The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) created a new initiative to assist women in becoming more influential in the Outdoor Industry through education and mentoring around the topics of Professional Development. We will be providing seminars, online materials, mentoring and coaching to help OIWC members grow professionally to become leaders in their organizations and industries.

We launch this initiative by offering the first set of free seminars at the 2006 Summer OR show. Offered on August 9 in room 355-C (one of the third level meeting rooms), three on-hour seminars will address leadership concepts, tools, and techniques to take away and implement immediately in your organization. The seminars are free and open to anyone attending the trade show. There is no need to sign up in advance, just show up. There will be food, drinks, informative presentations and a time for Q&A and networking.

Pam Gardiol, Diana Larsen and Pollyanna Pixton (for background on these women visit www.collaborative-leadership.com/about.html) will be presenting content addressing leadership concepts, tools and techniques to take away and implement immediately in your organization.

The topic areas include:

Leadership vs. Management: How do we know when to lead and when to manage? How do we move our organizations strategically, not just tactically? What differences in style are needed for leadership and management?

Managing and Leading Upwards: What are the most productive ways to interface with the leaders above you and around you? How can you speak to be heard? What risks will you take to speak up and what is the best timing?

Collaborative Leadership Principles: What is collaborative leadership and how do you lead collaboration? How can I unleash the innovation and creativity in my organization? Where do you start at leading change?

The schedule is:

1:00 PM    Leadership vs. Management

2:00 PM    Networking

2:30 PM    Managing and Leading Upwards

3:30 PM    Networking

4:00 PM    Collaborative Leadership Principles

5:00 PM    Networking cocktail hour