East Tennessee Women's Leadership Summit set for June 15, 2012

KNOXVILLE -- The East Tennessee Women's Leadership Summit, a full-day summit for professional women, will take place at the Airport Hilton on June 15, 2012. The title of the summit, "Live. Learn. Lead." will focus on stepping up to leadership in all aspects of life.

The featured speaker is Martha Mertz, founder of Athena International and author of Becoming Athena, Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership.  Mertz spearheaded the Athena Leadership Award, which has recognized 6,000 women leaders globally since its inception in 1982, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and former NASA astronaut Sally Ride.

The day's sessions focus on four themes: 1. Knowing your value, 2. Getting what you are worth, 3. Leveraging your worth, and 4. Growing your value.

The featured speaker of the East Tennessee Women's Leadership Summit is Martha Mertz, founder of Athena International and author of Becoming Athena, Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership.

The Summit will also include the presentation of an all new East Tennessee women's leadership award.

Registration for the full day is $75 until June 8; $90 after that.  To register, or to find more information about the conference go to www.easttnwomensls.wordpress.com.

According to the 2011 ELIOS Report from the Tennessee Economic Council on Women, women are being asked to do more with less. "Women are no longer left holding the bag; they are expected to buy the bag and everything her family needs packed into it." 

The report continues, "And, in many cases, she does this while working, going to school, helping with homework, taking care of household chores, confirming dental appointments, and making sure her family is healthy."

The report encourages public and private sector employers to develop and offer leadership training programs for women "to promote internal advancement, team loyalty, a cohesive work environment and savings in hiring costs."

Sponsored by WBIR TV and B97.5, the Summit is an updated presentation of the East Tennessee Regional Economic Summit for Women held for the past five years.  It is an initiative of the Women's Economic Council Foundation, and is being co-chaired by Wendy Pitts Reeves and Sharon Hannum.

Published April 14, 2012