Women Entrepreneurship Week 2015

Free events on October 19, 21 and 22 will bring a number of the nation’s top women entrepreneurs, executives and thought leaders to Montclair State University to celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Week 2015. From beauty industry powerhouse Bobbi Brown to renowned futurist Edie Weiner, highly successful businesswomen will headline keynote presentations, panel discussions and workshops at the three free programs, which are open to the public and will provide ample networking opportunities for attendees.

Women looking to grow or start their own businesses or take on a more entrepreneurial role within larger companies, as well as aspiring student entrepreneurs, will receive high-energy inspiration, practical tips and advice from women business leaders.

Women Entrepreneurship Week, which was created and organized in 2014 by the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at Montclair State, has quickly evolved into a statewide event. The Center has a special mission to support and nurture women entrepreneurs.

“Women Entrepreneurship Week continues to get bigger and better. This year it will be a truly statewide celebration, with events happening in north, central and south Jersey, as well as the three events we are holding at Montclair State,” said Sharon Waters, program manager for the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship. “We reached out to other New Jersey universities and nonprofits, inviting them to hold their own Women Entrepreneurship Week events, and more than a dozen have committed to holding events. The growth of Women Entrepreneurship Week just proves that New Jersey is committed to helping women entrepreneurs succeed.”

Monday, October 19 – Evening

Women Entrepreneurship Week 2015 kicks off on the evening of Monday, October 19 at Montclair State with “In Style: Women Entrepreneurs in the World of Fashion and Beauty.” Bobbi Brown, the founder and chief executive officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, will deliver the evening’s keynote address. She will be joined by a panel of entrepreneurs that includes celebrity fashion stylist and designer Samantha Myer; Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, co-founder and CEO of GLAMSQUAD; and Sara Wolf, co-founder and CEO of HydroChic. The women will share their journeys from startup to success in the beauty and fashion industries, as well as discuss the latest trends in beauty and fashion and how entrepreneurs are capitalizing on these opportunities.

Wednesday, October 21 – All day

On Wednesday, October 21, the University will host the daylong “WEW Conference” for women entrepreneurs at all levels, from those starting or growing a business to C-suite executives. Women Entrepreneurship Week’s signature event will cover everything from power and leadership to marketing and financial success. Former Wall Street executive and current chair of Ellevate Network, Sallie Krawcheck, will be the event’s keynote speaker. Other confirmed speakers include: Michele Brown, Leecia Eve, Linda Bowden, Candy Straight, Janine Iannarelli, Neale Godfrey, Kim Wales and Sally Glick.

Thursday, October 22 – Evening

On the evening of Thursday, October 22, Montclair State will present “The Future of Health Care,” an event keynoted by Edie Weiner, president and CEO of The Future Hunters. The renowned futurist will moderate a panel of women leaders in the health care space, who will offer predictions about what might come next in tech-related areas. Panelist Julie Bauer, president of Panasonic Consumer Corporation of North America will talk about how her company is developing medical robots to help with patient care.

All three events are free, open to the public and will take place at Montclair State’ s University Hall Conference Center on the 7th floor. Registration is strongly encouraged. Please visit WomenEntrepreneurshipWeek.com.

Corporate sponsors of Women Entrepreneurship Week include Archer & Greiner; KPMG; Hackensack University Health Network; Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Investors Bank; Verizon; WISS; Bank of America;Eisner Amper; Gibbons; Hudson Integrated Web Agency; MZM Construction and Management; Sobel & Co. LLC; and Withum Smith & Brown, PC.

In addition to the events celebrating Women Entrepreneurship Week 2015 at Montclair State, the following universities and nonprofits are holding events: Berkeley College; B.I.G.; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Georgian Court University; Greater Newark Enterprise Corp.; Impact Paterson; Leading Women Entrepreneurs; NJIT; Rider University; Rising Tide Capital; Rowan University; Rutgers-New Brunswick; Rutgers-Newark; St. Peter’s University; Seton Hall University; Stockton University; and WCEC.