Dear NAWBO leaders, members, and friends,
As February winds down to a close, I want to take another moment to celebrate Black history month. Black history is American history, and we recognize our Black NAWBO sisters and the accomplishments of our diverse community of women entrepreneurs not just in February but year-round.
Melissa Bradley, founder of 1863 Ventures, a Black-led nonprofit organization delivering business development programs designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurship and equity, may have explained the moment best: “At a time when folks are rethinking their lives and choices, it is not surprising that more Black women are electing to become CEOs of their own companies rather than waiting for their intelligence and skills to be recognized at their current firms.”
NAWBO CA celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we recognize there is still much work to do as we empower, support, and advocate for our diverse community of women entrepreneurs. As Simone Biles said, “Surround yourself with the dreamers, the doers, the believers and thinkers; but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you even when you don’t see it yourself.” I am honored to be part of an organization that helps us see the greatness within one another.
In sisterhood,
Amber Wallace
NAWBO-CA President
President & CEO, Dowitcher Designs
Past President, NAWBO Santa Barbara
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Please join us for Propel where we will focus on this year's theme of Creating our Future Together: Innovation, Resilience, Transformation. Information about sessions and speakers are coming soon!
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NAWBO National's Advocate of the Year Award
Nomination deadline is today, February 28
NAWBO National's Advocacy Award honors a woman business owner who advocates for the advancement of the women business owner community in a bipartisan spirit. She is a voice of collaboration and effectively presents or moves legislation, regulation reform or new initiatives forward. Her efforts as a public servant are not limited to the issues that directly affect her business or community. Instead, she uses her platform to bring to light the needs of those who may not have a similar opportunity to raise their voice
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Enterprising Women of the Year Awards
Nominations close tomorrow, March 1
One of the most coveted awards for women business owners is still accepting nominations—the 2022 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards. Women-owned firms that have been in business a minimum of three years may enter and will be judged based on their accomplishments in running a financially successful, women-owned company, showing leadership in their community and mentoring or giving back to support other women or girls.
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The Spring membership drive starts tomorrow, March 1. New members save $47 through April 30! Learn more and share with the women business owners in your circle that will benefit from joining NAWBO.
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Sandra Lee is a recognized leader in the advertising industry where many Fortune 500 companies have benefited from her counsel, providing strategic solutions to expand markets and drive growth. Her vast business expertise and industry knowledge areas include digital marketing; multicultural marketing; public and non-profit board experience; human capital management, and diversity & inclusion.
Ms. Lee is the President and CEO of ES Advertising, a Los Angeles based full-service advertising agency specializing in multicultural markets. ES Advertising has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Asian American advertising agencies in the nation by leading trade publication Advertising Age since 2005.
Her impressive client list includes top Fortune 500 brands such as Samsung, Walt Disney, and General Motors. She led and oversaw their international launches, amplifying their messaging to targeted consumers, generating increased demand, and boosting market share. In addition, she has expedited organizations’ repositioning, enabling them to seamlessly move from a traditional marketing environment to embracing a more strategic digital platform.
Currently, Ms. Lee also serves as a board member to Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System, overseeing the management of $20 billion dollars in pension funds, member health benefits, and reviewing city employee disability claims.
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Courageous conversations are the start of any healing process. Join NAWBO and the National Federation for Just Communities (NFJC) of WNY, Inc. for a monthly virtual series of DEIB Circle events starting in November designed to empower, encourage and support you in your diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B) journey.
We’ll explore:
- Ways we communicate with one another
- How to become better listeners (a skill we need now more than ever!)
- Social issues that impact our ability to empathize
- How to understand our differences
Become an active participant in overcoming the many divides that separate us! Each session will bring our community closer together in a DEIB Circle format for respectful dialogue with the goal of learning from and with one another. Sessions begin with large group discussions followed by facilitated small group conversations.
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SESSION DATES
Times: 3:00
Click on the dates to register
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Advocacy & Legislation Reports |
The new legislative session began a few weeks ago. Read more to see what's happening in the world of state public policy and see what bills we're tracking below. |
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NAWBO-Sacramento is busy pulling together corporate sponsorship for the Outstanding Women Leaders (OWL) awards on the evening of April 14. This is the first event at the new Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) on the Sacramento River and NAWBO-Sacramento will have the entire museum the night of April 14!
Twenty-five amazing women business owner-nominees will experience our version of "The Academy Awards," complete with video clip interviews of the nominees. They will be invited to a pre-event party on April 7 to meet their sponsors, other nominees, and the NAWBO board at the private Sutter Club downtown. Donations from the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, Oracle, The Principal Financial Group, Robert Half, Sacramento State, and others will join us in honoring our local women business owners, and their contribution to our special part of California.
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