Women in Business

Attend the 12th Annual ‘Women Leading the Way’ Panel on Friday, November 18 in Melville

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Women are an economic powerhouse for America, owning 10.1 million firms generating $1.9 trillion in sales and employing 13 million people.

Yet women face special challenges in reinforcing their business leadership. They must strike the right work/life balance, ensure their voices are heard, and carefully navigate their career paths.

On Friday morning, November 18, a panel of high-achieving Long Island businesswomen will explore such challenges at our 12th Annual “Women Leading the Way” Executive Leadership Program at the Hilton Long Island at 598 Broadhollow Road in Melville. We’d like you to be there with us.

Running from 8:00 am to 10:30 am, the panel will be moderated by Domenique Camacho-Moran, a Partner with Farrell Fritz PC. Invited panelists include Christine M. Riordan, President of Adelphi University; Anne Shybunko-Moore, CEO and Owner of GSE Dynamics and an HIA-LI board member; Andrea Principe, Director for the Northeast Division of Chase Business Banking; Theresa Sanders, President and CEO of the Urban League of Long Island; and Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Discover Long Island.

And while we’re on the topic, here are some recommendations for improving work/life balance:

First, working women should try to make space for self-care, says Lianna Bass, a New York City-based journalist, who suggests the following:

  • Eat healthy meals
  • Stay hydrated
  • Get enough sleep
  • Exercise regularly

A second set of recommendations come from the American Psychological Association. Among other suggestions, they recommend that working women “become more organized:”  

  • Create a structured but flexible schedule
  • Establish dedicated spaces for work versus play
  • Arrange task lists by priority, allowing for flexibility

And a third suggestion comes from a February 2021 New York Times column titled “Remember: What You Do is Not Who You Are.” It cites tips from Alison Green, founder of the advice blog Ask a Manager. She offered this recommendation for people struggling to separate work life and personal life: “start putting the boundaries in place.”

This could mean not answering your phone after your workday has ended, or not engaging with an email or text message while you’re taking a 15-minute mental health break during the day.

Often, Green says, “When people just start carving out those boundaries for themselves, they discover it’s fine. Nothing happens . . . no one even notices.”

The Executive Leadership event will include a craft fair. Contact Halle Grossman at hgrossman@hia-li.org for vendor opportunities.

For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Anthony Forgione at aforgione@hia-li.org. Sponsors to date are: City National Bank, Custom Computer Specialists, Farrell Fritz PC, Island Harvest, Mark Grossman Public Relations, and People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union.

Tickets are $50 for HIA-LI members and $65 for non-members. To register, visit www.hia-li.org or call 631-543-5555.

Cusack to be Special Guest at February 8 Fireside Chat

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Clare Cusack, President and CEO of the New York Bankers Association, will be featured at HIA-LI’s February 8 “Executive Insight – Fireside Chat” at the Hilton Long Island in Melville.

It’s time for the women of Long Island to fulfill our untapped potential as business leaders – and we have an event coming up on February 8 that will provide insights into how women can get ahead in business.

HIA-LI is committed to the advancement of female executives in Long Island. We launched a Women’s Initiative in 2010 to help us focus our energies on this goal.

The numbers are encouraging. The census bureau had calculated that the number of women-owned businesses nationwide increased 21 percent between 2014 and 2019, while the number of all businesses overall increased by only nine percent.

And it can’t be denied that women in business are a major economic engine. According to a  2019 report from American Express, more than ten million women-owned firms in America were generating $1.9 trillion in sales, while employing 13 million people.

But females often confront hurdles in striking the right work-life balance. We often need to look harder to obtain the right kind of mentoring. And the pandemic further complicated women’s pathways to business success.

OK, so what’s coming up on February 8?

That’s the day we’ll have a chance to hear from one of New York State’s most influential woman business leaders, Clare Cusack.

On Tuesday, February 8 at 3 pm, we’ll be hosting Clare Cusack, President and CEO of the New York Bankers Association (NYBA), as our featured guest at an “Executive Insight – Fireside Chat” event at the Hilton Long Island at 598 Broadhollow Road in Melville.

Ms. Cusack’s presentation will be moderated by Kevin O’Connor, CEO of Dime Community Bank and a member of HIA-LI’s board of directors.

Clare Cusack is the first female to lead the NYBA, the premier trade association for the banking industry in New York.   

Clare Cusack and Kevin O’Connor will discuss one of the most challenging and transformative periods in the banking industry. We expect them to tackle such topics as the interest rate outlook, fintech, the remote workplace, and the economic development impact of the financial services sector.

But in addition to banking topics, we’ll be asking Ms. Cusack about her status as one the Empire State’s most prominent female business executives. Did she face challenges because of her gender? Can she offer advice to up-and-coming businesswomen?

Founded in 1894, the NYBA is the state’s preeminent provider of legislative and regulatory services to a unified banking industry. It also provides educational programs, public relations, political action, and member services geared to enhance the profitability and stature of New York’s banking industry. NYBA members together employ nearly 200,000 New Yorkers, hold $2 trillion in deposits, and extend nearly $70 billion in home and small business loans.

HIA-LI members and non-members may click here to register for the event. Companies wishing to sponsor the event can contact Anthony Forgione at aforgione@hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355.

Come and hear a true business luminary – and one of our state’s most accomplished female executives!

Women to Talk Business at Friday’s Executive Leadership Event

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Women are steadily increasing their ranks among business leaders overall.

Yet despite growing numbers, female entrepreneurs still face challenges in the corporate workplace.

They confront hurdles in striking the right work-life balance. They often need to look harder to obtain the right kind of mentoring. And the pandemic further complicated women’s pathways to business success.

What are the solutions? What best practices can we point to? And how does this all play out on Long Island?

This Friday morning, November 19, we’ll have an opportunity to get some answers.

A panel of high-achieving Long Island businesswomen will talk through issues like this at HIA-LI’s 11th Annual “Women Leading the Way” executive leadership event. It takes place at the LGBT Network at 125 Kennedy Drive, Suite 100 in Hauppauge. 

The panel, running from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, will be moderated by Domenique Camacho-Moran, a Partner with Farrell Fritz PC. Panelists include Lisa Mirabile, President and CEO of Vertigo Media Group; Karen Boorshtein, President and CEO of Family Service League; Lauren Nichols, President of 3G Warehouse, Inc.; and Natalie Wright, Suffolk County’s Commissioner of Economic Development and Planning.

Happily, the numbers for women executives are encouraging. Looking at census bureau data, the number of women-owned businesses nationwide increased 21 percent between 2014 and 2019, while all businesses increased nine percent. More than ten million women-owned firms generated $1.9 trillion in sales and employed 13 million people.

The idea that HIA-LI should host an annual forum to tackle woman-centered business issues was originally suggested by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010.

“Women Leading the Way” also features a craft fair.

Attendees may take part in person or via Zoom. The registration fee is $50 for in-person attendance, and $25 for virtual participation.

Vendors wishing to exhibit at the craft fair should contact HIA-LI at 631-543-5355.

The event is sponsored by Farrell Fritz, PC; People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union; Campolo, Middleton McCormick, LLP; Brookhaven National Laboratory; the LGBT Network; Signwave; City National Bank; LITimes.org; Mark Grossman Public Relations; WSHU Public Radio; and IHOP. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Anthony Forgione at aforgione@hia-li.org.

Per CDC guidelines, those not fully vaccinated will be required to wear a face mask.

To register, go to https://www.hia-li.org/events/hia-lis-11th-annual-womens-leadership-program/ or call 631-543-5355. I look forward to seeing you then!

CAN WOMEN LEAD THE WAY?

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Women's Panel 2019
Joining me in this photo are, from left: Joanna Austin, Publisher and Executive Vice President, Long Island Press/Schneps Media; Domenique Camacho-Moran, Partner, Farrel Fritz, PC; Rebecca O’Connell, Managing Director and Region Head, Chase Bank; Carolyn Mazzenga, Office Managing Partner, Marcum, LLP; and, Kristen Jarnagin, President and CEO, Discover Long Island.

In 2010, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recommended that HIA-LI create a regular forum where female business leaders could mentor one another – and explore strategies for success.

In response, we inaugurated our annual “Women Leading the Way” Executive Breakfast. And on November 22 – with some 200 guests present – HIA-LI held our Ninth Annual Executive Breakfast at Hauppauge’s Stonebridge Country Club. Our panel was skillfully moderated by Domenique Camacho-Moran, partner at the Farrell Fritz law firm.

Women already own more than ten million companies nationwide employing more than 13 million people – generating more than $1.9 trillion in sales.

In 2018, 24 Fortune 500 firms had female CEOs. In 2019 that figure had reached 33. So while things are trending in the right direction, there’s still a long way to go.

What guidance did our blue-ribbon panel of female Long Island executives provide?

Rebecca O’Connell, managing director at JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking’s Long Island headquarters in Melville, described her bottom-up approach to leadership.

“I like to define success as building leaders, not gaining followers,” O’Connell said. “And driving forward in a team capacity.”

Long Island Press publisher Joanna Austin urged audience members to act as energizers and motivators.

“Aim to bring in energy and a positive vibe,” she said. “Try to infuse energy into every single task, no matter how mundane.”

Carolyn Mazzenga, office managing partner at the Marcum accounting firm in Melville, told attendees that advancement comes by taking action.  Not by simply “hoping” for recognition and promotions.

“We have a saying,” she said. “Hope is not a strategy.”

The CEO of our region’s tourism promotion agency, Kristen Jarnagin of Discover Long Island, also stressed action over words.

“People love to talk about things,” she told event guests. “So what are we going to do about it? That’s how you execute.”

As I offer HIA-LI’s huge “thank you” to Domenique and our terrific panelists, I’d like to close with some business advice that cuts across both genders.

As I’ve mentioned before, a businessman told me something early in my career. He said that race, age, and gender shouldn’t be a primary driver of hiring and promoting decisions.

He said to look for “strength of character and conviction – and how big your heart is.”

I’d like to wish you and yours best wishes for the holiday season and health and happiness in the new year.

Mentorship is Essential

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From left: Domenique Camacho-Moran, Farrell Fritz P.C.; Terri Alessi-Miceli, C.E.O., HIA-LI; Karen Frank, Omnicon, an HBM Prenscia subsidiary; Theresa Ferraro, East/West Industries; Gwen O’Shea, Community Development Corporation of Long Island; and, Anne Shybunko-Moore, GSE Dynamics.

In 2010 I was invited to participate in a roundtable hosted by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on elevating women’s status in business with other esteemed women business leaders. She emphasized the importance of mentoring, equality and life/work balance and much more.

At the roundtable, I shared a personal story from many years prior about advice I had received from a male mentor.

His counsel?

Practice the profession of being a superior businessperson, whether I was male or female. Comprehend profit and loss statements and balance sheets, and learn how to develop revenue streams. His simple advice was lucid and relevant, and I never forgot it.

As I listened around the room all of us had mentors that were helping to lift us up and guide us along our journey.

At that roundtable Senator Gillibrand encouraged all of us to take an active role in helping generate more female business leaders and devise new platforms for ongoing discussion. Our ultimate goal would be to propel more women into executive suites.

HIA-LI accepted the challenge. We heeded the Senator’s call by instituting a panel series highlighting the challenges women face in the workplace.

It didn’t surprise me that at HIA-LI’s highly successful, Eighth Annual “Women Leading the Way” panel and networking breakfast held November 29, with many executive suite and young females in the room, the value of mentor support was a recurring theme.

HIA-LI is grateful to our moderator Domenique Camacho-Moran, a partner at Farrell Fritz P.C., as well as panelists Karen Frank of Omnicon, a HBM Prenscia subsidiary; Theresa Ferraro of East/West Industries; Gwen O’Shea of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island; and Anne Shybunko-Moore of GSE Dynamics.

Panelists agreed that life/work blending and support is essential for building women’s already impressive status in today’s business world: some ten million women-owned firms employ more than 13 million workers and generate more than $1.9 trillion in sales.

Panelist Karen Frank urged women to build their own strong networks. Through mentoring and network building, Karen said, “we can navigate this landscape better than in the past.”

This forum isn’t just a place to sip coffee and discuss women in business once a year: it’s a real-life mentoring event and a vibrant networking marketplace.

Moreover, it’s become a proud and valuable HIA-LI tradition. Thanks to all for making it a success!