The White House & Athena Center Team Up

As you have probably heard, President Barack Obama will be delivering the commencement address at Barnard College in May and will undoubtedly highlight federal policies that improve the status of women and girls and the importance of women’s leadership across the nation.  This will not be the first visit by White House officials this year.   On Friday, February 3, the Athena Center teamed up with the White House Business Council, the White House Council on Women and Girls, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, to host an Urban Economic Forum on Barnard’s campus.  Over 350 women entrepreneurs from across the region heard from a host of successful women entrepreneurs and other leaders including Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama; Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff for First Lady Michelle Obama; Maria Bartiromo, CNBC anchor; and Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post President and Editor-in-Chief among many others.  The Forum highlighted public policies that create private-sector jobs and support a growing number of women entrepreneurs who will strengthen our economy and compete globally.

Athena Center Heads to India

Next week, the Athena Center heads out to Mumbai for the fourth annual Barnard College Global Symposium: Women Changing India.

The program will feature panels on social activism, entrepreneurship, and the arts with preeminent women of the region—leaders in government, commerce, media, and the arts—who are coming together to share their stories of success and their unique perspectives on how they continue to shape and develop India.   Kathryn Kolbert, Director of the Athena Center will moderate one of the panels and have the opportunity to interact with these wonderful women leaders.  On the day before the symposium, Barnard is sponsoring a leadership program with 100 local high school and college students, which will include leadership workshops created and run by six Barnard students.  Thanks to Credit Suisse, the sponsor of the Symposium.

Follow Kathryn Kolbert as she tweets while in India: @AthenaKat

2nd Annual Film Festival a Great Success

Over 3000 people attended the 2nd annual Athena Film Festival held at Barnard Feb. 9-12.  There were a host of great films and stimulating conversations on women's leadership.  We screened to packed audiences 37 features, documentaries and shorts from across the globe, all featuring stories of women leaders.  
On Friday, engaged audiences attended two workshops for filmmakers sponsored by the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms.  The workshops, which streamed online, explored ways to produce and market films in this rapidly changing digital age.
The Thursday evening awards ceremony was emceed by comedienne Lizz Winstead. Athena Awards were presented to The Fempire writers, Diablo Cody, Liz Meriwether, Lorene Scafaria and Dana Fox; Broadway Playwright and creator of the new hit TV series Smash, Theresa Rebeck; Dee Rees and Nekisa Cooper, director and producer of Pariah and Moneyball Producer, Rachael Horovitz. In addition, Gloria Steinem presented Julie Taymor, director of stage and screen, with her Athena Award and Katie Couric ended the evening with a stirring tribute to the late Hollywood producer, Laura Ziskin and presented the first Laura Ziskin Lifetime Achievement Award to  Laura’s daughter, Julia Barry. Many thanks to the Festival sponsors and members of the honorary host committee for making it all possible.

For more information: www.athenafilmfestival.com

Athena Leadership Labs - Kick Start Your Own Business

This past weekend the Athena Leadership Center hosted Kick Start Your Own Business - weekend workshops for entrepreneurs. The package attracted a talented and diverse group of attendees with a variety of start-up businesses and ideas.These professionals were not only able to network with other burgeoning entrepreneurs, but learn the fundamental skills to kick start their business from seasoned experts - covering the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, enhancing social media to grow their business and successfully communicating their pitch.  From tea aficionados to software companies to organic beauty products, it was an inspiring and motivational weekend. Stay tuned for our next weekend seminar and see all our Leadership Labs at:

Athena Center Events

CARE USA President to Give Power Talk on April 10

We are proud to welcome Dr. Helene D. Gayle '76 as a speaker in our Spring Power Talks series. Dr. Gayle is president and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization with approximately 10,000 staff whose poverty fighting programs reach 82 million people in 87 countries. She will also receive the Barnard Medal of Distinction at commencement in May.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
7–8:30 p.m.
Sulzberger Parlor, Barnard Hall