existing clients.

Key Findings: Business Practices

Consultants are generally optimistic about their businesses. Fully 60 percent of respondents expect business to increase next year. Some of that optimism may be the result of increased collaboration and a consistent emphasis on networking.

Specifically:

• Overwhelmingly, consultants consider networking to be the best way to build a business.
• More consultants are using recommended best practices, such as using subcontractors (up to 78 percent from 74 percent the previous year), marking up those subcontractors’ fees (up to 69 percent from 59 percent), and collecting a part of their fee upfront (up to 18 percent from 13 percent).
• The vast majority (91 percent) of the survey respondents believe that regular in-person meetings are important, but only 41 percent of respondents report having these meetings.
• Social media has become an intrinsic part of the lives of consultants. Eighty-three percent of respondents report using social media for business purposes, with LinkedIn the hands-down favorite.

“This survey is one of the ways that WIC fulfills its mission to help its members grow professionally and build strong businesses,” said Kathie Sherman, WIC’s president and the president of Ten Four Marketing.

The survey, which was open to both WIC and non-WIC members nationwide, covered the 12-month period from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. Almost half (48 percent) of this year’s 155 respondents also participated in 2013.

Participants and WIC Full and Leaders’ Network members will receive a detailed report of survey results. 

WIC 13th Annual Best Practices Survey Review | General Meeting & Silent Auction

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — September 18, 2014 — Every year, WIC surveys consultants across the United States to identify trends in marketing, consulting, compensation, and best practices. WIC board members Kathie Sherman and Jen Berkley Jackson will present the results of this year’s survey.

Key Takeaways

• Best practices and trends in consultant compensation, business operations, sector growth, and subcontractor usage
• Latest strategies from top-earning consultants
• Key insights into effective marketing techniques, including social media

Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is a great way to pick up great deals on items, services, and experiences you didn’t even know you needed! And, you can even feel good about bidding, because 10% of the proceeds go to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Preview (and even bid on) the items ahead of time. Learn more about our Silent and Online Auctions here! 

About the Presenters

About Kathie Sherman Kathie Sherman, president of Women in Consulting, 2013-2014 and president and founder of TenFour Marketing continues to defy direct marketing statistics by consistently more than doubling her customer’s campaign response rates. Kathie creates automated direct marketing programs that improve and personalize the customer experience. Her customers regularly see two to ten times increased response rates and they’ve tripled their marketing pipelines.

About Jen Berkley Jackson Jen Berkley Jackson, WIC vice president of operations and founder of The Insight Advantage, has extensive experience successfully implementing various types of primary research projects for all kinds of organizations, including high-tech, low-tech, consumer services, and more. She also often works as a partner to other consultants, providing research expertise to strategic projects. Jennifer teaches "The Power of Market Research" at UCSC Extension-Silicon Valley.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Silent auction, wine and networking, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Dinner & program, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Michaels At Shoreline
2960 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, CA 94043

Women In Consulting (WIC) Launches “Consulting 101” Course 

Ten-session online series aimed at new and prospective consultants; enrollment is limited

San Jose, CA — April 9, 2014 — Women in Consulting (WIC) today announced the launch of its “Consulting 101” online series designed to help new and prospective consultants succeed.

WIC is a collaborative community offering professional consultants and small business owners a powerful resource for building strong businesses. The organization helps consultants throughout the U.S. be successful by providing a way for them to collaborate, share referrals and resources, and stay abreast of best practices. 

“Consulting 101” will consist of interactive webinars, practical assignments and online “office hours” about topics such as how to define a market, select a business entity, and deal with contracts and finances. 

Participants will complete assignments about each of the topics, and post them for review by a small group of peers. In effect, they will have access to the expertise of the instructors and the opinions of their peers. To assure participants get the personal attention they need, enrollment in the online series is limited. 

“We believe the combination of pertinent information, practical applications, and ‘community’ feedback will be of great value to people who are interested in a consulting career, or have just gotten started,” said Kristin Baier, president of Persuasions Distance Learning who spearheaded this WICademy course. “Participants who really take advantage of all the course has to offer will emerge with an actionable plan for starting and enhancing their businesses.” 

Dates and Fees

“Consulting 101” will begin Thursday, May 1, and run almost weekly until Thursday, July 17. The sessions will be at 12 pm PT.

For more information and to register, go to www.womeninconsulting.org. 

Women in Consulting Marks 10-Year Anniversary

October Event to Celebrate 10 Years of "Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance"

San Mateo, CA – September 30, 2008 – Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced that the nonprofit's 10th anniversary event will be held in Mountain View, CA on October 16. Celebrating WIC's "Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance," the event will include a silent auction, a fine art sale, and networking opportunities. Kim Fulcher, CEO of Compass and mylifecompass.com, will give the keynote presentation on "Three Keys for Entrepreneurial Success: Passion, Strengths, and Purpose."

Over the past decade, WIC has grown to more than 400 members and affiliates from the Bay Area and beyond. Representing a diverse range of industry and domain-specific expertise, WIC consultants have deep experience working with and consulting to a wide array of clients—including some of the most respected companies in the world, such as Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Genentech, Hewlett-Packard, Procter & Gamble, and Wells Fargo.

Sridhar Ramanathan, general partner at Aventi Group, commented, "The members of WIC are a truly impressive group of highly talented and trustworthy professionals. As a partner in a specialized consulting practice, I've had tremendous success tapping into this wealth of talent and can personally attest to the quality, responsiveness, and overall professionalism exhibited by the WIC consultants that I've hired."

"We're extremely proud of how far WIC has come over the past decade in terms of helping members succeed in their individual businesses and consulting practices, as well as building a strong and diverse network of committed professionals," said WIC President Linda Popky. "Our recent compensation survey revealed that WIC members have continued to grow their businesses and thrive despite operating in an extremely challenging and uncertain economic climate. We want to celebrate these collective achievements and set our sights on continued success during the next decade and beyond."

The celebration will take place at the Microsoft Conference Center (1065 La Avenida St., Mountain View) from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. 

Women in Consulting (WIC) Creates "Leaders Network" for Senior Consultants

Network designed to foster collaboration among senior WIC consultants

San Mateo, CA – May 8, 2006 – Women in Consulting (WIC), a San Francisco Bay Area organization of seasoned professional consultants, today announced the formation of its Leaders Network to attract and provide services for senior consultants. Network participants have an average of 22 years of work experience, eight years running their consulting firms, 12 employees, 13 subcontractors, $5 million in revenues over the past three years and an average of 17 projects per year.

Piloted and launched this year, the new initiative is designed to not only attract senior, seasoned consultants to WIC and promote the organization, but also to foster collaboration and share knowledge in what can be the solitary profession of an independent consultant. The Leaders Network provides a quarterly roundtable to discuss current business issues and a forum for further development and growth of the successful consulting practices of WIC members.

Admission to WIC membership at the exclusive Leaders Network level takes into consideration a number of criteria, such as years of experience, revenue, areas of expertise, number of employees or subcontractors as well as consulting work that takes place primarily with director, VP or C-level clients. A recommendation by a WIC board member or current Leaders Network member is also required.

“From early feedback we’ve received, the Leaders Network already has proven to be valuable in giving members more opportunity to connect and learn from one another, as well as in strengthening WIC as a whole” reported Karilee Wirthlin, president of WIC. “It’s so successful that our Board is exploring the feasibility and the need for more groups of this type. The impressive level of expertise within the Leaders Network elevates WIC’s value proposition to the business community and has provided valuable tips, experienced speakers and impactful articles to the membership.”

The inaugural members of the WIC Leaders Network include:

- Elaine Starling, President and Founder, Starling Media Services, Inc. (www.starlingmedia.com): Since 1998, Elaine’s company has provided businesses with a 360-degree approach to media planning and buying. She brings 20+ years of client and advertising agency experience from her work with dynamic domestic and international businesses in the software, Internet, high-tech, telecommunications, toys and entertainment industries.

- Molly Davis, Founding Partner, Rainmaker Communications (www.rainmakercommunications.com): Founded in 2000, Rainmaker is a boutique marketing firm offering both marketing strategy and program execution to large and small technology companies as well as service companies including venture capital firms and investment banks. Each Rainmaker partner brings more than 16 years of marketing experience, working directly with a select few clients to support their business objectives with intelligent marketing solutions.

- Marisol Pizarro and Linda Tsien, Founders, KnowledgePoint Marketing (www.knowledgepoint.net): KnowledgePoint Marketing was founded in 1997 to deliver strategy development, market research, product marketing, launch management and marketing communications to technology companies. Linda offers clients more than 25 years of marketing and senior management experience in both technology and consumer goods. Marisol offers more than 20 years of high-tech marketing and senior management experience in the US and internationally. Both founders bring extensive experience in the areas of hardware, enterprise software, networking and wireless infrastructure, security, IT consulting services, and consumer electronics and services. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Adobe Systems, Symantec and Network Appliance.

- Barbara Fagan-Smith, CEO and Founder of ROI Communications, Inc. (www.roico.com): This award-winning internal communications consulting firm is focused on helping large organizations adapt and succeed in times of change. Building on more than two decades of experience in corporate communications and journalism, Barbara leads ROI’s work with Fortune 500 companies. The ROI Communications client roster includes Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Adobe Systems, Blue Shield of California, Cisco Systems, GAP, Maxtor, Oak Technology and Dreamworks.

- Adrian Ott, President and Founder of Exponential Edge, Inc. (www.exponentialedge.com): This fast-growing strategy, and research services firm specializes in igniting revenue growth through innovative marketing strategy and next-generation partner and customer relationships for Fortune 500 and medium clients. Prior to founding Exponential Edge in 2001, Adrian worked in management at Hewlett-Packard for 15 years and was honored in an HP Annual Report for her significant contributions to business growth and strategic alliances. A frequent author of articles about strategy and best practices, Adrian also teaches in an Executive MBA program and has appeared on PBS and CNBC.

- Karen Janowski, Founder, KJ & Co. (www.kjco.com): During her 20+ years of experience, Karen has launched more than 30 products, resulting in revenues exceeding $500 million. Prior to founding KJ & Co. in 1997, she served as vice president of marketing for a range of technology companies and was a key member of the executive teams of four pre-IPO startup companies. KJ & Co. helps clients grow by investing in products and marketing programs that target real market needs. The firm's client list includes: Adaptive Planning, Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems, LoopNet, Network Appliance, and Nextance.

-Tracy Weatherby, Founder, Active Ingredient (www.activeingredient.com): Tracy’s consulting firm is dedicated to solving product and customer marketing challenges through strategy, research and analysis. She has 20 years of experience in the technology and healthcare markets. The company client list includes Fortune 500 customers such as Cisco Systems, Oracle and Adobe Systems, as well as emerging companies such as Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Placeware and Nextance. The firm’s industry experience includes enterprise, education and consumer technology companies and biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies in the healthcare space.

- Monica Nester, Vice President and General Manager, Marisan Group (www.marisan.com): Marisan Group has been providing a variety of program, project and business strategy services to the high technology industry since 1990. The company develops customized consultancy and resource services that are fine-tuned to the culture and mission of each client. Marisan Group consists of a diverse, highly experienced group of high technology marketing, technical and business consultants who provide solutions to a wide variety of client needs. Marisan Group makes filling knowledge and resource gaps quick and simple for companies, while providing them with effective budget management. A sampling of Marisan clients includes Hewlett-Packard Company, Symantec, Cisco Systems, AMD and Network Appliance.  

Women In Consulting Celebrates 5 Years as Bay Area’s Top Expert Consultant Forum 

Launches New Website with Free Searchable Database of Experienced Consultants

SAN MATEO, CA – June 19, 2003 – Women in Consulting (WIC) celebrates its five-year anniversary this month as the Bay Area’s top resource both for consultants and companies seeking expert contract assistance. In recognition of its expanding role as a starting point for companies searching for expert consultants, WIC has launched a new website, www.womeninconsulting.org.

The new website features a searchable database of WIC members available to all website visitors, making it even easier to find specific help in over 30 fields for discrete and ongoing projects of all kinds. It also provides Bay Area employers with helpful information and resources for strategically managing the use of consultants. The organization will recognize its five-year anniversary with a special commemoration during its June meeting, June 19th at Dominic’s at Poplar Creek, San Mateo, which features Nicole Schapiro, New York Times Best Selling Author of Negotiating for Your Life. (www.nicoleschapiro.com)

Humble Beginnings To Dynamic Organization

Founded in 1998 by Eileen LaPorte as a small network of long-time consultants who wanted both to collaborate in consulting projects and to have a forum for continual professional growth, WIC has grown substantially over the last five years. Today the non-profit organization boasts an impressive roster of more than 150 seasoned consultant members who collectively have served more than 1000 Bay Area companies.

According to WIC president Kate Purmal, recently honored as one of the top 25 influential women in Silicon Valley, in part for her leadership role at WIC, the organization’s mission has grown with its members and the market.

“WIC has become an important resource for Bay Area companies needing a wide range of experienced consultants,” said Purmal. “Particularly in the last two years as the market has been flooded with people forced into freelancing because of lost jobs and little job growth, our membership has continued to stand out in the market.

“WIC’s database is the one place companies can go to source a variety of potential consultants, check credentials and whittle their list of potential, experienced consultants to a manageable highly qualified list of candidates – without paying the finder’s fees so common with other professional consulting networks,” added Purmal.

Impressive Roster

WIC’s membership roster features impressive credentials:

• Over 80% of the members have 10+ years experience in their field
• 68% of members have run their own consulting business for 4+ years
• 65% of members have worked in senior management positions
• 87% of members have worked with start-up companies
• 90% of members have worked with Fortune 500 companies

For its members and guests, WIC has an active schedule of networking and educational events as well as a multitude of online resources for managing a consulting business. In addition, its email community boasts an active list of more than 1300 people who daily use the forum to find subcontractors, partners and resources.