Women CEOs Meet C.E.O. Women
October 24, 2008
SAN JOSE- Prominent women CEOs gathered on Oct. 16 to show their support for Creating Economic Opportunities for Women’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of low-income immigrant and refugee women in the Bay Area .
Approximately 200 people sipped on wine and munched on tasty bruchetta and eggroll appetizers inside eBay’s Town Hall at the benefit for the Oakland-based organization that gives women the skills and tools to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
The event honored 13 venture fund recipients who were each awarded up to $2,000 to start their own businesses.
“These women embody the ABCs of life I learned from my mom: A- aspire to be all you can be, B believe in yourself, C contribute tirelessly to your community,” said Anna Mok, Partner, Strategic Clients Deloitte and Touche. “Hopefully everyone has been as inspired as I have by this organization and these women.”
Indu Navar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Serus Corporation, commended C.E.O. Women as an inspirational organization that is helping low income women realize their dreams and become contributing members to society.
Others in attendance included Sandra Hernandez, CEO of San Francisco Foundation, Stephanie Tilenius, Senior Vice President and General Manager of eBay North America and Global Platform and Alicia Morga, CEO and Chairman of Consorte Media.
Mieko Raymer, a Japanese immigrant and recent graduate of C.E.O. Women’s 16-week program, shared a touching story with the crowd: as a divorced single mother, Raymer knew she had to be strong and steady for her daughter, but with limited English skills, she said she felt alone and helpless. But after accidentally stumbling upon a poster for C.E.O. Women, she enrolled in their program and learned basic business skills, finance, marketing, and networking. She now has her own business, Hana Special Occasions, as a private chef.
“I went from someone who had given up on life to someone full of hope for the future,” beamed Raymer.
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