\u2014Ann Marie Almeida, President\u00a0Association of Women\u2019s Business Centers<\/p>\n
National nonprofit association<\/p>\n
The Association of Women\u2019s Business Centers (AWBC) supports a nationwide network of Women\u2019s Business Centers offering resources to women entrepreneurs. Hired as the AWBC\u2019s first president in 2002, Ann Marie Almeida obtained a Kauffman Foundation grant to develop a new, global bold vision, expanded mission statement, strategic plan, and implementation plan. Even under optimal circumstances, busy and demanding lives take their toll on board members of any organization, no matter how committed. The AWBC board faces an additional challenge: geography. Members, who live throughout the U.S., participate in monthly \u201cvirtual board meetings\u201d via telephone and meet face-to-face only once a year. Ms. Almeida saw this strategic planning as an opportunity to re-energize board members and strengthen relationships. After a rigorous nationwide search, the search committee chose Anne Litwin. They saw in her a person \u201cable to establish relationships both virtually and face-to-face, and courageous enough to work through conflict,\u201d explains Ms. Almeida. She felt Dr. Litwin\u2019s approach would \u201cinvite us all to build an inclusive vision and help us face the amazing work we could accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Litwin consulted with the Strategic Planning Committee to plan an ambitious schedule of two weekend retreats, the first only two months away, the second two months later. She worked with Ms. Almeida to collect strategic information from AWBC stakeholders in preparation for the first retreat. She also facilitated both sessions, a process that generated interim and final reports, a strategic plan, and new marketing literature. Remarkably, 16 of 20 board members attended both retreats. All knew it would be hard work involving some difficult dialogue. \u201cThe surprise,\u201d says Ms. Almeida, \u201cwas that it was also so much fun. One board member said she hadn\u2019t laughed so hard in two years.\u201d<\/p>\n
The retreats brought a collective burst of energy that has produced all documents on schedule and transformed a virtual and somewhat detached board into a team. The change in board members\u2019 relationships is \u201cpalpable, as our bonds continue to strengthen and sweeten,\u201dreports Ms. Almeida. She adds, \u201cBoard members have a renewed sense of commitment and energy since our work with Anne. Now our monthly virtual board meetings are fast-paced and productive. We even enjoy them more.\u201d Ms. Almeida marvels at Anne Litwin\u2019s ability to \u201cpush people so seamlessly that you don\u2019t even know you\u2019re working as hard as you are.\u201d She also credits Dr. Litwin for a collaborative spirit that infused the entire process. The result was a common vision allowing each member to find her place, proving that \u201cintimacy, power and leadership are not mutually exclusive.\u201d She has since recommended Dr. Litwin\u2019s services to other boards she sits on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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