Countywide : Women Leaders Speak at Conference

Act on your dreams was perhaps the overriding message that a panel of local women leaders had to offer at Friday’s Women in Leadership Conference.

The audience of mostly women at the one-day conference at South Coast Plaza Village were encouraged to maintain their career goals, but also to support each other’s efforts to do so.

The panelists, five community leaders in areas ranging from education to the arts, also spoke of the challenges, responsibilities and future of leadership for women and fielded questions.

“Don’t be afraid to dream big dreams,” said Fiona Petersen, a panelist and chairman of the Guilds Orange County Performing Arts Center. “But don’t only dream, act on them.”

More than 250 people took part in the three-hour conference in Santa Ana, focusing on such issues as volunteerism, networking and career opportunities.

The conference is “a recognition of the impact that women and volunteers have made, and continue to make in the community,” said Kathleen Green, marketing director of South Coast Plaza Village, one of the sponsors.

A conference luncheon also was held to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and many nonprofit groups arranged booths at the conference to recruit, advertise and offer information.

“I like to get involved with any women’s event,” said Corliss Tillman, a representative from Professional Women in Business Networking Systems. “I come for networking and to learn what other women are doing.”

Participant Louise Carole swapped business cards with several others at the conference and said she hopes to form a support network with them.

“I think that support is something that every professional needs,” said Carole, a family therapist from Huntington Beach. “The awareness is out, and I’m really happy about it.”

When the panelists talked about their own successes, many encouraged listeners to act as role models and be a mentor to their own peers.

“I’m still looking for a mentor,” said Phyllis Agran, a UC Irvine professor of pediatric gastroenterology. “We need to serve as mentors for the men and women of the next generation.”