Whether it was the appointment of Marissa Mayer as CEO of Yahoo, or the best selling “Lean In,” by Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandburg, the media dubbed 2013 “The Year of the Woman” with high hopes for emerging female leadership. Consistent with the year’s theme, Mansfield’s chapter of Key4Women has grown significantly with a 33 percent uptick in membership.
Vice President of Business Banking at KeyBank Sally Gesouras explained that Key4Women is a specific outreach program for women-owned businesses and women who are decision makers in their businesses of employ. The national program provides access to capital, education and networking opportunities through local chapters.
“We’re very pleased with the growth of the program,” said Gesouras.
In addition to networking and education, the Mansfield group also participates in charity projects. The last event of the year was a wine tasting and silent auction hosted by the Happy Grape in Lexington. Local businesses donated items for the auction, and the proceeds will be donated to Richland County Children’s Services to provide Holiday gifts for children in foster care.
“Usually other networking opportunities are dominated by men. Sometimes getting out and meeting other women, especially women in business is a real challenge with all that they have on their plate. Key4Women is different. It isn’t about sales. It’s a way for women to get to know professionals in other companies who can support each other and serve as a resource,” said Hailey Kinnamon, Co-Director of Mansfield Key4Women.
The Happy Grape was pleased to sponsor the holiday event in part because Jennifer Blue, the general manager, is a member of Key4Women.
“I just love being able to meet women from all these industries. I’m at work all the time and I just wouldn’t get a chance to meet these women otherwise,” said Blue.
In “Lean In” Sandburg wrestles with the shrinking numbers of women in the corporate workforce and the miniscule percentage that reach the “C-Suite,” but she misses something Key4Women understands well: entrepreneurship.
Despite the numbers Sandburg cites, 58 percent of women are in the workforce, which is just 6 percent less than men. She claims they’re dropping out for family responsibilities, but the numbers indicate otherwise. So where have they gone then?
Apparently they’re leaning out. Women-owned companies are growing at a rate one and a half times greater than male-owned companies and Key4Women is actively nurturing the success of these women and their businesses.
Mary Bolin, President and founder of My Town Partners, is just one of many entrepreneurs who is a loyal member of the Mansfield chapter. “It’s the best way to network with other women, what I love is the camaraderie. There isn’t another group like this is town, I just love it.”
Co-Chairs Hailey Kinnamon and Dara Shade are planning to continue the momentum in 2014 with expanded educational opportunities and field trips.
To follow Key4Women Mansfield follow them on Facebook.
If interested in joining email: Mansfield_Key4Women@keybank.com
“I just love being able to meet women from all these industries. I’m at work all the time and I just wouldn’t get a chance to meet these women otherwise,” said Jennifer Blue of the Happy Grape.
