August 7-13, 2003

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PWR First Anniversary Party

by A.D. Amorosi

The term "career woman" covers a myriad of interpretations: To PWR -- the Professional Women's Roundtable -- being a professional woman in business should be fun. It was launched in 2002 by three Philadelphian women at the cusp of their careers. Attorney Nicole Galli, Grant Thornton director of research Janine DiLauro and Susan Baren-Pearson of IBM Consulting met with Mary Beth Pratt, chief marketing officer of Pepper Hamilton, one of Philly's largest law firms, to figure out how to make their rise in responsibilities count for the city. "We're all in charge of bringing business into our respective firms, a responsibility that with this city's growth has been quite daunting," says DiLauro.

Meeting for early breakfasts once a week at Au Bon Pain, the trio sought to get other women "at similar stages in their careers" talking about issues in the marketplace and beyond; the organization also programmed seminars with speakers like Lynn Yeakel and the Philadelphia Business Journal's Lynn Kremer, the latter offering the oddest idea for a networking icebreaker. "She suggested getting yourself noticed by wearing odd socks and such. Now we have a room filled with women wearing garish socks." Along with bold footwear, PWR also embraced matters of appropriate dress, vocal clarity ("don't speak like a woman") and command over meeting agendas. PWR, now over 250-members strong, has also staged charitable events for The Career Wardrobe, collecting work wear for the less fortunate. To celebrate year one, PWR hosts a bash filled with fashion presentations and frank talk from Mary Dougherty of Nicole Miller and Sandra Alton of Tiffany & Co., the initiation of new members and the celebration of vets. "We're looking for women who've been doing this between five and 15 years -- not necessarily girls seeking to bring their resumes around right after college," says DiLauro. "I'm encouraged by the size and the stature of the women in the business community who've taken PWR to heart." Just look out for those socks.

PWR First Anniversary Party, Thu., Aug. 7, 5:30 -7:30 p.m., $10-$20, Nicole Miller at The Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St., 215-204-8715.