Women entrepreneurs inspire conference features co-founder of Vera Bradley Designs

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Riata Center for Entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business will host the 3rd annual Women Entrepreneurs Inspire (WE Inspire) Conference on Wednesday, April 4. Recognized as one of “The Top Ten Conferences for Female Entrepreneurs,” this one-day symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

“Women are the fastest growing segment of small business start-ups in the nation and make an enormous contribution to our economy in terms of job creation, spending power and other areas,” said Nola Miyasaki, Norman C. Stevenson chair and executive director of the Riata Center. Despite the recent growth, she explains that women-owned businesses continue to lag behind male-owned businesses in terms of numbers, revenue and access to capital.

“There is still high potential for growth among women-owned businesses and a great opportunity for them to be more and more successful, which is why we spend so much time and effort to make the WE Inspire Conference a world-class event,” Miyasaki said.

WE Inspire 2012 will explore the obstacles, demands and challenges women face when creating and growing their own businesses. With the goal of helping women create and sustain their own companies, the conference is aimed at equipping them with the resources they need to turn their business ideas into workable business models.

The conference is particularly geared towards women who have just started a business, those who may only have an idea for a new business, and women who are looking to grow their existing businesses. WE Inspire is a resource-packed day featuring both local and national entrepreneurial role models discussing their failures and successes, as well as providing conference attendees with the latest in business development and strategy. With 1,000 women entrepreneurs expected to attend the 2012 event and more than 20 acclaimed speakers, the conference is also an incredible networking opportunity. 

This year’s conference will include keynote sessions with leading women entrepreneurs from across the nation, as well as smaller, hands-on breakout sessions led by experts on a wide range of more specific business topics such as finance and online marketing. Professor Michael Morris, N. Malone Mitchell Chair in Entrepreneurship and head of OSU’s School of Entrepreneurship, designs the program each year with the goal of enabling aspiring women entrepreneurs to act on their dreams. The topic-specific breakout sessions will include two tracks: start up and growth. The start-up track will focus on creating ventures, while the growth track will emphasize ways to grow a venture once it is up and running.

“We highlight women entrepreneurs from all over North America and Oklahoma, who are from diverse industries with diverse backgrounds – all of whom are enormously successful,” Morris said. “The keynoters and our breakout sessions will not only be inspirational, the program will also help women entrepreneurs at all levels learn how to do business better.”

One of the day’s featured keynotes is Patricia Miller, co-founder of design company Vera Bradley. Founded in 1982, Vera Bradley is now an international brand known for its colorful handbags, accessories, luggage, eyewear, travel items and gifts. Vera Bradley products are sold in more than 3,300 specialty stores and 50 Vera Bradley stores nationwide.

Another featured keynote is Julie Aigner-Clark, founder of The Baby Einstein Company, a world leader in developmental and entertainment products for babies and toddlers. Now a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, the company continues to be a number-one selling brand for infant entertainment. These and other women entrepreneurs will share stories of what they did, how they did it, and the lessons they learned along the way. 

The response from last year’s conference featuring Maria de Lourdes Sobrino of Lulu’s Desserts and Cathrine M. Ann of Consumer Connection Inc, continues to be overwhelmingly positive.

“WE Inspire is an exciting opportunity for inspiration, networking and tapping the entrepreneurial potential of women across Oklahoma,” Miyasaki said. “The energy and the networking that goes on at this event are truly amazing for all who attend. The first conference inspired hundreds of women to pursue their passions, think big, and turn their dreams into reality. We plan to continue this tradition.”

The registration fee for the WE Inspire conference will be $45 for those who register by March 18. After that, the regular registration fee will be $60 through March 30; late registration and walk-ins will be $75. To register or for more information, visit: www.weinspire.net. Companies interested in sponsorships or exhibit tables for the conference should call Brooke Stuart, Events and Marketing Specialist for the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship, at 405-744-7871 or e-mail her at brooke.stuart@okstate.edu.