Beginning October 14, 1200+ of the most powerful women on the planet will descend on Deauville, France to take part in the 6th Annual Women's Forum, often referred to as the "Davos for Women". Were it not for the courage and vision of it's founder, Aude de Thuin, who took a personal financial risk to put on the first Forum in 2005, this important event would not have been possible.
In a recent Forbes.com article "Why the world needs a "Woman's Davos"", De Thuin describes herself as " independent-minded, and stubborn". She has spent most of her life as an entrepreneur, having put herself through college working as a model.
When asked why she set out to start the Women's Forum in 2004, she told the interviewer that going to the mostly all male Davos event would be fruitless, since just a small number of women are attendees and small business is not well represented. After being denied bank loans, she sold one of her ventures and put the money toward the first event.
When she became doubtful whether she had done the right thing, her husband told her to "trust your intuition". She took the first courageous step, and never looked back.
This year's Forum promises to be the best ever. Attendance is up 20% over last year, and her list of sponsors has grown to include some of the top firms in the world.
I encourage you to login to the Forum website and view the programs and initiatives they have in play, and consider getting involved.
I hope to see many of you there for the 2011 meeting.
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