VOLUME 08 | MARCH 2020
Dear Members,

I hope this note finds you well and that you are doing your best to stay safe amid the unrest surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak.

As we find ourselves with more time in the coming weeks, I would like us to think about ways to collaborate and support the other women's organizations of Boston. We will continue to point out opportunities as we learn of them. 

Recently The Commonwealth Institute approached us about partnering with them to endorse their third Women's Leadership Development in Massachusetts Impact Study. It is important for us to support the other women's group in Boston and I urge you to take part in this survey. The information is below.

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The Commonwealth Institute is launching the third annual Women's Leadership Development in MA Impact Study this month, March 2020. The goal of the research is to understand employers’ actions to retain and advance women employees in Massachusetts – specifically what’s working, what’s not working, and gap areas to be addressed.

More information on the survey and the opportunity to participate can be found here . - we encourage all of our members who are eligible to opt-in to participate by emailing survey@commonwealthinstitute.org .

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Warmly, 
Jackie Jenkins-Scott
MWF, President
REGISTER TODAY FOR AN
UPCOMING EVENT

As of today, March 13th,
these Events are Still Happening!
We will let you know if this changes.
THIRD CHAPTER LUNCHEON
Top of the Hub
(March 17 at noon)
Join guest Professor Cynthia Pine, IWF UK member and Professor of Dental Public Health at the Queen Mary University of London. Also, the Top of the Hub is closing on April 18th. This will be our last luncheon there.
BISTRO NIGHT
Nathalie Wine Bar
(April 15th at 6:30 pm)
NEW MEMBER RECEPTION
Home of Rosabeth Moss Kanter
(April 22nd at 6:30)
The Following Events are Postponed:

  • Executive Session: Healthcare (3/18/20)
  • Dine-A-Rounds (4/2/20)

We will continue to pay close attention to the situation and will let you know about additional changes as we have them. You may also check our website and our LinkedIn Group for updates. We will post there as well. Please let me know if you have any questions.
LEADERSHIP LEARNINGS
This month we are highlighting Sandi Fenwick, CEO of Boston Children's Hospital.
Unfortunately the uncertainty around Covid-19 has disrupted our spring programming, but we are thrilled that we had the opportunity to sit down with Sandi Fenwick, CEO of Boston Children's Hospital, earlier this year.

Investing in Children is Investing in the Future

Sandra Fenwick is the Chief Executive Officer of Boston Children's Hospital, where she leads a team of 20,000 people dedicated to improving and advancing child health through their life-changing work in clinical care, biomedical research, medical education and community engagement. Boston Children's is ranked the number one pediatric hospital in the nation by US News and World Report , is home to the world's largest pediatric research enterprise and is the leading recipient of pediatric research funding from the National Institutes of Health. We spoke with Sandi about her career path and advice she had to offer.

Find mentors that take you to new places

Sandi always loved science from middle school on, which led her to study biology and chemistry in college. But her life was changed at Harvard School of Public Health, where she was on the premed track, when she was able to do a field research project in Saudi Arabia. There she did lab work and worked with patients, doing clinical trial research, which proved to be great experience for her later career and confirmed her passion for the field. READ MORE
OFFICIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE LONDON CONFERENCE
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM

The rapidly changing COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak continues to affect our world and the IWF community. IWF’s global leadership is very focused on this issue and ensuring the safety of our membership during this very uncertain time. With that in mind, we continue to monitor the advice and information around coronavirus coming out of the World Health Organization, as well as public health authorities in the UK.

Because the situation is changing daily, we will keep you updated on a regular basis as we learn more.

IWF UK has worked very hard for over two years to make this conference an incredible experience for everyone. We want to make sure that we acknowledge that tremendous vision, passion and effort. We hope we will be able to experience the fruits of their labors. We are hoping for the best and planning for the worst.

Below is a summary of the process and considerations we are using to evaluate whether we will proceed with the conference:

  • We will adhere to CDC, UK and WHO guidelines on foreign travel to and from the UK.

  • We will cancel if the event venue or operators cancels events or makes the conference no longer feasible as we have planned it.

  • We are considering:

  • The risks and spread of coronavirus during the conference and afterward.

  • IWF’s ability to implement predictable safety and event protocols if a coronavirus related incident occurs during the conference.

  • The degree of support available for conference attendees in the event of a coronavirus incident or if attendees would be required to be tested or quarantined.

  • The degree of contributing risks or mitigating protocols that may be in place at the event location and time.

  • If we cancel the conference, we will refund registration fees. In this situation it does not mean your hotel reservation is cancelled. That must be done separately and we will provide with more information on this process, if necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: In the event you cancel your conference registration, it does not mean your hotel reservation is cancelled. That must be done separately. If you are staying at the conference hotel, you can access and change your reservation through  this link .

IWF UK has worked very hard for over two years to make this conference an incredible experience for everyone. We want to make sure that we acknowledge that tremendous vision, passion and effort. We hope we will be able to experience the fruits of their labors. We are hoping for the best and planning for the worst.

Some of you may have specific questions and particular concerns. If you do, please reach out to the team at IWF HQ. The email address is  iwf@iwforum.org

Best regards,
Deborah Trudeau
President
International Women’s Forum
Stephanie Mathews O’Keefe
Chief Executive Officer
IWF & Leadership Foundation 
For women leaders who are recognized as top achievers in their fields, the Massachusetts Women’s Forum (MWF) provides unparalleled access to a group of influential women who inspire and support each other to optimize each member’s impact in the world. We advocate for women’s leadership and provide an important voice on issues affecting women in the Commonwealth, and the world.

Membership is by invitation only.

MWF is an affiliate of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) that offers access to women leaders worldwide.

We are a non-partisan organization of trailblazers, thought leaders, and change agents who believe that leadership has no gender and diversity is our strength.

HOW DO YOU ENGAGE?
Are you connected to us through LinkedIn?

If you have not joined the Massachusetts Women's Forum private group, please let us know and we will make sure you are connected. This is a place where we can reach out to each other in a private group setting. I hope that you will participate.

Check out the LinkedIn group here.
Send us your news! Email us
Join us in thanking our generous 2020 sponsors!

DANA BORN

DIANE HESSAN