2011-2012 season dates

We’re happy to announce the dates for our upcoming season. Please mark them in your calendars now!

September 2011: Tuesday 13th
October 2011: Tuesday 18th
November 2011: Tuesday 8th
December 2011: Tuesday 13th
January 2012: Tuesday 10th
February 2012: Tuesday 7th
March 2012: Tuesday 13th
April 2012: Tuesday 3rd
May 2012:Tuesday 15th
June 2012: Tuesday 12th

Topics and guest speakers will be revealed in September.

Letter from the president #6

Only two more monthly meetings left and one of them is the social event. Wow, doesn’t time fly!

First a quick step back in time…

You may recall that the WPNG co-sponsored an event in Lyon Friday March 30 entitled “Why is it hard for us to find the good? …in people, learning and life”. More than 80 people registered and attended. The topic dealt with parental frustration with children of all temperaments and the importance of listening, observing your child but most importantly shared handy hints on how to give much needed positive feedback to children. The WPNG was very proud to be involved in promoting 3 of its member’s activities; star presenters Claire Blondel and Evie Rosset and conference organiser Rajâa Johnson and would be very interested in hearing about other initiatives and members’ community involvement. For more details about the talk, please get in touch with Claire, Evie and Rajâa directly.

April meeting – Bouillet chocolate

It comes as no secret that everyone loves chocolate and according to your feedback the topic was unreservedly GOOD. We learnt that 67% of the attendees consulted the website before coming to the meeting, so some people made the comment that the presentation was in French and not in English. A quick mention of this fact on the website would have avoided your surprise and some of your comments.

Basically, we underestimated the difficulty in providing a timely translation of his presentation and this detracted a bit from the passion and the generosity of the speaker, Sebastian Bouillet. Our apologies to the speaker coupled with a most delighted thanks for all the chocolates!

This just shows how useful it is for you to fill in the feedback forms, because we are learning a lot from them.

Looking ahead again, what have we got in store for you?

Our May meeting (15 May,2012) will please all the members who missed the opportunity to hear what Sara Righenzi, WPNG member and KPMG partner, presented at the Women Business Tour last November. Sara will be joined by Rachael Hughes, CEO of Doméos.  Rachael is a dynamic business woman who has previously opened a business venture in Latin America and is now busy running the European operation of the business HomeServe from France. Karin Trivière will join us and moderate the debate and hopefully be able to share some insight into the European aspect of women in business.  Read more here

Diary item

Mark your calendars right now for the end of season June Summer Social, Tuesday 12 June – venue to be advised at our May meeting.

Let me end this letter with an invitation,

an invitation to participate in putting together next year’s program, we still need YOU to come forward, yes YOU!

Fresh ideas, fresh blood, enthusiasm and direction are what a program manager can bring to the WPNG. We know that most of you also belong to other groups and sometimes say “Hey, that was a good speaker or topic, I bet the WPNG membership would enjoy this too”. Whether you are new to the area or a long ’suffering’ member, join us and shape the future of the WPNG J

Finally, is there a professional web manager out there? We need someone like you to take charge of our website. Don’t be shy…

Remember, the WPNG needs YOU!

Kristina Ashton  – President

May 2012 meeting : Women in the Workplace

Tuesday 15th May, from 7PM at KPMG, Vaise

Enjoyed the run-up to Easter with the wine and chocolate tasting? Great!Now, let’s move up a gear.

Join us for a high level business topic, one which concerns us all!

Women in the workplace – three senior professional women will give you their vision.

The speakers:

Back in November 2011 KPMG sponsored the Women business tour at which Sara Righenzi, KPMG partner and WPNG member, presented the initiatives put in place to encourage women to progress within the firm. The message is larger than that and KPMG has a positive message to convey of what they have put in place for their workforce, men or women. Sara will share these initiatives with us and expand on what a large multinational company can put in place for their employees to encourage women to progress in the firm and how to accommodate men and women when it comes to juggling parenthood and career.

Earlier this year Rachael Hughes, CEO of Doméo France, gave a short briefing at FIBA on the creation of HomeServe (UK parent company), its expansion and the joint venture creation of Doméo with Véolia here in France. Rachael will have an interesting view on how she as a woman foreign executive manages her team here in France and her view on work relations in general. How does this compare to other countries where Rachel has set up businesses.

Karin Trivière is EPWN community manager and also increasingly involved in the International school CSI in Gerland. Karin has graciously agreed to assist us by monitoring the speakers and fielding the questions from the floor. Karin works with French female executives and performs the role of community manager for a European network of business women. She will add her perception of the cultural differences between women managers and other European trends.

Finally, please do not forget to bring a healthy or homemade snack, and/or drink, to share with other WPNG members during the first hour of the meeting leading to the main panel discussion.

Chocolate Tasting on Tuesday April 3rd !

This is to remind of our amazing event on Tuesday 3rd April with the famous chocolate maker Sébastien Bouillet from Lyon.

Some of you were lucky to attend our Winter Social last December and on this occasion received a very special present in the form of a lipstick made out of chocolate. Sébastien invented the concept and made it!

DuringTuesdays’ exciting session, Sébastien will first share with us:

The history of his family business: how it all started with his parents in La Croix Rousse and where he is at now with the creation of many shops and his star status in Tokyo, Japan.  Sébastien will comment on the challenging role of being a businessman and a chocolate maker.

Then the  best is to come in the 2nd part with a CHOCOLATE TASTING!

Sébastien prepared for us a special tasting of 2 to 3 chocolates from different parts of the world : we will be able to compare different appearances, tastes and texture of chocolates from South American (Brazil), Asia, and Africa.

Venue as usual at KPMG,  51 rue St Cyr, 69009 LYON

Start time at 7 PM for networking session – finish time 9.30PM. Please bring some healthy home made snacks and drinks to share during the networking session.

We count on your presence to support Sébastien who took some time out of his very busy schedule to make us discover his amazing chocolates. Since Easter is only a few days away, that’s perfect timing.

We look forward to seeing you all

WPNG Steering Committee

WPNG sponsoring conference on March 30th

“WPNG is sponsoring a conference on March 30th: Why it is hard for us to find the good? … in people, learning and life.”

Why is WPNG sponsoring this conference?
… Because over 50% of the speakers are WPNG members, of course!

Organiser and WPNG member Rajâa Johnson, WPNG members and conference speakers Evie Rosset and Claire Blondel will together with Morgan Radford participate in a panel discussion: three speakers with different but overlapping backgrounds will discuss and exchange on positive approaches to education, relationships, and other areas in our lives.
The conference in English is FREE and followed by drinks (payable) at the B7 bar (2 min from the conference) to continue the discussion.

WHEN: Friday 30th March 7:30pm (duration 2hrs)
WHERE: Salle Ravier, 7 rue Ravier, Lyon 7ème (see link for map)

FULL DETAILS ON Conference leaflet HERE treasure conference_march 30th

REGISTRATION ON : Doodle: Conference: Why it is hard for us to find the good?