Announcing the inaugural Indiana Governor's Conference for Women
The highly successful Midwest Invent Your Future Conference for Women is combining forces with Governor Mike Pence to create the first annual Indiana Governor's Conference for Women in October 2013. Date to be determined.
“The facts speak for themselves,” said Governor Pence. “Women owned businesses and corporate women leaders are a powerful economic engine in our state. Not only are women-owned firms contributing $3 trillion annually to the U.S. economy and accounting for 16% of all jobs, but national research shows women entrepreneurs will create 5 to 5.5 million new jobs across the U.S. by 2018 – more than half of the total new small-business jobs expected to be created during that time, and about one-third of the total new jobs anticipated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Indiana, we mean business and women are leading the way not only in job creation but also in the corporate world where they are moving into leadership roles. I am committed to furthering that growth.”
The Indiana Governor's Conference for Women co-chairs and co-founders includes two Hoosier women business leaders, Ms. Billie Dragoo and Ms. Deborah Collins Stephens. Billie was named as one of the top ten most powerful women entrepreneurs by Fortune Inc. Billie is also the owner and President of RepuCare and incoming Board Chairwoman of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) based in Washington DC. Deborah is a nationally acclaimed best-selling author and consultant on leadership development, employee engagement, and entrepreneurship. As managing partner of the Center For Innovative Leadership, she has worked with many Fortune 500 companies, universities and government organizations.
“We're delighted to join forces with Governor Pence and local leaders in empowering high-potential women throughout our state to accelerate their careers and businesses,” said Deborah Collins Stephens. Dragoo added, “I'm thrilled to bring national thought leaders and powerful resources to the women in our state who are leading innovation and paving the way for growth. The Indiana Governor's Conference for Women will be an outstanding opportunity to share new ideas, learn new skills, and build our social networks. Indiana will continue, through this conference, to be recognized nationally as a pioneer and benchmark for economic and social awareness of women-owned businesses and leadership.”
About Invent Your Future
The Invent Your Future Foundation (IYFF) is a nonprofit corporation formed to create educational training programs and scholarships for women and girls specifically geared to career opportunities and advancement; including building the pipeline of women in careers using math, science and technology. Proceeds from the Indiana Governor's Conference for Women will be used to create the Midwest Dare 2B Digital Conference for young girls, which encourage their interest in careers in business, science, technology and math (www.dare2bdigitalconference.org).
The Invent Your Future Conference for Women originated in Silicon Valley and brings an exciting and unique opportunity for women to reach their full career potential by building leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Ruth Stergiou, Chief Executive Officer of Invent Your Future, helped create the first Governor's Conference for Women in California and served as consultant and advisor for the Texas Governor's Conference on Women.
