The Woman to Woman conference that I attended, which is run by Fast Company, has been really amazing so far! The conference is about examining "the strategic, economic, social, and cultural aspects of being a female business leader in the twenty-first century." I was asked to share my view on what the characteristics will be for the next generation of leaders.

I was amazed to be among such an incredibly impressive and influential group of women. Here's the list of speakers (taken from the fast company website: www.fastcompany.com/woman)

Robyn Benincasa, director of Fun, World Class Team Po Bronson, best-selling author, What Should I Do with My Life?
Deborah Brooks, executive eirector, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease
Paula Chauncey, managing partner, etre IIc
Anna Deavere Smith, playwright, actor & professor
Liz Dolan, creator & co-host, Sattelite Sister
Barbara Ehrenreich, social commentator, journalist, & best-selling author,
Nickel and Dimed and Global Woman
Mindy Grossman, vice president of Global Apparel, Nike
Jane Harper, director, University Talent Programs, IBM
Margaret Heffernan, author, entrepreneur & former CEO, iCAST
Marsha "Marty" Johnson Evans, president & CEO, American Red Cross
Ann Kaplan, advisory director for Private Wealth Mangement Division, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Monica Luechtefeld, executive VP, e-Commerce, Office Depot
Katharine Mieszkowski, senior writer, Salon.com
Mary Lou Quinlan, author, Just Ask a Woman: Cracking the Code of What Women Want and How They Buy
Bonnie Reitz, senior VP, sales, marketing and distribution, Continental Airlines
Ivy Ross, senior VP Design & Development Girls Division, Mattel
Libby Sartain, SVP, Human Resources & Chief People Yahoo, Yahoo! Inc.
Rayona Sharpnack, Founder & President, Institute for Women's Leadership
Linda Thomas Brooks, EVP, General Motors
Sharon Whiteley, president & CEO, Third Age
Darcy Winslow, global director for Women's Performance Footware, Nike
Shoshana Zuboff, profesor of business administration, Harvard Business
School, founder and faculty chair ODESSEY


I have such a sense of respect for these remarkable women and hope to encourage some of them to include TakingITGlobal as part of conversations about how young people are affecting change in the world!

The Planet Work Conference (www.planetwork.net) was wonderful. It took place from 6-8th with a special technology collaboration discussion. The conference was about how we are "using technological tools to mobilize, strengthen civil society and promote a more just, peaceful and sustainable world".

I made a presentation with Jonah Wittkamper (from the Global Youth Action Network) on the topic of Online Communities. Our co-panelists were Leif Utne from Utne Magazine and Craig Newmark, the founder of Craig's List. It went INCREDIBLY well!! People expressed sincere gratitude for the work that we are doing and said that gave them a sense of hope. I was approached by many technologists who were interested in how our platform works and had the opportunity to connect with some very committed and warm-hearted people.

It's great to have strong technology-savvy activist appreciate the work of TIG.