by Caroline Shannon (Akron, Ohio)
For Heather Gates-Massoudi, balancing work and personal life has always been a juggling act. When she was in her twenties, it was all work and no play, with her spending much of her time cranking out audits or investment banking deals long into the night. Then, as her early thirties rolled around, Gates-Massoudi found herself squeezing in more personal time, including annual vacations to exotic locales. The same went for her late thirties, when she was able to take time off for her maternity leaves and to spend time with her family.
“Which leads me to today, where balancing means enjoying the time I spend at work and enjoying the time I spend with family and friends,” says Gates-Massoudi, 40, who is the director of venture capital services at Deloitte. “I feel incredibly balanced today taking time to work out, learn with my children, laugh with my spouse, spend with friends and being thoughtful, but efficient at work.”
And Gates-Massoudi’s thoughtful efficiency is exactly what got her where she is today. Graduating with her bachelor’s of arts in accounting from Colorado University, she moved right on to public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand which is now PricewaterhouseCoopers. Despite a brief hiatus, she spent nearly a decade there before continuing on to investment banking at Hambrecht & Quist, where she worked on initial public offerings in corporate finance. Once her work was done there, she joined venture-backed company, Participate Systems, as the vice president of business development and general manager of channel partnerships, eventually, leading to her position at Deloitte.
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2nd Annual Brand Building for Banks and Financial Services 2008
NewsWith hundreds of financial institutions across North America and similar product offerings rolling out every day, consumers find themselves choosing banking services with nothing more than a gut feeling about a particular brand. In a world where similar bank services are extremely ubiquitous, how can one bank compete with another for customers?
The struggle for uniqueness comes with an economic downturn in 2008. The credit crunch coupled with the wave of bank conglomerates will produce an environment in which branding executives will have to priotritize in order to keep their missions on track, their marketing budgets in line, and their customers confident.
This premium marcus evans event will explore how to build brand strength through knowledgeable, executive-level speakers, and cutting-edge topics to stay ahead of the competition and increase sales revenues.
For more information on this event
Voices of Experience: Heather Gates-Massoudi, Director, Venture Capital Services, Deloitte
Voices of ExperienceFor Heather Gates-Massoudi, balancing work and personal life has always been a juggling act. When she was in her twenties, it was all work and no play, with her spending much of her time cranking out audits or investment banking deals long into the night. Then, as her early thirties rolled around, Gates-Massoudi found herself squeezing in more personal time, including annual vacations to exotic locales. The same went for her late thirties, when she was able to take time off for her maternity leaves and to spend time with her family.
“Which leads me to today, where balancing means enjoying the time I spend at work and enjoying the time I spend with family and friends,” says Gates-Massoudi, 40, who is the director of venture capital services at Deloitte. “I feel incredibly balanced today taking time to work out, learn with my children, laugh with my spouse, spend with friends and being thoughtful, but efficient at work.”
And Gates-Massoudi’s thoughtful efficiency is exactly what got her where she is today. Graduating with her bachelor’s of arts in accounting from Colorado University, she moved right on to public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand which is now PricewaterhouseCoopers. Despite a brief hiatus, she spent nearly a decade there before continuing on to investment banking at Hambrecht & Quist, where she worked on initial public offerings in corporate finance. Once her work was done there, she joined venture-backed company, Participate Systems, as the vice president of business development and general manager of channel partnerships, eventually, leading to her position at Deloitte.
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World Computer Congress 2008
NewsWelcome to the 20th World Computer Congress (WCC 2008), the event organized under the advocacy of IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) that will take place for the first time in Italy, in Milan
It will be the most important congress dedicated to the Sciences, Information Technologies and Communications ever held in Italy. It will provide a unique opportunity to share with and listen to world-renowned experts in the academic and research fields.
During the four days of congress 2000 delegates, coming from 70 different countries, will debate the main questions and perspectives in ICT domain that is at the heart of the economy of knowledge in the 21st century and in the evolution of our society.
WCC 2008 will provide integration between two worlds: Business and Research. This new Italian approach will give the possibility to match the specific subjects of the TCs with cross subjects of the Italian reality, involving therefore the business and the industry sectors. As a structure there will be keynote lectures discussed by high level invited speakers.
There is no doubt that you will enjoy your stay in Milan and the technical program we have been scheduling. All the WCC 2008 team is working to ensure you, that this event will meet all your expectations.
For more information on this event click here
The 2008 CFO Technology Summit
NewsMission Critical: How Finance Executives Can Take Control of their IT Investiments
In the best-managed enterprises of the future, technology and business management will converge completely. Convergence occurs when business and technology activities are intertwined and the leadership teams operate almost interchangeably. Managing business and technology together, or as we call the discipline, “Business Technology Management (BTM),” takes a multi-disciplinary, structured approach that creates a “whole-brained” enterprise. Convergence provides an organization with the platform to thrive during marketplace changes rather than just react to survive.Through an interactive discussion, this workshop will translate the current buzzwords such as “agility,” “innovation,” and “adaptability” into demonstrable actions that lead to better financial performance and operational efficiency. Faisal Hoque and Michael Fillios will deliver the pre-conference workshop.
Speakers:
Michael Fillios, Managing Director, BTM Global 2000
Faisal Hoque, Founder, Chairman and CEO, BTM Corporation
Earn four additional CPE Credits by attending this pre-conference workshop. An additional fee applies and pre-registration is required.
To register
Women + Business = Peace
Women and PhilanthropyThe Business Council for Peace, affectionately known as Bpeace (“Be Peace”) to its members, is a couple of hundred businesswomen and a few men who work with women in regions of conflict to build businesses and thus foster peace.
Bpeace describes itself as apolitical, but its members do share the belief that entrepreneurship can be a foundation for hope and stability in areas ripped apart by violence. This idea of “women + business = peace” came from Anne Glauber, a senior vice president at the public relations agency Ruder Finn, and Dr. Noeleen Heyser, who at that time was the executive director of UNIFEM, the UN’s development fund for women. The year was 2002, and Glauber and Heyser were two of 700 women who had gathered in Geneva for the first summit of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
“The conflicts fueled by men,” said Glauber, “Must be countered by a new process of peace fashioned and implemented by women. It is time and it is critical for women to assume a larger role and responsibility.” Women’s natural and practiced skills in mediation, compromise, relationship building, Glauber felt, could be put to use to build a different paradigm for conflict resolution and peace building in war-torn areas. A way for women to start claiming their power could be through the economy, and women where Glauber comes from knew something about that.
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Intrepid Women: The Language of Currency
Intrepid Women SeriesTraveling to another country is a bit like traveling to an alien planet. “Assume laws of gravity won’t apply,” international marketing guru Christin Walth says, “and just roll with it.”
With this attitude, no matter how strange the land, Walth has always landed on her feet. In charge of marketing for Microsoft in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, she’s worked in Stockholm, London, Paris and Shanghai. In all her travels, Walth has found one universal truth, even in the remotest reaches of China: the common language of currency. Even street vendors pull out foreign phrases as if another of their most precious wares. “Beautiful lady,” they’ll say, “for you special deal.” It’s small talk that’ll get shoppers to buy, these micro-entrepreneurs know.
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Geneva Summer Garden Party
News“Hats and Pimms” will be held on Thursday, September 4 to benefit Wellbeing of Women, the beneficiary of all 100 Women in Hedge Funds’ philanthropic efforts in Europe in 2008. A cocktail buffet, showcasing the new science of “cuisine moleculaire” will be served, with entertainment throughout the evening and the chance to bid for exclusive auction items.
6.30 PM Registration and Cocktails; 7 PM Buffet Served
Men: Business or blazers
Women: Summer cocktail dresses
This event is open to non-members, both men and women.
To Purchase tickets
Change Your Attitude!
Expert AnswersAttitude, whether positive or negative, is contagious; so what type are you spreading? Being negative takes extra energy you could otherwise be channeling into your favorite pursuits. Instead of sowing discord wherever you go, learn how to cultivate tolerance instead of impatience; optimism rather than pessimism; and gratitude versus an ungrateful spirit.
Here’s how to get started:
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Forbes Lists Top 100 Most Powerful Women
Breaking the Glass CeilingThis week, Forbes magazine released its annual ranking of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World. There were a few newcomers and surprises this year on the list, along with some women with staying power near the top of the list. Read more
Merrill Lynch Providing Professional Women an Opportunity for Greater Returns
Returnersby Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)
The management team at Merrill Lynch was puzzled. While it was clear that Merrill Lynch was recruiting its fair share of the most promising women from campuses around the world and developing that talent, the number of women dropped at each successive level up the corporate ladder. Moreover, there was a recognition of the large pool of talented women looking to re-enter the workforce and an opportunity to tap into it. The management at ML set out to figure out how and why.
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