Elite Women Around the World and COSE hosted Women’s Entrepreneurship Day last week at the COSE offices. The event featured speakers, panel discussions, professional development sessions and networking, all along the themes of entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, economic development and social impact.

Elite Women Around the World also honored four women with the Women of Distinction Award.

“This recognition is for women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty,” says Rita Singh, Elite Women founder and CEO. “These women serve as role models and create projects or programs beyond their normal duties, which help other women achieve success.”

The women honored were Lori DeVore, CEO and president of Devore Technologies; Stella Moga Kennedy, founder, president and CEO of LeChaperon Rouge childcare and elementary schools; Venera Izant, Merrill Lynch financial advisor, Izant-Creadon Group; and Cyndie Spanier, psychologist and  deputy commissioner, Pittsburgh Behavioral Medicine.

Singh created Elite Women as a forum for women to share their knowledge with other women. “In a lot of organizations, people are in it for themselves,” she explains. “I’m trying to tell them you will be getting more if you give back.”

Every Elite Women member must mentor at least one person, creating a large support network within the organization. “Every woman who joins brings another woman to mentor,” says Singh. “So they’re not thinking about themselves, they are thinking about someone else.”

Source: Rita Singh
Writer: Karin Connelly