WIN-ning in Spain

I just spent four fabulous days with about 600 amazing women (and a few amazing men) at the 11th annual Women’s International Networking conference (WIN 2008), in Sitges, Spain.

The stellar line-up of close to 100 speakers and panelists included Ugandan Mary BizikeNalongo, (who, despite being wheelchair bound all her life, is the mother of nine children); 30-year-old British-born, Khartoum-based, Reuters reporter Opheera McDoom (the first foreign journalist to be allowed into Sudan after the troubles several years ago, now married to a Sudanese and expecting her first child in November); Soonu Kochar, former Indian Ambassador to several countries; American Nancy Tennant, Corporate Vice President, Whirlpool Corporation; Chinese American lawyer Karen Tse, Founder and CEO of International Bridges to Justice (an organization dedicated to working with torture victims); and Pastor Caroline Mavindidz from Zimbabwe (who leads Women of Divine Destiny).

I personally met amazing women from Canada, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Ireland, Germany, United States, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, the Netherlands, Nepal, Norway, and Zimbabwe. Some ran their own businesses or consultancies, others worked for large corporations such as Accenture, American Express, HP, IBM, Ikea, Shell, and Whirlpool.

They ranged in age from their mid-twenties to mid-sixties. And they were, without exception, powerful in themselves, successful, interesting, interested, engaging, engaged, positive and hopeful.

During the conference, WIN 2008 participants were energised by:

• each other
• stimulating plenary sessions
• great workshops
• a host of networking opportunities

We connected, learned, shared, and made new friends.

It was an amazing experience with amazing women. Congratulations to everyone at WIN for organising a fantastic event.

Can’t wait until next year.