December 2, 2004
WWB Network Discussion with Laura Liswood on the
'Myths of Leadership'

At the Bronxville Library
$10 donation to defray costs

Laura Liswood, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor,
as well as, member of the International Women's Forum, co-founder of the
World Economic Forum's Women Leaders Initiative and co-founder of
Council of Women World Leaders, will lead a discussion on the 'Myths of
Leadership.'  

Laura spoke and lead a discussion on exploring the questions around the
myths of leadership that some women (and men) believe, and how these
myths can pose challenges for women in their leadership roles. She will
look at the best practices of excellent leaders, and the lessons we can
learn from women who have led their country, as well as share her insights
on enhancing opportunities to successfully lead and shape one's own
career.

Laura showed a brief excerpt of her documentary 'Women World
Leaders.' The documentary features interviews with 15 current and former
women presidents and prime ministers and shows how their individual
journeys mirror women's right to claim their own authority and entitlement
to lead.  Her quest was to find out what it would take for a woman to
become President of the United States.  

The discussion was followed by light hors d'voeuvres and the opportunity
for mingling with dynamic women from our local community.

- - About Laura - -

Laura Liswood is Secretary General of the Council of Women World
Leaders and the International Assembly of Women and is also a Senior
Advisor to Goldman Sachs.

In August 1996, Laura co-founded the Council of Women World Leaders
with President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir of Iceland located at The Aspen
Institute in Washington, DC.  Laura is the Secretary General of the
Council, which is composed of women presidents, prime ministers, and
heads of government. The work of the Council expands the understanding
of leadership, establishes a network of resources for high-level women
leaders, and provides a forum for the group to contribute input and shape
the international issues important to all people.  In 2002, Laura expanded
the Council by creating the International Assembly of Women Ministers
whose members are composed of sitting women ministers of
government, today numbering approximately 600 around the world.

In 2001, Laura was named Managing Director, Global Leadership and
Diversity for Goldman Sachs, a premier global investment bank.  Working
on issues of globalization and workforce diversity, she is now a Senior
Advisor to the firm.

In 1997, Laura co-founded The White House Project dedicated to electing
a woman President in the United States.  Her work with women
presidents and prime ministers was the inspiration for the Project to
change the cultural message in the United States about women as
leaders.

From 1992 - 1996, as director of the Women's Leadership Project, Laura
identified global leadership contributions by women heads of state.  She
interviewed 15 current and former women presidents and prime
ministers, which is chronicled in her most recent book and video
documentary, Women World Leaders.  Her quest was to find out what it
would take for a woman to become President of the United States.

Laura's professional experience includes CEO/President of the American
Society for Training and Development, executive-level consulting to
Fortune 500 and international companies, executive positions at Rainier
National Bank and Group W Cable, a subsidiary of Westinghouse
Broadcasting and Cable. She received the Westinghouse Award of
Excellence for her contribution to women and minorities in the workplace.  

She is also the author of a book on service quality, Serving Them Right.  
Laura, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, has
contributed to leadership in the women's community for more than twenty
years as a member of the International Women's Forum, Leadership
America, the board of the First Women's Bank of California, and the
Washington Women's Political Caucus.  Former commissioner of the City
of Seattle Women's Commission, Laura was the owner/publisher of
Seattle Woman and is the founder of May's List, a bipartisan political
donor network emphasizing women's leadership in the political arena.   In
2000, the Secretary of Defense appointed her to a three-year term of the
Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

Laura has also held management positions in the airline industry,
including general manager for the Pacific Northwest, for TWA, and was a
consultant for the Boston Consulting Group.  She holds a M.B.A. from
Harvard Business School and a B.A. from California State University, San
Diego.  She holds a J.D. degree from the University of California, Davis,
School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in California and
Massachusetts.
Working Women of Bronxville -- The WWB Network