APRIL 2016 www.fw-chicago.com
JULIE SMOLYANSKY Lifeway Foods CEO Speaks Up for Women THE
changemakers 2016
THE WOMEN WHO ARE CHANGING CHICAGO
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our thoughts
SPRING INSPIRATIONS
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You asked for it, and we delivered. Never miss an issue. Subscribe monthly at fw-chicago.com/ iloveprint
Last summer when we announced the launch of FW: Chicago—new publication for Chicago women, Julie Smolyansky reached out to share her excitement about the magazine. One coffee meeting led to an ongoing conversation, and it became clear she had a story and passion that we needed to share with our readers. I am sure you will agree she is not only an enviable businesswoman but also a true changemaker in the lives she has touched and the causes she supports. She leads our Changemakers 2016 list. As you read through the April issue, you will find it is powerpacked with several other Chicago women who have dedicated their lives and careers to making our community a better place. We had the opportunity to speak with K. Sujata from The Chicago Foundation for Women and Nancy Wright, CEO of The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana—both of which are empowering and aiding women and girls. Finally, spring style takes center stage in both our fashion spread filled with vibrant colors and bold pieces as well as fashioninspired home trends. As always, we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoy bringing it to you!
Kendra Chaplin Publisher + Founder kendra@fw-chicago.com 4
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APRIL 2016
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Where to find us! Distributed gratis throughout the city. You will find us at more than 500 locations— your local coffee shop, office building, mail room, and even the street corner boxes.
APRIL 2016
Publisher + Founder
Kendra Chaplin kendra@fw-chicago.com
Associate Publisher Valerie Kahan val@fw-chicago.com Editorial Director Jennifer Smith Tapp jennifer@fw-chicago.com
Managing Editor Rebecca Taras-Lee rebecca@fw-chicago.com
Associate Editor Alicia Sparrow alicia@fw-chicago.com
Contributing Style Editors Brandon Frein Arlene Matthews style@fw-chicago.com Design Director Travis Rothe travis@fw-chicago.com Digital Manager Molly Koeneman molly@fw-chicago.com Social Media Manager Alia Rajput alia@fw-chicago.com main office 806 West Washington Boulevard, Suite 204 Chicago, Illinois 60607 hello@fw-chicago.com advertising sales@fw-chicago.com pr + media For all PR pitches and related inquiries, email pitch@fw-chicago.com. editorial submissions fw-chicago.com/editorial-submissions social life submissions fw-chicago.com/social-life event postings fw-chicago.com/events/submit.html Copyright 2016 FW Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. FW: Chicago is published by FW Publishing LLC. Materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of FW: Chicago.
www.fw-chicago.com
For a full list of locations, fw-chicago.com/findus
APRIL 2016
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APRIL 2016
s r e k a m e g n cha
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OUR INAUGURAL LIST OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHICAGOANS.
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JULIE SMOLYANSKY The CEO of Lifeway Foods speaks up for women through her various projects, causes, and passions.
A CONVERSATION WITH…
THAN 16 MORE SELLING COOKIES Nancy Wright, CEO of The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
OUR THOUGHTS 4
8 CALENDAR 10
CULTURE WATCH
12
TAKE NOTE
WOMEN TO WATCH 20
42
BEAUTY BOX
50 WHAT’S IN HER BAG? Fashion designer Elena Bobysheva shares her essentials.
PAY IT FORWARD 58 Megan Selck, Loaves and Fishes
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Cover: Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky photographed by Heather Talbert
56 Old
School Cool
44
Tried and true Chicago restaurants that have stood the test of time.
GO BOLD
39 THE MENTOR Why “How Does She Do It?” is not the right question to ask anymore.
Vibrant accessories and jewelry take center stage for spring.
ET YOUR CAREER 21 GGOALS BACK ON TRACK
40 Q&A 18 INSPIRING SMALL
36
TECH
CONVERSATIONS
CIO and Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Innovation and Technology Brenna Berman.
with Laurie Barry
50 H aute Couture Home Interior designer
BUSINESS OWNERS Emilia Di Menco, president and CEO of WBDC, on how to jumpstart your business with corporate and government contracts.
contributors
Nora Schneider shows you how to bring the runway into your home.
14 Don’t Let Guilt Trip Up Your Parenting EAR OF 22 YFINANCIAL
EMPOWERMENT
Lisa B. Frank
Lisa B. Frank is the CEO of LBF Recruitment Strategies, an executive search and career coaching firm that helps companies grow bigger and stronger by hiring the right top talent. LBF also works with professionals at all levels to navigate today’s competitive job search process, and to reach their career dreams. Frank wrote “Get Your Career Goals Back on Track” for this issue.
Linda Benjamin
Linda Benjamin, LCSW, ACSW, CSAC, ACCH is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and substance abuse counselor for adolescents, young adults, families, couples, and groups. Specializing in depression and anxiety disorders; managing bi-polar disorder; changing old; unwanted behaviors/stuck places; and processing traumas through hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioral work. Benjamin wrote “Don’t Let Your Guilt Trip Up Your Parenting”, for this issue.
EVERY WOMAN IS HER OWN CFO
APRIL 2016
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CULTURE WATCH
MIAMI CITY BALLET April 29 & 30, 2016 Miami City Ballet, led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez, debuts at Harris Theater accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. The company is known for its distinct musicality, interpretive artistry, great speed and attack, technical clarity, and ability to move seamlessly between diverse dance genres including classical, contemporary, and modern. With only two performances, this lands on top of our Culture Watch list. For more information, visit harristheaterchicago.org.
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MARTIN PURYEAR: MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM
Through May 3, 2016
April 5–May 1, 2016
Often what we see when we wander through the galleries of a museum are the finished products of an artist’s vision. The processes leading up to the final pieces are usually confined to the studio or long-lost sketchbooks. Highlighting more than 100 sketches and prints, as well as 12 of Puryear’s sculptures, this exhibit lets viewers in on his inspirations and methodology.
Jabari Dreams of Freedom, is a timely new production by award-winning playwright Nambi E. Kelley. Jabari is a young boy who is scared and confused by the turbulent world around him. He escapes to the Civil Rights era through his colorful paintings, where he interacts with children from the past—including a young Barack Obama. Tickets start at $10.
The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Avenue. For more information, visit artic.edu.
Chicago Childrens Theatre at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 North Dearborn Street. For more information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
MARY PAIGE MARLOWE March 31–May 29, 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright—Tracy Letts’—(August: Osage County) latest play, Mary Page Marlowe, is the portrait of a surprisingly complicated woman. It shows us how circumstance, impulse, and time can combine to make us mysteries… even to ourselves. Tickets start at $30. Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 North Halsted Street. For more information, visit steppenwolf.org.
BEYOND THE BINARY Through April 25, 2016 Curated by Janice Bond, this unique photography exhibit is an intergenerational and intercultural sisterhood, a new form of cultural mapping built on the trust, liberation, and love of women from around the world and from comrades to the coven. Woman Made Gallery, 685 North Milwaukee Avenue. For more information, visit womanmade.org.
35MM: A MUSICAL EXPEDITION
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Through April 10, 2016 If a picture is worth 1,000 words—what about a song? This multimedia musical by Ryan Scott Oliver explores a groundbreaking new concept in musical theatre. It intricately weaves together a collection of stories told through song and re-imagines what the modern American musical can be.
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Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Avenue. For more information, visit circletheatrechicago.org. APRIL 2016
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r u o y k r ma calendar
Join FW: Chicago as we kick off our monthly networking series.
APRIL 13, 2016 Art & Mingle
APRIL 13, 2016
Professional Women’s Club of Chicago April Luncheon The Professional Women’s Club of Chicago’s progressive luncheon is a fast-paced and exciting program, which is structured so that each participant will have an opportunity to introduce herself and describe her business, taking the stress and guesswork out of networking. Don’t forget to bring at least 40 business cards and marketing materials to pass out. A sell-out crowd is expected so reserve your spot early. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., and tickets are $55. Union League Club, 65 West Jackson Boulevard. For more information, visit pwcc.org.
In partnership with Woman Made Gallery, this event will include refreshments, wine, and an introduction to the current photography exhibit on display by Executive Director Sydney Stoudmire. Space is limited. Tickets are $25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Woman Made Gallery. Woman Made Gallery, 685 North Milwaukee Avenue.
APRIL 15, 2016
2016 Women in the Forefront Luncheon The Chicago Network’s annual luncheon will feature Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments, in conversation with Sally Blount, dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. The Chicago Network’s mission to connect women leaders and pay it forward to the next generation is embraced at this highly anticipated event—one of the most prestigious women-led professional events in the city. The event begins at 11:15 a.m. Chicago Hilton & Towers, 720 South Michigan Avenue. For more information, visit thechicagonetwork.org.
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For more information on FW: Chicago networking events, please visit fw-chicago.com/ networking.
APRIL 23, 2016
APRIL 24–28, 2016
APRIL 25, 2016
House of Cards Casino Night
Smart Money Week
The Marillac St. Vincent Family Services Associate Board hosts an evening of games, libations, and revelry at the 5th annual House of Cards Casino Night. The proceeds support the mission of helping those who need it most through quality early childhood education and care, youth programs, services for pregnant and parenting teens, comprehensive senior care, and interventions that help people out of crisis and onto a path of security and wellness. The event takes place from 7 p.m.–11 p.m., and tickets are $85.
Smart Money Week was initiated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002 to promote financial literacy. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and DyMynd are partnering to bring the Chicago area a series of dynamic events with a stellar lineup of speakers and networking opportunities. The events will focus on four ways we can that will focus on four ways that we can impact wage equality and help women obtain financial empowerment: EARN, INVEST, SPEND and GIVE. Ticket prices are $10 per event.
Tribute to Achievement
Chop Shop, 2033 West North Avenue. For more information, visit marillacstvincent.org.
Several events throughout the week. For more information, visit ywcachicago.org
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APRIL 2016
The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s Annual Benefit honors the achievements of civic and corporate leaders and the impact that they have had on today’s girls. This year’s honorees include Wendy Davidsion of Kellogg Company and Carla Michelotti of Leo Burnett Worldwide, as well as coporate appreciation award recipient, Navigant. Ticket prices are $500. Several events throughout the week. For more information, visit ywcachicago.org
APRIL 27, 2016
The 3rd Annual International Women’s Forum Spring Dinner The 3rd Annual International Women’s Forum Chicago’s Spring Dinner will feature Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech, as keynote speaker. Holmgren is one of Forbes’ 11 women who started amazing companies—the LanzaTech process is on the leading edge of the clean energy industry. Opens with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $300. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago. 221 North Columbus Drive. For more information, visit iwfchicago.org.
APRIL 30, 2016 MAY 2, 2016
One Hope United Fashion Fundraiser A “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” event at Le Thrift Consignment is a fabulous way to spend a Saturday morning with bubbles, bites, manicures, shopping discounts, and raffles benefiting One Hope United. 11a.m.–2 p.m. Tickets are $30.
The Executives’ Club’s Women’s Leadership Breakfast
Le Thrift Consignment, 1821 West Chicago Avenue. For more information, visit facebook.com/LeThrift.
This quarterly event has become Chicago’s largest speakers’ forum dedicated to the needs and interests of business and professional women. Megan Smith, United States’ Chief Technology Officer, will be the keynote speaker. 7:15 a.m.–9:15 a.m. Tickets start at $59.
MAY 7, 2016
Chicago Kids and Kites Festival Up, up and away... With kite-related activities for children as well as face painting and a candy drop, this fun-filled family event is a celebration of springtime in Chicago. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park (Lake Shore Drive, between Montrose & Wilson). For more information, visit chicagokidsandkites.us.
The Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe Street. For more information, visit executivesclub.org.
Anixter Center’s
5th Annual Benefit for Ability:
Advocating for All Abilities
Honoring Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke
WHEN Friday, May 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE Winter Garden Harold Washington Library Center 400 South State Street, 9th Floor Chicago, Illinois
FEATURING DINNER, DANCING, NETWORKING, RAFFLE, PADDLE RAISE, AND ENTERTAINMENT. All proceeds will support Anixter Center’s mission of helping children, teens and adults with disabilities and related challenges live, learn, work and play in the community.
TO RSVP OR MAKE A DONATION
www.anixter.org/benefit-for-ability or contact Patrick Hanrahan at 847-869-5423.
APRIL 2016
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e t o n e k a t DRESS SHOPPING MADE FUN! Always a bridesmaid and never a bride? Chicago native Dayna Shay created Bubbling Brides, to take the pain away from bridesmaid dress shopping. Bubbling Brides’ at-home parties bring the dresses to the bridesmaids in a comfortable setting where they try them and get fitted. A few weeks later, the dresses arrive at their door. If partying isn’t your thing, this e-commerce site also allows for an at-home sample option. Check it out at bubblingbrides.com.
The Courage Solution When you have the nickname “The Velvet Hammer,” you know that you are the go-to person when tough news needs to be delivered with an eye toward mitigating any collateral damage. During her time as chief performance officer at Beam, Inc., Mindy Mackenzie led her team by telling the truth while maintaining a professional demeanor. In her new book, The Courage Solution, Mackenzie teaches professionals of all levels how to create the career they want, develop productive relationships with their employees and create the most effective teams—all while learning effective truth-telling. Available May 1 on amazon.com.
DESTINATION ICELAND Icelandair is now offering direct flights from Chicago to Reykjavik. Iceland is the perfect stopover on your way to Europe and boasts breathtaking landscapes (think northern lights and volcanic terrain), geothermal spas, including the famed Blue Lagoon, and a fascinating cultural scene of arts, dining and museums. This is one destination that should be on your bucket list, especially now that it’s so convenient with flights 4 times per week! For more information, visit icelandair.com. 12
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Have insights and ideas to share? Let us know! editor@fw-chicago.com
PROMOTION
CULINARY CARE For those undergoing treatment for cancer, keeping up with everyday family responsibilities can be challenging. Thanks to Culinary Care, feeding their families is one less thing that cancer patients have to worry about. Started three years ago by Courtney White, Culinary Care delivers free meals that have been donated by some of the city’s most well-known restaurants. White, who lost her father to cancer, recalls her own family receiving meals from other families throughout her father’s treatment and wanted to return the favor. For more information or to volunteer, visit culinarycare.org.
BIRDIES Your grandmother may have had the pink terrycloth version, but now you have a fashionable opion. Birdies was founded by Marisa Sharkey and Bianca Gates and offers several styles starting at $120. Available at birdiesslippers.com.
The Benefits of Running for Charity
by The Fitness Formula Clubs Team
Training for a marathon or half-marathon can be daunting whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned veteran, but training through a charity program can make the experience fun, easy, and rewarding. Charity training programs typically include perks such as free race entries, group runs and race day VIP amenities before and after the race. Team Bright Pink, a local charity providing women’s breast and ovarian cancer awareness and Team To End AIDS (T2), the training program from the Aids Foundation of Chicago, both partner with Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC) to provide one of the most comprehensive marathon training experiences in the country. The program has trained well over a thousand runners and helped raise over $2 million for charity. The organization lives by the tagline “if you can run a mile, you can run a marathon.” The FFC program features up to five weekly workouts lead by one of Chicago’s best teams,
with over 250 marathon finishes among their 10 top certified coaches, plus a full health club membership, clinics from registered dietitians, boot camps, advanced performance testing and more. Running for a charity partner also offers invaluable experiences to runners they may not otherwise get. “Athletes return to T2 for the friendships and camaraderie from participants and coaches. The T2 family shares in triumphs and tears that come with training for endurance sports and crossing the finish line,” said Jonathan Harris, Director of T2. “When you’re running for a charity, it provides extra motivation for you – whether you’re going out for a training run or hitting the pavement on race day, you know you’re doing it for a bigger cause than yourself. Many times it will be in someone’s honor, or to pay it forward to help other people receive access to lifesaving education or programs,” said Erin Williams, Director of Marketing for Bright Pink.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE ORGANIZATIONS, PLEASE VISIT: Fitness Formula Clubs—ffc.com/running Team To End AIDS (T2)—www.t2ea.com Team Bright Pink—teambrightpink.org
DON’T LET GUILT TRIP UP YOUR PARENTING by Linda Benjamin, LCSW
So often we feel guilty setting limits with our children. But setting limits, particularly when it “hurts us more than it does them,” shows them we care. When we say “no” appropriately, we delay gratification ourselves, withstanding our children’s withdrawal and possible acting-out. We must remember we are not our children’s friend, but their most influential guidance counselors and role models. Where is the lesson if we allow our children no consequences for unwise behaviors? Our children may like us, but we’re doing them no favors. As a parent, teacher, and family therapist, I know that it benefits children to make mistakes and learn from their consequences. Still, it is hard for loving parents to stand by as their child makes poor grades or bad decisions. Setting reasonable limits keeps our children safe and helps them
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integrate their own inner wise parent, to later negotiate the adult world. Also, good limit-setting (this does not apply to anything endangering their health or safety) gets our children used to the real world, where not every bad decision is forgiven and consequences can be dire: a lost job, a botched education, a legal conundrum, or the end of an important relationship. However, we must watch our tone and intent when setting limits. If we sound angry rather than empathic, we might look as if we are not acting in their best interest but instead out of our own anger or our own power-struggle issues.
Don’t lecture, yell, warn, or threaten. Children need to experience you as their loving consultant; they need to see you as being on their side. Never punish out of revenge, your untreated past traumas, your addiction problems, or mood disorder. The behavior of our adolescents and pre-adolescents can stir up hard-to-admit feelings, like jealousy and traumas from our own family history. Instead, seek help before permanent damage is done to your children. Unless you deal with your issues, the chasms you create with your children may never be healed. “An ounce of guilt is worth a pound of resentment,” especially when our children depend on us for love and protection. fw,
Linda Benjamin, LCSW, ACSW, CSAC, ACCH, is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and substance abuse counselor for adolescents, young adults, families, couples, and groups. Specializing in depression and anxiety disorders; managing bi-polar disorder; changing old, unwanted behaviors/stuck places; and processing traumas through hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioral work. ** Credit goes to “Love & Logic Parenting,” as I use many of the concepts I learned as a Certified “Love & Logic Parenting” teacher.
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The modern Girl Scout has evolved beyond camping and cookies. Today’s Brownies and Junior scouts could just as easily be found taking notes from some of the city’s top female CEOs or learning how to build robots. FW: Chicago asked Nancy Wright, CEO of The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, to offer some insight into why this isn’t “your grandmother’s Girl Scouts” anymore.
a conversation with NANCY WRIGHT
Interview by Jennifer Smith Tapp
CEO OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA
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WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND? WERE YOU A GIRL SCOUT GROWING UP?
My professional background—a blend of for-profit and nonprofit experiences within various industries—has provided me with the professional and personal development to serve as the leader for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. And, yes, I was a Girl Scout growing up! One of my favorite memories was visiting the children’s zoo at Brookfield Zoo and feeding the animals. I thought that was the coolest. And, of course, I loved camping. I also served as the leader for my daughter’s troop and quickly learned that the organization had evolved since I was a Girl Scout.
HOW HAS THE GIRL SCOUTS ADAPTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY YOUNG GIRLS? We understand that girls and parents are busier than ever juggling school as well as extracurricular and social activities. Girl Scouts is unique because we offer a multidimensional, interdisciplinary way for girls to develop their strengths, passions, and talents and explore subjects of interest to them such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), financial literacy and entrepreneurship, healthy living, and both domestic and international travel opportunities. The world is changing so fast; some of the businesses that are here won’t exist in 10 years, and there are others we haven’t even imagined yet. We’re teaching girls life skills—problem solving, effective communication, resiliency, and collaboration—that transcend changes and are applicable in all situations and industries.
HOW DOES THE MODERN GIRL SCOUTS TEACH YOUNG GIRLS ABOUT LEADERSHIP? As the largest
girl-led organization in the world, Girl Scouts provides numerous possibilities for cooperative and hands-on learning. According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, Girl Scouts members are more likely to become leaders in their schools and communities. That’s because at least 75 percent of girls who experience “learning by doing” become better at conflict resolution, problem solving, team building, and cooperation and develop a more positive sense of self.
many young women actually pursue careers in these fields, so we decided to do something about it. Today, we offer a robust STEM program that includes LEGO robotic tournaments and coding workshops and culminates in our annual STEMapalooza event, where hundreds of Girl Scouts discover the fun and excitement surrounding STEM. The best way to learn about potential careers is by experiencing them firsthand, so we developed Project Finance Track and Project Law Track, both of which offer a series of interactive sessions that introduce girls to these fascinating fields. During
We’re teaching girls life skills—problem solving, effective communication, resiliency, and collaboration… Take, for example, the young Girl Scout who wrote a letter to Hasbro demanding to know why Rey, the heroine from the new Star Wars movie, was excluded from the Monopoly game. Or the Brownie troop that wrote to Gov. Rick Snyder about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. These girls are taking the skills they learned in scouting and standing up for what they believe is right.
HOW DO NEW PROGRAMS, LIKE CAMP CEO, PROJECT FINANCE TRACK, AND STEMAPALOOZA, PREPARE GIRLS FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS? We noticed a gap
between how many younger girls express interest in STEM and how
these sessions, girls work with top local financial advisors and attorneys who offer hands-on mentoring and career guidance. There’s also Camp CEO, which is a fun, five-day overnight camp that pairs teen girls with some of the top women executives in the Chicago area. They learn what it’s really like to be a female leader in today’s world. They’re exposed to girls and women from different communities, faiths, and ethnicities/races— some for the first time. They also value the transparency these women offer about the lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers and their lives. It is important for girls to understand that perfection is a myth. Continued on page 55
APRIL 2016
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WBDC INSPIRING WOMEN
Jumpstart Your Small Business By Emilia DiMenco
Last time, this column addressed how the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) status and certifications can be an important first step to business growth. These certifications are important because they document to corporate and government buyers that a company is legitimately women-, minority-, and/or military veteran-owned. This month, we’re sharing tips on how to leverage those certifications. Getting certified does not automatically guarantee business, but it opens doors to millions of dollars in contracts. The federal government, for example, mandates that five percent of its contracts be awarded to women-owned firms. Also, many large corporations have supplier diversity programs and objectives for diverse businesses to reach their customer, talent, and innovation goals. If you want to take your business to the next level with corporate and government contracts, here are four steps to ensure you succeed. MARKET YOUR BUSINESS CERTIFICATION. Set yourself up for success by placing your certification logo on your marketing materials such as your website, business cards, brochures, and the signature line of your email. Share the news about your certification in a press release, on social media
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and in letters to prospective and existing customers. Prospect for leads by making sure you complete your profile on websites such as the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC is the largest, third-party certifier of Women’s Business Enterprises and has 14 regional partners, including the WBDC. ATTEND PROCUREMENT WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS. Many government agencies, women’s business centers, procurement technical assistance centers, and corporations offer free workshops and one-on-one counseling on how to get contracts. Their counsel will provide insights and tips that give you an edge over competitors and help you avoid costly mistakes. Some organizations also hold “matchmaking” events where you can meet managers and contracting officers and begin developing relationships with them. IDENTIFY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. You’ll need to be proactive if you want to win contracts. Select a few agencies and/or corporations that use your types of products or services and sign up to get notifications about contracts. If
you want a federal contract for example, visit fbo.gov, which lists all the contracts available for bid and information on future contracts. Some business owners prefer to target only government organizations or corporations— it’s a decision you’ll have to make based on the best opportunities for your services or products. Once you receive a contract, deliver great service, and you may find that buyers become repeat customers. PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. Government and corporate contracting is a bidding process, and you’ll likely have competitors. Know that not all of your bids will result in new business. Furthermore, winning and fulfilling a contract has its own set of challenges. For example, you may need a business loan to cover the expenses associated with hiring more employees to fulfill the terms of the contract. Is the process worth it? Before you decide, consider this. When you win contracts, you’re not just making a difference for you and your employees. You’re supporting your state, your community, and the USA. I say: go for it! fw
Emilia DiMenco is president and CEO of the Women’s Business Development Center, an organization that provides services to prospective, emerging, and established business owners, including workshops, business counseling, and annual events. For more information, visit www.wbdc.org.
THE YEAR OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
every woman is her own Data shows that
72%
of every dollar spent in the U.S. goes through a woman’s wallet.
We all have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” Being your own CFO is a thing you get a lot of practice doing. Here are two tips to help you gain more confidence in your CFO role: CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT CAREFULLY.
A study found 25 percent of credit reports contained serious errors. It’s up to you to correct them. KEEP TRACK OF ALL YOUR CREDIT CARD PURCHASES.
Sites like expensify.com help you keep up with what you have been spending.
CFO
As a woman, mother, or wife—and any combination thereof—you are your own CFO (Chief Financial Officer or Chief Family Officer) and probably don’t recognize your role and its importance. by Monika Black and Carolyn Leonard We women are economic custodians and powerhouses! Studies show that we make 60 percent of investment decisions and 79 percent of our families’ financial decisions. The auto and residential real estate industries recognize our role and influence in purchasing as the primary decision makers. We are, by the way, also the primary decisionmakers regarding education and health care. We make money decisions every day. And yet, many women say they don’t understand finance or money. But you do understand. Women all too often don’t give themselves credit for all they do and know. Men are much better at doing this. A facetious tale I heard is on point: Company ABC was creating a new division focused on “breastfeeding” and looking for a seasoned executive to lead the effort. The senior women at ABC fretted that they didn’t have enough experience,
because either they a) breast fed one child, or b) they only breast fed for a couple of months. Enter a man, who raised his hand and put forth his candidacy. The women at the table asked what made him think he was qualified. His answer: “I saw my wife breastfeed our child once.” The moral is that we women need to raise our hands, give ourselves credit for what we do, and recognize our value and experience, if we are going to compete. Being a CFO for yourself or your family is a role in which you are highly competent and experienced. If you only counted the number of times you made money decisions over the course of just one week, you would quickly come to recognize—and value—your own competency. We challenge you to do just that. fw
Carolyn Leonard and Monika Black are the co-founder and strategy analyst of DyMynd, a company that helps financial institutions build meaningful relationships with their female clients. Learn more about DyMynd at dymynd.com.
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n e m o w to watch SYDNEY STOUDMIRE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WOMAN MADE GALLERY Woman Made Gallery specializes in showcasing the work of female-identified artists, providing a platform for exhibition, professional development, as well as public discussion about what feminism means today. In her role as executive director, Stoudmire’s approach to curating is rooted in managing the evolving relationship between artists and curators; as artists become curators, and curators often function as producers and managers of exhibitions. Since its founding in 1992, Woman Made Gallery has exhibited more than 7,500 women artists. Stoudmire is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she earned dual degrees in Art History and Arts Administration, with a concentration in Photography and Contemporary Art. She is committed to creating exhibition opportunities for emerging artists of color, showcasing work that challenges gender and racial stereotypes, and providing low-income populations with contemporary arts exposure.
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What inspires you? Chicago can be a difficult city in which to be an arts professional, due to limited funding opportunities. What keeps me going is the incredible support system of hard-working women in this creative community. We push ourselves and each other, while celebrating wins, both big and small. It’s inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by women who truly want to see each other succeed. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? When you’re ambitious and careerdriven, it’s easy to put yourself on the back burner and not make time for what nurtures you, outside of your work. Some of the best advice I’ve received is to always prioritize self-care. I’ve received this advice from many mentors, but I’m constantly reminded by friend and colleague, Lauren Miller, who is the founder of Black Girl In Om, a platform that promotes holistic wellness. fw
MONICA JOYCE MS, RN, LDN, CDE FOUNDER, SLAM DUNK FOR DIABETES
For 35 years, Joyce has been the director of a diabetes program in an Endocrinology practice in downtown Chicago. In 2003, an article about ex-NBA player Chris Dudley’s basketball camp for children with diabetes inspired her to create a similar camp for children in Chicago. Today, Slam Dunk for Diabetes is the only free basketball camp for children with diabetes (including those with type 1 and 2) and prediabetes that also serves lowincome children without resources. A chance conversation with the wife of a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Bulls about Joyce’s idea was the beginning of something much bigger than she ever imagined. The first camp took place in 2004 in Chicago, and Joyce has since expanded the concept to other cities, including Rockford; Schererville, Indiana; Milwaukee; and Memphis, Tennessee.
What inspires you? I have found that inspiration sometimes comes when least expected. Ten years ago, I adopted a 14 year-old blind poodle named Annie. No one wanted her, and even her veterinarian was sure that, at her age, she wouldn’t survive another change and a new home. I decided to adopt her. Her many adventures, tenacity, and perseverance are life lessons that inspired my children’s book, The Adventures of Annie Bananie. She is the voice of the older dog, so often overlooked for adoption. It is a favorite book at my sister’s (a librarian) Chicago Public School, where often children identify with Annie’s challenges. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My mom would always say “If you do something that you love and are passionate about, do it well and be happy.”
DIANE KIEBER
DIRECTOR OF SALES, GESTURE Gesture is a Chicagoland technology company driven to help non-profits raise more money to support their causes. To date, Gesture has helped raise more than $225 million for 2,000-plus charity partners nationwide and causes ranging from homelessness to the arts to health and medical research. Kleber leads the national sales team, coaching and supporting team members to achieve the sales goals that help Gesture charity partners continue to do good work and uplift the lives of many. A longstanding volunteer dedicated to giving back, Kleber was drawn to Gesture’s mission to service nonprofits. It fuels her energy and commitment to bringing these partners valuable insights that help them increase their impact.
What inspires you? Connecting with people inspires me. I love to attend events and meet with our charity partners to learn about their mission and how they help people. Knowing we’ve helped them to make a difference—that inspires me to get up and go into work the next day. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? My family owned an electrical manufacturing company when I was growing up. It was a very male-dominated industry. My mother told me, “Diane, you know there are a lot of men in this industry. Never let anything stop you from being what you want to be, especially being a woman.” After that, I was never intimidated by anyone or anything. fw
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5 WAYS TO STICK TO YOUR CAREER GOALS
Take a moment to reflect on that quiet day when you made your New Year’s career resolutions. Remember how you felt?
It may have been especially important to you to focus on your career. You are long overdue for some real professional changes, and you know it. Whether it be a new job (or even a new career), getting that promotion, or maybe even making more money—these should be your top priority!
EMPOWERED. STRONG. CAPABLE. IMPACTFUL. DETERMINED.
Here are some easy, manageable steps to keep your goals alive:
by Lisa B. Frank
Go back there. Dig up that energy every time you feel like ditching out on a networking event or cancelling a coffee meeting with an old colleague. You’ll be glad you did.
BECOME ONE WITH YOUR GOALS Spend quality time with them.
Make sure they are what you really want before you commit to them. Dissect them. Peel back the layers, uncover the smaller achievable mini-goals beneath them, and write them down.
POST ‘EM This is key in keeping you motivated. How many times have you written down your goals or resolutions, and then you stick them in a drawer—only to find them 12 months later? This year POST THEM in a place where you can see them daily. The constant in-your-face reminder will keep you focused, energized, and excited about your path to success. MAKE A WEEKLY DATE With yourself. And, no cancelling. If you don’t dedicate time to your career, nobody else will. Block out a couple hours in your calendar (just as if you had a meeting with someone else) specifically to assess your goals, review your plans, do your research, send emails, apply for jobs, and reflect on your progress. BE AN “IN-PERSON” PERSON
I know you’re busy, but this is a must. Get out from behind the computer screen and go out and talk with other professionals. Attend conferences, go to your favorite charity events, have lunch with a mentor, or make a coffee date to reconnect with someone in your professional network. Commit to three or more of these meetings/events each month. Also, if your resume or online profiles need some love, now is the time to give it. You always want to be up-to-date and ready when surprises come your way.
GET EXTRA ACCOUNTABLE
Remember—you don’t have to go at it all alone. We all need a little extra push, support, or outside perspective every now and again. Engage a career coach or an accountability partner to keep you on your toes. Plus, it can never hurt to have another person in your corner to keep you positive, motivated, clear-headed, and on the right track. fw
Lisa B. Frank is the CEO of LBF Recruitment Strategies, an executive search and career coaching firm that helps companies grow bigger and stronger by hiring the right top talent. LBF also works with professionals (at all levels) to navigate today’s competitive job search process and to reach their career dreams. As a recruiter, connector, and coach, Lisa offers a relatable and “Frank” approach to all aspects of her work and life.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEATHER TALBERT | HAIR BY KELLY SARTI | MAKEUP BY ANASTASIA STATHIS
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THE CHANGEMAKER sky
n a y l o m S e i l Ju by Jennifer Smith Tapp
There is an oft-shared meme in circulation that reads “(insert name of overachiever) has the same number of hours in a day as you do.” It speaks to the incredible volume of work that said woman accomplishes during her waking hours. Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, and a busy activist, could easily be placed in that category—as an extraordinary “work ethic in motion,” both in her professional life and in her activism. At age 27, she became the youngest female CEO of a publicly-held firm when she took the helm of her family’s Morton Grove-based company, Lifeway Foods. Her family came to the area as immigrants from the then-Soviet Union when Smolyansky was young, eventually settling in Rogers Park. Watching her parents build their company from the ground up while being encouraged to follow in the footsteps of other strong and independent women served Smolyansky well as she came into her own as an outspoken advocate for gender equality and the safety of women and girls. Women’s History Month is the perfect time to shine a light on Smolyansky’s parallel career as a changemaker.
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Rape Victims’ Advocate Before joining her father to work at Lifeway Foods in 1997, Smolyansky was a rape counselor (she is still a certified rape crisis counselor) and was affected by the stories she heard—stories that are still front of mind for her and serve as fuel for her continued efforts to support sexual assault victims. “I was in more than 100 hospital rooms with victims over the course of three years. I saw the real dark side of society, but I also saw the bravery and courage that these survivors came through with,” Smolyansky recalls. She served as one of the executive producers on the award-winning documentary The Hunting Ground, a film about alleged rapes on college campuses and the harassment that female accusers face when they report the assaults. The film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015 and features a Grammy- and Oscar-nominated song by Lady Gaga, who recently made public the details of her own experience as a rape survivor. According to Smolyansky, more than 15 pieces of legislation related to this issue have been introduced around the country as a result of the film. Smolyansky is also the co- founder (along with her husband, Jason Burdeen) of Test400k, an organization that has set the goal to test the 400,000 rape kits that have been languishing untested in police storage units across the country since 1979. “This is insane to me, that we allow our law enforcement to not keep us, our daughters, our sisters, and our friends safe. This is low-hanging fruit, the DNA is right there. It’s science. Just analyze it,” she says. Test400k aims to raise awareness of the issue, as well as raise money to support innovations that will lead to more expedient DNA analysis. Unprocessed evidence kits mean that rapists are free to become repeat offenders, a fact that Smolyansky finds abhorrent. She connects this issue to the larger epidemic of violence against women and children. “The UN estimates that one out of three women worldwide will be raped, beaten, or murdered in their lifetime. Test400k aims to be a force for change,” she says. “I have a network, a voice, and I am not afraid to speak out about this issue.”
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FIND YOUR PASSION, PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT, AND PAY YOUR DUES EARLY ON.
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Champion for Women and Girls The list of women CEOs in the U.S. is a short one, and Smolyansky decided to use her voice to spotlight issues that are important to her, even if they were controversial or considered “women’s issues.” She counts becoming a mother (she has two young daughters) and a trip to Bangladesh with activist Christy Turlington and her organization, Every Mother Counts, as a turning point in her growth as a leader. “At some point, I felt the confidence to start using my voice again. When there are only 21 female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, when only 17 percent of Congress is female, women are largely unrepresented, and I would say, invisible. I am not in the Fortune 500 category, but I am a female leader and I have an obligation to bring women’s issues to the forefront.”
Healthy Living Considering the fact that her company produces the popular Lifeway Kefir drinks, it should come as no surprise that Smolyansky also spreads the word about the benefits of probiotics, the “good” bacteria that have many benefits for the body. Derived from fermented dairy, kefir contains the highest level of probiotic activity. “Kefir is actually written about in the Bible,” says Smolyansky. “It is a 2,000 year-old food that was eaten by our ancestors and has survived by word-of-mouth. Ancient peoples who drank kefir were known to speak about the feeling of wellbeing that they experienced after drinking it.” Recent medical research points to the natural healing processes that can occur from consumption of probiotics. Smolyansky says that travel, eating overly processed foods, and use of anti-bacterial soaps can cause an imbalance in healthy flora, which probiotics can restore.
It was at this moment that Smolyansky decided to spend the rest of her life supporting women and girls. “I learned a lot from watching Christy navigate and communicate about issues surrounding women and girls. It helped me come out of my shell and watching her LIFEWAY FOODS+CYNTHIA ROWLEY build out Every Mother This spring, Lifeway is teaming up with designer Counts was a big inspiration Cynthia Rowley for a limited edition collection of for me.” bottles featuring prints from Rowley’s new athletic line. Smolyansky says, “It is inspired by the idea that through health, fashion, and wellness, we can live healthier and empowered lives.”
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Julie’s List MUST WATCH The Hunting Ground Executive Producer
Homestretch Associate Producer
Honor Diaries Associate Producer
Her Inspirations
Political Activist
Smolyansky remembers her father always making sure that she was aware of strong, ambitious women, putting her in front of the television to hear them speak or be interviewed. Women like Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky or Christie Heffner were put forward by Smolyansky’s father as role models for his daughter. But it is her mother that tops the list of women who have inspired her. “She was my first role model. She modeled for me how to build a career, be strong, and be a survivor.” Oprah is where many of her spiritual lessons came from. “Oprah taught me to follow my gut, to use my voice, and she taught me gratitude.” Smolyansky also mentions Gloria Steinem and her own daughters as inspirations, as well. For future leaders who aspire to a platform for their own causes, Smolyansky offers this advice: “Find your passion, put your heart into it, and pay your dues early on.”
Smolyansky is an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton, actively campaigning on her behalf and attending the recent Iowa caucus in support of a candidate whom she says has always fought on the side of women and children. Speaking about the importance of Clinton’s candidacy, Smolyansky says, “It’s not lost on me—the symbolism of having the most powerful office being held by a woman. The symbolism is powerful. She put girls and women on the agenda for the State Department and made it a matter of American foreign policy.”
MUST READ Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
Smolyansky stresses the importance of having leaders who place a premium on the treatment of women and girls and who implement metrics, such as measuring maternal mortality, and use those results as a method of determining how women are treated around the world. She recalls seeing Clinton give a speech in which she declared that “women’s rights are human rights” as a moment in which she became aware of Clinton as a powerful role model for women.
Roots by Alex Haley
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Unfinished Revolution by Kathleen Gerson
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
SUPPORT WOMEN AND GIRLS GirlUp girlup.org Test400k test400k.org Every Mother Counts everymothercounts.org
YWCA ywcachicago.org Rape Victim Advocates rapevictimadvocates.org
Bright Pink brightpink.org ADL adl.org
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THE CHANGEMAKERS 2016 Chicago, like most cities, has its share of problems. Here, in our Changemakers 2016 list, we highlight women all over the city who are, in their own way, making moves to change our city for the better. We hope they will inspire you to see your city in a different way and get involved. by Jennifer Smith Tapp and Rebecca Taras-Lee
TAMAR MANESSAH Founder, Mothers Against Senseless Killing Watching stories of shootings on the evening news, it is easy for many of us to think that gun violence in our city has become an intractable problem. For Englewood native Tamar Manessah, it is an issue that she is tackling head-on and in person. The night that Hadiyah Pendelton was murdered, Manessah made the decision to organize MASK (Mothers Against Senseless Killing). She recalls, “In the photos of that child splayed across the television screen, I saw my daughter, who was actually an acquaintance of Hadiyah, and in the tearstreamed face of her mom, I saw myself. If it could happen to this bright little girl, so full of life and promise, why couldn’t it happen to my baby?” (Manessah has two teen children.) Starting at 75th and Harvard, Manessah and other volunteers set up the first “block lock,” the formal term for the on-thecorner cooking- and-caring set up. The next day, they moved to 75th and Stewart, which is where they were positioned for the entire summer. MASK operates on the idea that the entire community has to be involved in keeping it safe. And knowing who your neighbors are can curb crime. Manessah credits her time spent in a Jewish day school with giving her a unique perspective on social activism. She is currently studying at Israelite Academy and working toward a career in the rabbinate. MASK is expanding to three more communities this summer and membership continues to be open to all.
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CATHY KRIEGER President/CEO, The Children’s Place Association On board since its inception in 1991, Krieger has devoted 25 years of her life helping countless Chicago families via programming she helped institute at The Children’s Place Association, one of the nation’s first residential programs to provide around-theclock nursing care for children with HIV/AIDS-related conditions. “Over the years, we have
STAR CUNNINGHAM
Founder/CEO, 4D Healthware
With the exception of Antarctica, Cunningham’s extensive global business executive experience has taken her to every continent throughout her career. Because Cunningham understands technology and data and enjoys solving problems, she has been able to lead system migration efforts, process re-engineering programs, and improve high-speed Internet access product delivery and enhancement, big data collection and real-time analysis, thus improving the smartphone end user customer experience. Through her experience in global problem-solving and working with cutting-edge technology, she brings a unique view to the world of medicine. ”We recently closed a seed-funding round with a private equity firm and angel investors, some of which included physicians familiar with the challenges and opportunities in healthcare,” said Cunningham. “Fundraising certainly came as a challenge as a female and minority business leader, but ultimately it was validation of our product and progress. Though we have a lot of work ahead of us to reach our mission, I am proud to say that 4D Healthware is on an upward path to improving patient outcomes and increasing patient engagement, which is beneficial for physicians and the patients they care for.”
GRACE HOU
President, The Woods Fund Chicago
Chicago, like any big city, has its share of problems rooted in economic inequality and racial biases. Since taking over as president of The Woods Fund in 2012, Hou has led the foundation in awarding grants to organizations that work to level the playing field, provide economic opportunity, and combat the structural
witnessed one of life’s amazing miracles—a fearsome epidemic largely brought under control,” said Krieger. “We saw sick babies grow to become healthy teenagers and adults. Now we have the opportunity to help others whose lives are in peril because of illness and poverty.” Over the last ten years, The Children’s Place has expanded its influence by applying its innovative approach to help children and families facing other health challenges, including cancer, epilepsy, heart ailments, autism, and HIV. Along with regularly spearheading new initiatives at the office, Kreiger also serves on the board of the Child Care Association of Illinois and sits on the executive committee for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Service Providers Council.
racism that often fuels cycles of poverty in the city. Hou, whose professional backstory includes working with what she calls “missiondriven” organizations—like political campaigns, state government, and philanthropy—sees the goal of a better society as the common thread in her career. “What really binds the public, philanthropic, and nonprofit service sectors is not the absence of profit but rather the presence of a mission or social good that is being sought.” An important tenet in the mission of The Woods Fund is to support organizations seeking to ensure that everyone, regardless of race and economic situation, has a voice in the way the city addresses its issues. Hou believes there is strength in numbers. “Woods Fund supports people, grassroots leaders, organizations, and coalitions who, together, can push for policy change in public institutions that create an unequal and negative impact on people of color. There is not one thing that can undo structural racism. Rather, it is a conglomeration of people and power intentionally breaking down structurally racist policies that can snowball into larger change.”
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THE CHANGEMAKERS 2016 JACKIE TAYLOR Founder/Executive Director, Black Ensemble Theater Along with being the founder and executive director of the prestigious, awardwinning, 40 year-old Black Ensemble Theater, Taylor is also a distinguished director, producer, actress, singer, and playwright who has written and produced more than 100 plays and musical biographies. Though it’s her most recent project, a new $20 million cultural center named for the Black Ensemble Theater, that Taylor touts as one of her greatest accomplishments. An outstanding teacher, Jackie has worked for the Chicago Board of Education, the Illinois Arts Council, and Urban Gateways, and is the president of the African American Arts Alliance and a board member of the Betty Shabazz International Schools. Finally, proving that she’s not afraid of an audience herself, she’s also had featured roles in several major films, including Chiraq, Cooley High, Hoodlum, Barbershop 2, The Father Clements Story, Losing Isaiah, and To Sir With Love: Part 2.
PRIYA SHAH Founder/ Executive Director, The Simple Good It was Shah’s volunteer work in developing countries that provided her with the know-how and passion to start The Simple Good, a nonprofit organization designed to connect the meaning of good from around the world empowering at-risk youth to become positive activists through art and discussion. “TSG started as a crowd-sourced photo blog four years ago, where I asked the world to share their meaning of ‘the simple good.’” explains Shah. “The blog went viral, which triggered the idea of bringing this conversation into communities that need it the most.” Today, Shah’s ever-evolving passion for art and travel has introduced her to new opportunities and helped her to better communities in Chicago and beyond. The Simple Good is helping youth develop cognitive and interpersonal skills, personal empowerment, connectivity to their communities, and a greater sense of the world around them.
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DR. DEBORAH LINDNER Chief Medical Officer, Bright Pink As a board-certified Obstetrician/ Gynecologist who concentrated on women who were at risk for breast and ovarian cancer, Dr. Lindner already had a deep well of knowledge to draw from when she became a founding board member of Bright Pink in 2012. It was during the same time that Lindner was going through genetic testing for BRCA, a blood test that uses DNA analysis to identify mutations that increase the chances for breast cancer. She found that she did, in fact, carry a mutation, and she made the choice to undergo a preventative double mastectomy. About her decision Lindner says, “Mastectomy is a big surgery, and the recovery is definitely uncomfortable. But to me the alternative was to sit and wait for cancer, doing annual mammograms and MRIs, only to go through surgery and chemotherapy when it happened. So, analytically this was definitely the best decision for me.” In directing the medical and educational aspects of the programming at Bright Pink, Lindner hopes to be able to provide support for all women who are going through the same difficult process. Lindner suggests talking with your gynecologist about your family history of breast and ovarian cancer and ask whether you could be a good candidate for genetic testing. She also recommends visiting assessyourrisk.org to learn what you can do to reduce your risk of cancer based on your family history and lifestyle.
THE CHANGEMAKERS 2016
K. SUJATA AND THE CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN’S 100% PROJECT by Jennifer Smith Tapp
Identifying opportunities for women and girls in Chicago is the singular mission of Chicago Foundation for Women President and CEO K. Sujata. Growing up in a small town in India, Sujata came to Chicago to attend graduate school at Northwestern, earning a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. After working in the field for about ten years, Sujata decided to make a shift to the nonprofit world. She led Apna Ghar, an organization that served South Asian immigrant battered women and their children, and eventually began working with The Eleanor Foundation, which has since been acquired by Chicago Foundation for Women. The seeds that would then become the driving purpose of CFW were already sown in the early days of the organization, back when it was known as The Eleanor House. The Eleanor House provided housing to women who, back over 100 years ago, were not allowed to sign leases in their own names. It became The Eleanor Foundation and helped single female heads of households become economically self-sufficient. It was soon after the acquisition of The Eleanor Foundation that the leadership of CFW began thinking about a new plan forward. Sujata explains the birth of the Foundation’s new initiative, the 100% Project, which launched last September. “CFW needed to take on a bigger mantel of
leadership, and one of the goals of that plan was to create a civic plan.” The 100% Project is a bold, ambitious strategy that aims to increase women’s economic security and put an end to gender bias in Metropolitan Chicago by 2030. To that end, CFW began speaking with 500 people—women and men, girls and boys, across the city and asking two simple but important questions: “What are the big issues for women and girls in the city right now,” and “what should we be doing about them, right now?” About these conversations, Sujata says, “It took almost nine months to not only have the conversations, but to distill them down and create a workable plan so that everyone could find a place for themselves in it. It had to be an all-in, all-out effort, so it became the 100% Project.” Achieving economic security for women and ending bias based on gender do appear to be lofty goals, but Sujata sees a path to success with a combination of changing hearts and minds as well as participation by those who have some skin in the game economically. She says, “If you look at the plan, it focuses on three areas: breaking bias and changing cultural norms, building unlikely partnerships, and working
on a set of policies.” Sujata believes that change can be had if we start thinking critically about unconscious bias and how it affects those on the receiving end, both based on gender and race. As for those unlikely partners, CFW is actively recruiting” male champions of change”—men in positions of power in corporations who are already stepping up to bring more women into the fold. ”We are going to them and asking them to join us as a male champion of change. And asking for their willingness to influence their peers in their sectors,” Sujata explains. As a grant-making organization, the CFW is in a position to support grantees who are working to implement policies that will change the lives of girls and women, such as maternal and paternal leave. At this month’s CFW Impact Awards, which honors women and men who have worked to change the lives of women and girls, three awards will go to people who have specifically addressed the principles of the 100% Project in the three primary areas of focus. Learn more about CFW and the 100% Project at cfw.org. fw
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THE CHANGEMAKERS 2016
PEGGY PARFENOFF
President, WorldChicago
It can be easy to forget that Chicago is a truly international city. The many different languages spoken on our streets on a daily basis become as routine as the sounds of sirens and of airplanes flying overhead. But for Parfenoff, channeling that unique mix of nationalities into citizen diplomacy is her primary goal as president of WorldChicago. Citizen diplomacy is the belief that every U.S. citizen has the right and responsibility to help shape our foreign policy to make the world a better, more cooperative place,” she explains. Part connector, part civic cheerleader, WorldChicago facilitates professional and personal interactions for international leaders during their visits to Chicago through the U.S. Department of State. WorldChicago also promotes the city and the state as centers of culture and commerce. Parfenoff believes that citizen diplomacy can be used to address the complicated state of world affairs at the moment. “With uncertainty permeating our world these days, citizen diplomacy is becoming more important than ever, and every Chicagoan has a role to play. Having a dialogue with international emerging leaders from around the world helps us understand the real issues they face at home. It also encourages us to re-examine our own issues and try to tackle them from a different perspective.”
CRISTAL THOMAS Vice President for Community Health Engagement, University of Chicago Medical Center
Thomas comes to UCMC with nearly 15 years of experience in strategic planning, project management, budgeting, and health policy. She has applied these skills in leadership roles in both state and federal government, most recently as deputy governor of Illinois where she led the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and state Medicaid reforms. Along with her prestigious role as the vice president for Community Health Engagement, Thomas is also the senior advisor to the vice president for Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago. In both roles, Thomas is responsible for developing a comprehensive civic engagement strategy for the medical center, contributing to the development of the medical center’s strategic growth initiatives and partnerships, and incorporating health strategies into the University’s civic engagement programs. “I’ve spent much of the last year participating on the leadership team that developed UCMC’s recently announced plan to expand access to trauma, emergency, and tertiary care on our Hyde Park campus,” said Thomas. “Moving forward, I’m excited about the opportunity to think more creatively and strategically about how we partner with and invest in our community in order to have a greater impact.” fw
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How do I deal with constant volatility?
Markets will always fluctuate. But whatever way they move, a comprehensive financial plan is one of the best strategies to stay on track toward your goals. Your UBS Financial Advisor monitors the current environment and will work with you to ensure your plan and your portfolio reflect changing conditions. Volatility may be unsettling, but with a long-term plan in place, you can feel more confident about the future.
For some of life’s questions, you’re not alone. Together we can find an answer.
Laurie P. Barry, CFP® Senior Vice President--Wealth Management Wealth Advisor 312-525-4393 laurie.barry@ubs.com Everly Champion Senior Wealth Strategy Associate 312-525-4399 everly.champion@ubs.com Judy Severino Senior Client Service Associate 312-525-4071 judy.severino@ubs.com The Barry Wealth Consulting Group UBS Financial Services Inc. One North Wacker Drive Suite 2600 Chicago, IL 60606-2807 312-525-4393 800-621-0684
ubs.com/team/barrywealthcg As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ in the U.S. ©UBS 2016. All fw: chicago 35 rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. D-UBS-B8D7F407 APRIL 2016
AT I O N S S R E V N TECH CO
ALL ACCESS Brenna Berman, the CIO and commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Innovation and Technology, learned the importance of giving service to others from her dad, a social worker and one of the first in his family to graduate from college. She shares her journey, what she learned along the way, and her advice to empower women trying to find a great lifestyle that is financially rewarding. Interview by Terri Brax
BRENNA, YOUR WORK HELPS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY ACCESS INFORMATION. HOW DID YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES LEAD YOU INTO THIS ROLE? Although my friends are still amazed I’m here (laughs). I always knew I’d build a life that allowed me to be of service to others. When I was growing up, I understood I was very privileged because I had a lot of support from a loving family. My sister and I were raised with the sense that, because there were children in the world who didn’t have these advantages, it was our responsibility to give back to others. And there were a million ways to do that. It was up to us to figure out the best way, given our talents. Whatever that would look like. My sister engages people through health and nutrition now. That’s how she uses her gifts to help others. I grew up with the innate sense that you should
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be in some sort of career or lifestyle focused on service. My father was a child of the 60s and he gave me a strong sense of government and politics. I also had an uncle who was very active in my life growing up. He was one of the first computer science professors and he would get a new computer every three years. So, I had a computer and email when I was six, and I had people who exposed me to technology early in my life who were using computers in their jobs.
SO YOU GREW UP BELIEVING THAT YOU SHOULD BE IN A SERVICE ROLE THAT GIVES BACK TO OTHERS, AND YOU WERE EXPOSED TO THE USES FOR TECHNOLOGY. WHAT DID THE NEXT YEARS LOOK LIKE? I studied Public Policy at the University of Chicago. That gave me a powerful lens to understand the
world, and it allowed me to add my service goals. I was drawn to public policy because it improves government and engages with people, builds cities, and make lives better. Later, I spent 10 years at IBM where I was promoting government innovation and technology. My experiences drove my commitment to service, public policy, and economics. And I knew that when you bring technology and innovation into the mix, it takes all those experiences and puts them on steroids. With cities growing as they are doing now— at an unprecedented rate faster than they ever have in history—technology is going to be required to address the problems that cities will have to keep up with. And Chicago will be leading those solutions. So I’m grateful I had the exposure, education and was, and am surrounded with incredibly talented people to give me that foundation for my role.
I NOTICED THAT THE TALENTED PEOPLE YOU’RE SURROUNDED WITH AT THE DEPARTMENT ARE VERY DIVERSE. People ask me, “What’s it like being the only woman in the room? Is it difficult, and how do you deal with it?” In the city of Chicago, I’m never the only woman in the room. All the chiefs of staff were women, the budget director is a women, two CFOs are women, the head of the Department of Transportation, and the list goes on. We have a strong representation of women in leadership throughout the administration. I often forget that there’s a shortage of women in technology until I leave our office and go to a technology conference.
I ALSO NOTICED THE ADMINISTRATION ISN’T JUST GENDER DIVERSE. IT’S DIVERSE RACIALLY AS WELL. We look for great talent and have the same expectations. When you’re open and really looking for the best talent, the result is you wind up with a diverse team. And different people bringing in different experiences and perspectives makes every team stronger. We’re all better off if every perspective is heard. We need different experiences. The mayor’s staff should look like the city’s composition. And we do. We have a very culturally, racially diverse city.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EDUCATION. I UNDERSTAND EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR LIFE. I believe that education is the key to improving our socio-economic stability and that it gives you mobility. It lets you get a better job. It gets you in a better place. It lets you get away if you need to. And it doesn’t have to be a four-year degree. I’m a big believer in certificate programs and integrating technology into our school curriculum.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOMEN CONSIDERING A CAREER PATH? If I was going to look for a job that gives me a good lifestyle financially, is mentally engaging and challenging, and gives me the flexibility to be home with my kids and balance the family—I’d say a technology career is awesome. Whatever skills you love or are good at and whatever your personality type, there’s a fit for you in technology and in the teams required to build things. In technology everyone can create value and purpose. There are so many different roles and jobs. If you consider yourself the creative type, consider UX or digital visualization. If you’re the organizer type, consider project management. And if you’re analytical, it may point you to infrastructure. But that’s just a tiny sample of the career options. There are tons of jobs in the industry. And there’s a role for technology in any environment you’re passionate about, whether it is childcare, the environment, or healthcare. It’s an all-purpose fixer. It’s a universal way to build purpose.
SO, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN CHICAGO. Yes, it’s a very exciting time. The mayor is passionate about technology. You need a leader like that to move things forward. We’re sitting at 1871. People come here from all over the world to learn how to do what we’re doing. It’s trailblazing. And it’s not just 1871, you have Blue 1647 and their model, you have physical tech at IIT doing fascinating things, and so many other innovative spaces. And there’s a lot of collaboration among cities. In municipal tech, we’re driving a huge change in how cities use data. There’s also much we want to do to improve the access to information for our residents, and we’re committed to making it happen. fw
Terri Brax is the co-founder of Women Tech Founders (WTF) and the founder of TeacherCare Inc., a nationwide agency. WTF is a Chicago-based media and networking organization for women founders and leaders of tech start-ups. WTF highlights the stories and lessons of female-led tech role models.
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Invest in an Exceptional Experience
TRIBUTE TO ACHIEVEMENT Monday, April 25, 2016
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago; 120 East Delaware Place 6 p.m. Reception; 7 p.m. Dinner and Program - Business Attire
LUMINARY AWARD
Wendy Davidson
President, U.S. Specialty Channels, Kellogg Company
CORPORATE APPRECIATION AWARD
Navigant
accepted by Julie Howard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
GIRL SCOUT’S OWN AWARD
Carla Michelotti
Strategic Marketing and Regulatory Consultant and former Executive Vice President and Chief Legal, Government & Corporate Affairs Officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide
For event info, please call 312-553-2000. To learn about Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
PHOTO CREDIT KRIS KASPEREK
R THE MENTO by Kathleen Henson
DEBUNKING BALANCE I want to touch on a topic I think a lot of busy working women (including me) often struggle with: balance. If I received a dollar for every time I’m asked the question, “Kathleen, just how DO you do it?” I would probably be able to retire from my day job. Usually after meeting a new client or someone at a networking event, we get to chatting and I drop the proverbial bomb that I’m the proud mother of five kids ages 16 to 7, and I’m very active in a number of important causes in the city I care deeply about, including sitting on the board of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, co-chairing for the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, and representing the Women’s Board of the Joffrey Ballet. I’m usually questioned on how I possibly could run a thriving company, have so many kids, find time to give back, and remain sane (well, that is still under debate!). I usually laugh and say, “I don’t know… I just do it.” But in my head, I’m often thinking that this particular question is a bit misguided, and I should have a better answer for it. Since women started to actively join the workforce in the 1950s, I believe this “How do you do it all?” question started popping up more and more, and also the “defending” and “guilt” began creeping across America.
I sometimes find it amusing that this same question is almost never posed to men. I also think it sets an unfair precedent that, when we come across a busy person we’re in awe of, we feel we are somehow flawed if we don’t do all the same things our peer is doing. We really should have the perspective that what works for you—and you alone—is all that you should worry about and not compare yourself to anyone else. All that does is lead to feeling like you’re not measuring up. Different people have different thresholds for their lives and how they want to spend their time. And that’s totally fine. For me, I have found that my life is much more fulfilling by having lots of outlets to contribute my skills, passions, and talents. I’ve always been at my best when juggling lots of balls in the air— and I have learned to not beat myself up when I drop one. (I just pick it back up and keep juggling.) I once heard that you should look at your life like a big pie with various delicious pieces, and sometimes you enjoy a big
piece and other days you choose a smaller piece. Which leads me to addressing the word “balance”— it’s something I think is actually unfair to expect in yourself, since that means you are striving for equal weight in both your work and personal life. I actually now believe our goal should be more about finding harmony in your life (a special shout out to Navy Pier’s Amy Cowen whom I had a long discussion with recently on this very topic.) Sometimes work is going to be more demanding and other times your personal life is going to take center stage. Harmony in music is the pleasant arrangement of two or more musical notes, but it also can mean the pleasing arrangement of parts of your life. I think you would agree that living a one-note life would not be as beautiful as a life filled with an assortment of unique experiences or “notes.” My hope is, when I am old and grey and look back on what I did with my busy life, I remember a beautiful song and I won’t regret one moment of playing it. fw
Kathleen Henson is the proud mother of five incredible kids and the founder and CEO of Henson Consulting, an award-winning national PR firm based in Chicago that employs 39 women and one very brave man. Her company was recently named among 75 companies on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of top company cultures nationwide. Follow her at @KathleenHenson on Twitter and Instagram.
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Q&A Laurie Barry The successful wealth advisor and former president of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago tells us about her career, her inspirations, and why setting goals is so important.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? WHAT LED YOU TO A CAREER AS A WEALTH ADVISOR? Basically, this is all I’ve ever done. I usually say I started in finance right out of college as a stockbroker, soon became a wealth advisor, and have been doing that since 1990. However, my “career” really started long before then—back when I was just nine years old. Unfortunately, my mom was legally blind. She couldn’t see to do the bills or write in the checkbook, and since I was the youngest of five kids in the family, those became some of my primary responsibilities and chores. In fact, we used to do the math together by hand, and if I wasn’t right to the penny, my mom would make me start all over again! When I was 16, we also faced the early onset of Alzheimer’s with my dad, who was only 58. My mom basically had to live on their life savings for the rest of her life. At such a very young age, I had to deal with finances, nursing-home care, and how to make your money last while planning for a secure future. Having such hardships forced me to pay for my own college education and get right out on my own as soon as I
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graduated. With such experiences early on in my life, I understand the importance of managing a financial life for someone else. I feel I was really, truly drawn to this industry because of those experiences. WHAT IS ONE THING THAT A WOMAN CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE A STABLE FINANCIAL FUTURE FOR HERSELF AND HER FAMILY? Asking if there is one thing that a woman can do right now to ensure a stable financial future for herself and her family is a difficult question. We spend many hours a day telling clients many different strategies for how they can improve their financial future. However, if I had to choose just one, it would be writing down a combination of your financial goals and the steps you need to take to achieve those goals. We know by setting goals—rather than not having a plan to achieve them—you are that much closer to success. So basically, just make a plan! “No one plans to fail, but many people fail to plan” is one of my favorite quotes.
WHO ARE THE WOMEN WHO HAVE INSPIRED YOU, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY? I learned at a young age how strong a woman can be while dealing with adversity—through my mom and our family’s challenges. I always get stumped on “naming” one woman. All the women ahead of me are the ones who have inspired me most professionally—those who have been strong and committed to a career or a passion and have continued to follow their dreams. I really feel there are lots of roadblocks and everyday distractions for women, as mothers, sisters, partners, caregivers, and as just “women who care.” Here’s what I mean by that. There is only so much time in the day. A woman has so many roles she takes on and she’s usually the one that cares the most. Caring takes time and emotion. If you can do all that and stay true to your career passion, that not only equals success but also happiness in life. PHOTO: NANDO ESPARZA
YOU MENTIONED THAT BEING A WEALTH ADVISOR IS A WONDERFUL CAREER OPTION FOR WOMEN BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT IT ALLOWS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT POINT?
Being in this business you quickly gain the knowledge and the resources to help you with that. Wealth-building strategies—like “pay yourself first,” which although simple is difficult for some people— become automatic. Most women in other careers can’t say that. Becoming financially independent while helping others accomplish the same thing is one of the best rewards. But having a career that is your own business and provides lots of flexibility and control is one of the main reasons I think more women should be in this position. The hours are long and the work is hard, but you are making your own schedule and meeting your own clients at different locations. This allows you, as the “caregiver,” to be able to raise a family, help a family member in need, and run a household on your own schedule. I feel women shy away from this industry because there is no fixed income when you enter into the field. The good news is you can mold your career to look however you’d like it to, so I hope more women become attracted to this business. My goal and passion has always been to educate young girls interested in the business. So one way I encourage the next generation is by hiring interns year-round so they can see firsthand what this business provides to women. Many people ask, “How do you do it all?” I feel I couldn’t do it all without a career with this type of flexibility. This is not a job—or a career—it’s more of a “lifestyle.” And I think it’s one of the best “lifestyles” for women. I love it! fw
MODEL: JENNIFER MCDONOUGH
I love this career for women. Although I was already “on board” as a nine year-old, once I was truly in this business, I was saving and investing at 23 and buying real estate before the age of 30—all on my own. It forces you to become financially involved—which some women may never do or be forced to do it later on in life when they are either scared or unprepared emotionally because of a divorce, death, or job transition.
OPEN CALL EVERY WEEKDAY FROM 2 - 4 PM 311 W. SUPERIOR ST. STE #444 CHICAGO, IL 60654
FORDMODELS.COM @FORDMODELS_CHI APRIL 2016
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x o b y t u a e b 5 MUST-HAVE EXFOLIANTS By Rebecca Taras-Lee
With spring in the air, its time to slough off all those dead, dry skin cells after the typical whipping winds and sub-zero temps of Chicago winter. While slathering on moisturizer from head-to-toe might be your first instinct, know this: It’s not going to do a darn thing unless you exfoliate first. So, we present you with five exfoliating products guaranteed to bring back your outer glow.
PHILOSOPHY HOPE IN A JAR This cult product works, period. It’s an antioxidant-packed, multitasking marvel that gently exfoliates and hydrates the skin. The result? You’ll get back the glowing complexion you had before the holidays. $42. Available at Ulta, 114 South State Street, Ulta.com.
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DERMADOCTOR KP DUTY Chicken skin isn’t attractive on an actual chicken, let alone your rockin’ bod. When regular moisturizer won’t do, there’s glycolic acid-infused KP Duty to help exfoliate, calm, and hydrate the appearance of parched skin and rough bumps. $38. Available at Ulta, 114 South State Street, Ulta.com.
PROMOTION
SHEAMOISTURE HAND AND BODY SUPERFRUIT SCRUB This yummy, nutrient-packed scrub exfoliates, firms, and nourishes skin. A rich blend of organic shea and mango butters and a proprietary anti-oxidant superfruit complex of raspberry ketone, goji, acai, and guava extracts promotes a radiant appearance. Green coffee bean extract helps smooth, contour, and firm even the thirstiest skin. $8.99. Available at Walgreens, 757 North Michigan Avenue, Walgreens.com. OROGOLD COSMETICS 24K DEEP PEELING When we first tried this product, we scoffed at the instructions to only leave it on for 30 seconds. But, as we were massaging it into our lackluster complexion (seriously, follow those instructions!), magic happened almost instantly. We loved that it exfoliated our face similar to a gentle, spa-like peel sans any graininess, resulting in a smooth complexion and (dare we say) post-facial glow. Did we mention it’s formulated with 24-carat gold? In. Love. $128. Available at Orogoldcosmetics.com. BELLI FRESH START PRE-TREATMENT SCRUB If you slept with your makeup on after one too many fetes this season, this scrub wins our vote, thanks to dead-skin-busting ingredients like green tea, lactic acid, and peppermint oil. Added bonus: It works wonders on your body, too. $24. Available at Belliskincare.com.
Friendly Fat That extra bulge around your waist may just be your aging face’s best friend. Fat which is carefully harvested from your tummy or waistline and then transferred to your face has become a cornerstone to facial rejuvenation. The techniques of structural fat grafting have improved so much that we are getting much more reliable volume restoration in the aging face. patients see after this procedure. This procedure is often necessary to complement the lifting procedures that will ultimately lead to a natural rejuvenation. While fat grafting seems to be most reliable when used in the face, plastic surgeons have expanded the uses of this technique to include, re-contouring skeletal defects, improving scars, increasing buttock sizes, and even breast augmentation. after all.
847-579-9939 maeplasticsurgery.com APRIL 2016
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COLOR THEORY
ETIENNE DERCEUX TINA SHIRT, $275 AT NORDSTROM SPACE JEROME DREYFUSS GARY BAG, $465 AT CHALK PIÈCE À CONVICTION RED MARBLE OPEN SQUARE RING, $125 AT NORDSTROM SPACE
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URIBE SPINNING STONE SQUIGGLE EARRINGS, $315 AT NORDSTROM SPACE
THIS SPRING EMBRACE YOUR COLORFUL SIDE. MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT IN BRIGHT COLORS AND LIVELY PATTERNS. APRIL 2016
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LEFT PAGE: SONIA RYKIEL DRESS, $1380 AT CHALK WINIFRED GRACE DOME RINGS IN BRONZE, 29MM $160, 19MM $140, 14MM $130, ALL AT WINIFRED GRACE ROCIO BAGS ( TOP TO BOTTOM): COCO, $530, RIO, 435, AND TWIGGY, $790, ALL AT CHALK
RIGHT PAGE: CYNTHIA ROWLEY CDC V-NECK DRESS, $450 AT CYNTHIA ROWLEY LINDSAY LEWIS ESTELLE NECKLACE, $90, ODETTE NECKLACE, $77, TOTEM NECKLACE, $85, AND ADA AGATE RING, $90, ALL AT LINDSAY-LEWIS.COM
ABOVE: CYNTHIA ROWLEY DOT CROPPED FLARE PANT, $265 AT CYNTHIA ROWLEY CYNTHIA ROWLEY STUDDED BAG, $165 AT CYNTHIA ROWLEY ANTIPAST SOCKS, AT ROBIN RICHMAN PRADA SANDALS, $690 AT NORDSTROM RIGHT: WINIFRED GRACE DOME RINGS IN BRONZE, 29MM $160, 19MM $140, 14MM $130, ALL AT WINIFRED GRACE ROCIO TWIGGY BAG, $790 AT CHALK RIGHT PAGE: MAISON MICHEL HAT, $1145 AT NORDSTROM SPACE CYNTHIA ROWLEY TRIBAL PRINT BONDED TEE, $185 AT CYNTHIA ROWLEY TOPSHOP BODYSUIT, $32 AT TOPSHOP ETIENNE DERCEUX JEANS, $480 AT NORDSTROM SPACE URIBE SEMIPRECIOUS STONE & PERFORATED DISC HINGED BRACELET, $495 AT NORDSTROM SPACE PIÈCE À CONVICTION MARBLE OPEN SQUARE RING IN WHITE AND RED, $125 EACH AT NORDSTROM SPACE
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Kirsten Miccoli, Kirsten Miccoli Photography. STYLING: Arlene Mathews and Brandon Frein, Kit This. HAIR AND MAKE-UP: Loni Hale, @lonihalemakeup. NAILS: Ashley G Nails, @ashleygnails. MODEL: Jessica W., Ford Models (@fordmodels_chi)
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? g a b r e h n i s ’ t wha Designer Elena Bobysheva hit the ground running—heels and all! This young entrepreneur launched her line of high-end women’s wear in 2013, right after graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a double Bachelor’s in Fashion Design and Business Management.
by Rebecca Taras-Lee
Each garment is hand-crafted in-house in limited runs following a cut-to-order business model that focuses on not over-producing garments, using more resources than needed, or contributing to clothing ending up in landfills. Bobysheva also supports animal welfare issues within the industry, staying committed to her philosophy of creating an honest, responsible, forward-thinking business. Curious to know more about this Russian-born beauty, we asked her to spill her bag—and maybe a few beauty secrets, too.
DAY-TIMER 35115 PENCHANT PLAID PLANNER Every page gets filled to the brim. $18.46. Available at Officeworld.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: KIRSTEN MICCOLI
DELL VENUE 7 3000 SERIES TABLET In case I need to show my look-books, website, or line sheets. Price varies. Available at Officeworld.com.
RENDEZ-VOUS A PARIS VITAMIN CASE My friends call it the “pill-popping case” (haha!), but I just use it to keep my daily vitamins in.
ROLL-ON PERFUME OIL For a little bit of freshening up! This perfume oil is super-convenient and small enough to fit inside an evening clutch. $20. Available at Sephora, 938 West North Avenue, Sephora.com.
LIME CRIME VELVETINE MATTE LIPSTICK IN CASHMERE I love this shade, and this company is also vegan and cruelty free. I love it even more for that! $20. Available at Urban Outfitters, 1100 North State Street, Urbanoutfitters.com.
BLISS HIGH INTENSITY HAND CREAM WITH MACADAMIA OIL AND GRAPESEED EXTRACT I got it in a goodie bag from attending an industry event. I’ve been buying it ever since! $18 varies. Available at Ulta, 114 South State Street, Ulta.com.
MARICH HOLLAND MINTS A little gift from my mom! $8.99. Available at Igourmet.com. REVLON GROW PLUMPING MASCARA IN BLACKEST BLACK An inexpensive find that really works wonders! $11.48. Available at Amazon.com.
XTREME LASHES EYELINER BY JO MOUSSELLI GLIDELINER LONG LASTING EYE PENCIL Best eyeliner I have ever used! $29. Available at Nordstrom, 55 East Grand Avenue, Nordstrom.com.
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haute couture home By Rebecca Taras-Lee
Spring is a time to refresh both your wardrobe, as well as your abode. But guess what? According to Nora Schneider of Nora Schneider Interior Design (and a Mart Design Center Designer-on-Call), fashion and interiors are becoming more intertwined, so opportunities to make your home feel as luxe as a new pair of Prada pumps are as easy as uno, duo, tre. “As an interior designer who’s also an ardent follower of fashion, I love when my two passions intersect and collide,” said Schneider. “Style isn’t confined to the runway. The most well received colors, shapes, and ideas often find their way into interior design.” So, get ready to fashionably shed layers while shedding light into your pad this season.
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subtle sparkle Sequins are bold and splashy as a spring fashion trend where “more is more” applies. In interiors, I suggest toning it down a bit unless you’re going for an all-out glam look. The pillows in this living room have giant silver sequins in an abstract pattern on a rough-hewn linen fabric. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition of shiny & matte. On the other hand, if you’re ready for all out sparkle, this wallpaper by Maya Romanoff will get you there. It’s their iconic glass beads paired with mother of pearl for “notice me walls.” PHOTO CREDIT: (LEFT PAGE) JILL BUCKNER PHOTOGRAPHY AND STARLIT LATTICE WALLPAPER BY MAYA ROMANOFF AT THE MART
line item Stripes in all shapes and sizes on dresses, tops, and pants are definitely in for spring. They can be sporty or elegant in fashion and interiors. I like to use big bold stripes for an unexpected mix on a vintage sofa. We used graphic yet elegant black and white stripes on the walls to set the tone for this home office. PHOTO CREDIT: (DEERFIELD HOME OFFICE, RIGHT) SUSAN KEZON PHOTOGRAPHY
orange is the new black Orange is the hot color for spring, and it can really spark up your interiors. In this living room, we went big and bold with an orange sectional, as well as using it as an accent color in the artwork.
PHOTO CREDIT: (HUCK LIVING ROOM, ABOVE) SCOTT SHIGLEY PHOTO
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victorian redux All Victorian everything, with loads of floral prints, was all over the spring runways. This wallpaper by Ashley Woodson Bailey provides a dramatic backdrop for an otherwise neutral room. I would suggest pulling colors from the floral print for accents. PHOTOCREDIT: AWB WALLPAPER FROM THE BRADLEY SHOWROOM AT THE MART
fringed benefits Fringe has been trending for a few seasons. For those who have been holding off, now’s the time. The Janis chair by Bradley skews masculine, and would look great in a family room, living room, or bedroom. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t be done in a lighter or even pastel color for a more feminine vibe.
70s inspired suede Leather has been very big even for the spring and summer, and this year it’s all about suede. I love mixing the two on furniture. The Austral Day Bed by Christian Liagre is a perfect example of leather and suede feeling light and springy.
PHOTO CREDIT: JANIS CHAIR FROM THE BRADLEY SHOWROOM AT THE MART
PHOTO CREDIT: (C LIAGRE 20150819, ABOVE) JILL BUCKNER PHOTOGRAPHY. PIECE IS BY CHRISTIAN LIAGRE FROM THE DAVID SUTHERLAND SHOWROOM AT THE MART
GET THIS LOOK Dayton Rust Sofa, $699, theroomplace.com
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Donna Karan Reflection Sequin Pillow, $190.00, neimanmarcus.com
Marilyn Brick Swivel Chair, $249, theroomplace.com
JOIN US THIS SUMMER
FOR WORLD CLASS BASKETBALL
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AND FAMILY FUN!
DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL HOW THE GIRL SCOUTS CAN FUNCTION AS PART OF A YOUNG GIRL’S SOCIAL LIFE? For young girls first entering school, some of the most important things are finding a common interest, building relationships, and fostering friendships. Parents want to make sure their daughters are learning values and making friends, and Girl Scouts provides both of these opportunities in a safe, adult-led environment. It’s extremely important for girls to have a girls-only space to interact to help combat the phenomenon known as camouflaging, wherein girls alter their appearance and behavior in order to blend in with their friends and classmates. Teen girls are instrumental to closing the gender gap in leadership positions, and Girl Scouts provides them with the tools they need to accomplish that. One of our older girls described Girl Scouts as a safe house. She said, “It’s a place to let go of social norms and embrace yourself for who you really are, and most importantly, who you really can be.”
IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?
We kid around and say “we’re not your grandmother’s Girl Scouts,” but it’s true. Girls are able to explore new interests, career aspirations, and skills by participating in progressive, exceptional experiences that introduce them to new ideas, people, and places. We offer every girl the chance to do something amazing.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS CURRENT GIRL SCOUTS SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA? It starts
with our youngest Girl Scouts participating in “take action” projects—whether it’s volunteering at nursing homes or collecting canned goods for local food pantries— and it continues as they pursue the highest awards in Girl Scouting: the Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards. This year, we’re celebrating 100 years of girls changing the world with the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award a Girl Scout between the ages of 14 and 18 can earn. These awards give girls the chance to do big things while working on issues they’re passionate about, whether it’s a campaign to raise awareness about bullying or a project to combat human trafficking. And the best part is these projects are designed to be sustainable, which means they’ll positively impact generations to come. fw
To learn more about Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
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#11 ELENA DELLE DONNE
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l o o C l o o h c S d l O
by Rebecca Taras-Lee
One of the most exciting aspects about Chicago’s culinary scene is that there seems to be at least one new restaurant opening up each week, which means you’ll never run out of places for a romantic dinner, weekend brunch or lunch with your co-workers to keep you au courant in the world of everything from farm-to-table eats to 101 ways with pork belly. While it’s definitely fun to stay on top of the trends, there’s something to be said for the classics, too. We asked four professional Chicago women to tell us their favorite old-school eatery that became popular long before culinary cocktails were even in vogue.
Laura Boton
Branka Tomic
GREEK ISLANDS
GENE AND GEORGETTI STEAKHOUSE
OWNER, SINE QUA NON SALONS
200 South Halsted Street Greekislands.net
WHY IT’S A FAVORITE: “Greek Island’s authenticity is captured through the delicious food and decor. It really feels like you’re on one of the Greek islands. It’s a must for all of my out of town guests.” WHAT TO ORDER: “The spinach pies and grilled octopus are the best in the city!”
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CO-FOUNDER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR LVX NAIL LACQUER
500 North Franklin Street GeneAndGeorgetti.com
WHY IT’S A FAVORITE: “This is the OG of Chicago steakhouses. I love the simplicity of the menu and decor. Plus, their service is impeccable.” WHAT TO ORDER:
“Broiled lamb chops. Surprisingly, they do not add any seasoning to their red meat—not even salt and pepper—and yet the taste and texture is mind blowing.”
Daliah Saper
PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY, SAPER LAW OFFICES
Lidia Varesco Racoma
ART DIRECTOR AND DESIGNER
CAPE COD ROOM
LA SCAROLA
At the Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton Place Thedrakehotel.com
721 West Grand Avenue Lascarola.com
WHY IT’S A FAVORITE: “Located within the iconic Drake Hotel, I love to dine at Cape Cod for the amazing food, cocktails, and elegant nautical-themed decor. It’s a great place for date night, girls’ night, or to wine and dine prospective business partners.”
WHAT TO ORDER: “The Skuna Bay salmon with rutabaga puree, butternut squash just melts in your mouth!”
WHY IT’S A FAVORITE: “The cozy, unpretentious atmosphere and delicious, generous portions at La Scarola make you feel like you stepped into an Italian trattoria. Bonus: celebrity photos on the walls to look at while you’re waiting for your food. I have taken out-of-town friends there, and the lively atmosphere also makes it perfect for groups.” WHAT TO ORDER: ”Escarole and beans (with crusty bread, of course), Pollo Italiano, tiramisu, and a Tuscan Chianti.”
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PAY IT FORWARD
WARM HEARTS, FULL TUMMIES Megan Selck, President and CEO, Loaves & Fishes By Rebecca Taras-Lee
Maintaining the infrastructure needed to feed the hungry is a constant challenge. It is organizations like Naperville-based Loaves & Fishes that contribute to the goal of creating a sustainable solution to hunger year-round. After volunteering at a soup kitchen in downtown Chicago, parishioners of a suburban Naperville church recognized a need for food assistance in their community. In 1984, Loaves & Fishes was created and served eight families out of a basement closet. Today, the organization is housed in a 17,000 square-foot facility in Naperville, providing
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nearly 5,000 families with multi-faceted services such as job search support, grocery assistance, skill-based classes, counseling, and public benefit assistance. Having always worked in nonprofit and being a lifelong “foodie,” Megan Selck was looking for a new role that combined her work and her passion. Being a mom to a young son, she immediately connected with Loaves & Fishes’ mission and fell in love with its incredible nutrition program and unique client engagement model. Believing strongly in the motto, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” Selck is proud to be part of an organization that helps families overcome barriers beyond the immediate need for food.
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As a firm believer in working together, Megan sees the opportunity to share the Loaves & Fishes model with other agencies, both locally and on a larger scale. Working with Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Loaves & Fishes is looking closely at the Hunger in America Report and working to serve more clients while continuing to provide a dignified experience. For more information or to volunteer, visit loaves-fishes.org.
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