Ask Emily Lonigro Boylan why Chicago’s women business owners need the Women Supporting Women Conference, and she doesn’t mince words: “Men have a network, it’s called the world. We need to have a conference that’s for us.”
The Women Supporting Women Conference, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 at Catalyst Ranch, is sponsored by Mom + Baby, a non-profit organization led by Boylan and fellow entrepreneur Alexandra C. Eidenberg.
Eidenberg, the organization’s founder, is president of the Mom + Baby board, and Boylan serves as vice president.
What began three years ago as an evening reception has grown into a daylong conference with practical sessions organized around two tracks – business and lifestyle – along with three “Legislative Conversations.” This year will also still have the evening reception.
Boylan and Eidenberg say they’re focused on providing “tactics-focused” information and conversations that will help women business owners in their daily lives.
“Women need to create space for ourselves, we don’t take moments out for our own personal and professional growth,” Eidenberg said, noting that too many business-related conferences are over three days in cities like Las Vegas.
“Mom business owners don’t have the capacity to take off three days,” she said. Having women plan the conference means everything from the schedule, to the all-female line-up of speakers, to the food, has women’s unique needs in mind.
The lifestyle track includes workshops on navigating CPS, details on childcare options and ways to hack your budget. The business sessions include a look at how to fix your website that’s led by Boylan, founder and president of LimeRed Studio, a UX agency. Eisenberg, president and co-founder of The Insurance People agency, is leading a session on “Insurance Tips for Real-Life Women.”
The conference is just one of the many events that Mom + Baby sponsors. There are also monthly get-togethers, regular meetings and interactions with legislators, as well as lobbying trips to Springfield several times a year. The organization’s mission is to support women and children “online, in person and on the Hill.”
“We all just need a little motivation,” Eidenberg said. “When you can be around other amazing women, it’s huge.”
Tickets for the Women Supporting Women conference are on sale now. Save $15 with coupon code Rebel15.