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South Asian Women's Leadership Forum's Congress '08
Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008, 12:39 am EST New York: The growing number of South Asian women entering the marketplace was reflected in the diverse experiences of the panelists and speakers that were featured at the Congress 2008.
Described as the largest single gathering of South Asian women professionals ever held in the US, Congress 2008 was presented by the South Asian Women's Leadership Forum (SAWLF) on March 15 at its global headquarters for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City.
This year's opening keynote presentation examined the precedent for women in leadership roles by comparing and contrasting the US and South Asia.
The panelists, including Shahla Aly, General Manager of Corporate and Business Groups Solutions Delivery Microsoft IT and Punita Kumar-Sinha, Senior Managing Director, The Blackstone Group, addressed the rapid global transition that has already begun, as women around the world work for multi-national organizations; manage cross-border transactions and teams; and impact global policy.
"I thought there was an important opportunity for South Asian women to shape and influence mainstream perceptions of our community," recalls Simi Ahuja, SAWLF Founder. "I felt it was even more important that South Asian women were presented as experts and advisors - an examination of the mainstream media and business platforms did not indicate this was the case. As the interest in South Asia grows and thrives, organizations, like SAWLF, serve as a key resource to the media and Corporate America."
SAWLF participants are public and private sector professionals that number over 4,000 across the U.S. Through a combination of events, mentoring, and education, SAWLF serves as a platform for professional women to meet and assist one another with individual, professional and business objectives and, ultimately, leave an established network for the women that follow us to utilize and build upon.
Through the annual Congress. SAWLF is committed to providing South Asian women a forum in which to interact and learn from successful leaders. The visibility of prominent individuals who are willing to share their personal experiences of challenge and achievement is critical to the success of this program.
"Initially, we had a series of informal events and the response was strong today our membership base exceeds 4,000 women from across the US, UK and South Asia" says Ahuja. "Our organization was created to capitalize on the experience of women in senior leadership roles and extend their knowledge to the growing number of South Asian women who have entered the US marketplace in recent years."
"As a mother and professional, I realize the value in supporting a platform for the next generation of women leaders. SAWLF is a valued resource for women within the South Asian community," said Sheila Hooda, Senior Managing Director and Head of Strategy and Business Development, TIAA-CREF. Ms. Hooda also serves as an advisor to SAWLF as a member of the organization’s Leadership Circle.
Preeti Priya, an attorney and founding member of the New York-based law firm Dobshinsky & Priya, told this writer that she has been active within SAWLF since 2003. Preeti felt the need to join and play an active role at SAWLF, because, "It was necessary to network and meet other professionals, learning from them on how to "be my own boss." She said, being part of SAWLF helped her in gaining the knowledge and confidence to start "my own law firm."
More over, Preeti says, "Congress 2008 had an incredible line up of distinguished speakers with experiences in a wide range of professional areas, which allowed every participant at the conference to draw inspiration from and learn lessons on how to be a successful woman in the modern world."
Nipa Dutta, a member of the Congress 2008 Executive Committee, told this writer, "I was very impressed with the variety of speakers, who came and shared their views at Congress." Moreover, she believes, SAWLF provides a platform for aspiring women to meet and network with other women, share their stories and listen to those of others."
Nipa, an employee of Citibank, also serves as a member of the organization's Women in Finance committee. Women in Finance is a specialized peer network and educational forum for women professionals in the Finance industry.
She, along with Anu Sehgal and Sonya Reuther, organized the Congress 2008 Sensational Silent Auction. Proceeds from the auction benefit SAWLF's mentoring and scholarship programs for South Asian women and girls. As a part of Congress 2008, Preeti spoke with Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi for the Closing Musings section of the program.
SAWLF began as an informal gathering of South Asian women in Manhattan in 2002. It was soon after, the organization held its first official event at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with the author & creative director Ameena Meer. Later in the same year, SAWLF initiated its Women Leaders Series with Nell Merlino, the founder of Take Our Daughters to Work Day.
Founded by marketing professional Simi Ahuja in 2003, SAWLF is committed to providing women entrepreneurs and professionals a forum in which to interact and learn from successful business and community leaders. Congress - SAWLF's signature event – unites hundreds of women professionals from all over the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges they face as they pursue their lives and careers. 26 speakers from the public and private sectors participated in the day-long conference which was attended by over 450 women professionals representing the US, Canada, UK, and South Asia
Created in 2003, SAWLF is the first national, not-for--profit organization dedicated to the advancement of South Asian women professionals in the marketplace. Based in New York City, with chapters in Chicago and Washington DC, SAWLF serves as a primary business and networking platform for South Asian women.
SAWLF continued the series with Kiran Bedi, the former Civilian Police Advisor in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations and the 1st and highest ranking woman in the Indian Police Service and Jyoti Thottam, Business Reporter for TIME Magazine among others. The inaugural Congress was held in 2005. Indra Nooyi, the Chairman and CEO for PepsiCo delivered the Congress 2006 Distinguished Luncheon Keynote Presentation.
Simi Ahuja credits SAWLF's success "to its many volunteers and speakers. They devote their time, and, in the true spirit of our organization, share their network and resources in order to support our monthly events and programs. Since its inception, SAWLF has hosted or collaborated in over one hundred distinct programs in New York, Chicago and Washington DC. While SAWLF events have been limited to the U.S, we soon plan to host programs in South Asia."
SAWLF strives to raise awareness and visibility for women in the marketplace and mainstream media through its speaker's bureau, monthly events, research and mentoring program as well as educational programs and networking opportunities. For additional information regarding SAWLF or Congress 2008, please visit www.southasianwomen.org/congress
Simi Ahuja is the managing partner of SA & Associates, a full-service marketing and communications firm that links Asian corporations with the U.S. business community and helps them to effectively communicate with their target market. SA & Associates serves U.S. clients by offering fully integrated marketing, business development, and PR solutions that enable organizations to establish brand, products, and services in the desirable yet largely under-recognized and under-served South Asian demographic.
Simi was previously a director for the Tri-State chapter of TiE (The IndUS Entreprenuers), a not-for-profit, global network of entrepreneurs and professionals. Today, she also serves as a consultant to individuals, institutions and the Media on the changing business landscape (i.e. emerging market opportunities) and the critical issues that impact the South Asian demographic in the US and abroad.
Excerpts from an interview with Simi Ahuja, SAWLF Founder:
Can you explain the reasons for launching SAWLF?
Simi: I started SAWLF in response to a void I saw in the community. When I moved to New York seven years ago, I was impressed by the South Asian women professionals that I met but concerned that they lacked the visibility, mobility and ample resources required for professional advancement and leadership development. At the time I started SAWLF, I, too, required a professional network - - one I could draw from in order to jumpstart my new marketing firm. I found other women had a similar need.
What has been the greatest achievement since it was launched 5 years ago?
Simi: When our members tells us how they, through their participation in SAWLF, have identified the resources to start their own business; find a new job opportunity; or have decided to mentor another South Asian woman. Others, perhaps, less familiar with organizations such as ours, tell us that SAWLF offers a comfortable environment where they feel welcome and can begin to build basic networking skills.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue to build upon the current platform by developing new leadership and educational programs for South Asian girls.
Some of the challenges you face in putting together the Congress each year.
Simi: We are fortunate to have the support of leading corporations including PricewaterhouseCoopers; Pfizer; Booz Allen Hamilton and JPMorgan Chase. In order to meet the increasing demand for our programs and resources, as a not-for-profit-organization, we will need to raise additional monies in order to underwrite the costs of our programs and initiatives.
You call it a South Asian Forum but, majority of women leaders are from India!
Simi: I disagree. During our opening keynote session, which addressed the topic of global leadership, several examples were cited of women in leadership roles including the countries of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. At SAWLF, we strive to identify speakers and participants which represent the diversity of the South Asian community.
Has SAWLF contributed in any to the emancipation of women living in South Asia.
Simi: I hope that women in South Asia will find SAWLF a helpful resource. We hope they will access our content by visiting our blog, SAWLF Talk, and through our You Tube channel which we plan to unveil later this year. SAWLF plans to expand its programming to South Asia by 2009.
What has been the response of the Forum by men. Is it considered a Rival Group?
Simi: Actually, no. Each year a small number of men participate in Congress – an even larger number of men support the event through other means including sponsorship. This year, for example, designer Naeem Khan donated a couture dress (with a value of $7,000) for our silent auction. Our male constituents recognize the value in a forum such as ours, and as husbands, fathers, sons and employers want to see SAWLF and its membership thrive.
Any other (personal) thoughts you want to share with our readers.
Simi: The diversity of our membership is one of our key attributes.Our members represent Media, Healthcare and Consulting as well as the Non-Profit, Government and Arts communities. Our members tell us how much the diversity of the SAWLF network contributes to their overall exposure and education.
We also offer specialized networks, through our Vertical SAWLF program, which provides peer-mentoring for women in specific industries including Law, Finance, Technology and Business, designed for women members who aspire to start their businesses or consulting practices of their own.
SAWLF@NYU, a new initiative, in conjunction with New York University, offers mentoring and leadership development for undergraduate women students.
Anything else you want to inform our readers.
Simi: We invite them to participate in SAWLF and contribute to development of this invaluable network for the next generation of South Asian women and girls. SAWLF is actively seeking individuals and organizations who can share their expertise with our members. We hope others will consider supporting our program initiatives with their financial – or in-kind – contributions.
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