As the FWA’s May 9 India Conference approached, FWA President Kristin McDonough hosted a small breakfast for Poonam Barua. Barua, the convener of the India-based Women's Leadership Forum, was travelling in the U.S. to promote WLL's efforts to raise the profile of women as societal business leaders in Indian-based multi-nationals.  Last spring, the FWA Professional Liaison Committee had arranged for FWA members to hear about Barua's ground-breaking work in India at an event hosted by President's Circle member KPMG.  Since that time, WLL has not only held three conferences for executives from top Indian firms, it has also commissioned surveys and compiled best practices reports.

As so often happens in the FWA, this targeted networking breakfast produced contacts that we were able to use immediately.  Barua invited Shoya Zichy to offer her interactive career exploration exercises at a future WLL meeting in India. 

The breakfast also strengthened the communication between FWA and Asia Society which agreed to become an outreach partner for our Indian Opportunity conference on May 9.  Mira Kamdar, author of Planet India and a fellow at the Asia Society, agreed to moderate our panel on the India consumer. Jyoti Bhagavan, India conference co-chair and Kristin McDonough were invited to hear Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi at the Asia Society a few weeks later.

Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, is a convener of the International Women's Entrepreneurial Competition (IWEC) which last year awarded Sneh Mehtani one of its three NYC entrepreneurship awards. Mehtani in fact had just returned from accompanying Ploeger and the MCC delegation to the 2009 IWEC Awards in Delhi. Imagine our mutual delight that Mehtani, the 2008 Golden Plate awardee for best restaurant from the New Jersey Restaurant Association, is providing the catering for the FWA’s The Indian Opportunity luncheon and cocktail reception.

(l-r): Judy Chen, Asia Society, Shirley Leung, International Business Consultant, Poonam Barua, convener Women's Leadership Forum, Nancy Ploeger, president Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, FWA members Kristin McDonough, Shoya Zichy, Pat Morrill, Lily Blake, and July Kilachand, Asia Society.