Wisdom of Many

• Use the WLI research and your chapter members to determine subject matter your chapter wants. (See WLI Research and WLI Facts & Stats and Mini Survey in WLI Kit .)
• Find presenters/speakers through the WLI Office at smagee@mpiweb.org, from your own experience, from your wider MPI network and/or MPI’s Professional Development department.
• Utilize MPI’s “Platinum” Program’s list with women-centric sessions you can schedule as part of your chapter’s Platinum sessions – and/or schedule on your own with sponsorship. (Contact MPI's Professional Development department, MPI HQ, for listing of Platinum sessions.)

“Educational” for this purpose refers to knowledge to develop one’s career. Even though other events impart knowledge that might support or enhance one’s career we have classified them as “informative” because they do not have a direct link to one’s career development. E.g. A session on health would be informational. A session on gender communication would be educational as would one on strategic planning.

• Most WLI-planned educational sessions are for both women and men.
  Most chapters have found that events that are presented about women (and targeted to women) are of benefit and interest to men also. Examples of this would be the “Make It Happen! Create Your Strategic Life Plan” session presented both at MPI conferences and in individual chapters as a Platinum session over the last few years. (See DFW Chapter’s flyer.)

  In addition, some chapters have had women-centric topics at chapter luncheon sessions with much success for women and men. An example of this is the Georgia chapters keynote by Gail Evans (retired Ex. VP of CNN and now a second-career author) who spoke “to the women” but invited the "men to listen”. Outcome was all present either hearing or learning the strategies and challenges women need to employ or face in advancing. Another example was the Philadelphia chapter’s presentation on “Authentic Leadership” – encompassing the strengths of relationship-building leadership most often used by women but knowledge/education of benefit to both men and women. Finally, a WLI workbook resource has been of use and benefit to both men and women – in a workshop or not.

• Most educational sessions fit into the chapter’s educational compliance requirement.
  Some chapters have established a particular month that is designed for a WLI –related educational session. In most that have done this, the session has been planned in conjunction with the VP of Education on the Board but the WLI Chapter Liaison and her team do most (if not all) of the work.

  Other chapters (even some without a WLI –designated team) have scheduled a women-centric event as part of the chapters’ plan. These are understood by all to be regularly-scheduled events – for all chapter members and of particular interest to the majority. Still others have scheduled a series of events that are women-centric and others an event of-interest that is both educational and informational. (See Georgia chapter’s “GAMPI University” session on WLI History and Leadership.)

Examples - WLI Events: Educational

The examples posted below are from a wide array of educational events chapters have offered over the past few years and are meant to help you see the broad spectrum of needs you might encounter in your chapter. You will note some of them are very basic for women at the very beginning of their advancement/career-development journey (e.g. how to dress) while others are very sophisticated and of a more advanced level (e.g. a panel of women in leadership sharing insight).

Of Special Note: MPI’s new “Career Pathways” program promises great resources for educational/career development!WISCONSIN - Educational Events
A new major MPI program to help women and men develop their specific career-related knowledge and skill-sets is launching in 2006 as part of MPI Member Solutions. This revolutionary opportunity for MPI members will offer personal skill-set assessments and customized educational recommendation plans i- ncluding MPI as well as external options to meet those plans. Career Pathways has no match in the industry. The program will also greatly help chapters in their planning related to women since women are MPI’s primary market, primary audience, and primary learners and the MPI 2005 Needs Assessment identified women’s leadership development a high value for the women of MPI.