LEARN THE 10 BEST WAYS TO CLIMB THE LADDER IN 2007 AT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
CONFERENCE FOR CORPORATE WOMEN
FEB. 8 – 9 IN SILICON VALLEY

Microsoft, Bridge Bank, PBWC, ATW, Springboard Enterprises, the SBA and Other Sponsors Join Invent Your Future
Enterprises to Fast-Track the Success of Corporate and Entrepreneurial Women Leaders

SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Jan. 18, 2007 – Build valuable business skills and know-how to take your career and
company to the next level at The Entrepreneurial Skills Conference, February 8 – 9, 2007 at the Microsoft
Conference Center in Mountain View, CA. The nation’s top authors, experts, business leaders and professors
will share their secrets and strategies to spark your entrepreneurial drive and accelerate your rise to the top.
Register by Jan. 19th for early bird discount at http://www.inventyourfuture.com/conference.html.

From improving negotiation skills to understanding a P&L, the conference has something for women at all
stages of their careers. Whether you’re a corporate manager who wants to move up the career ladder, an
'intra'-preneur who is ready to lead corporate initiatives or a new or aspiring business owner, this event will
prepare you for success.

Join us and discover the 10 best ways to take your career to the next level:

1.        Enhance your business skills in negotiation, finance, strategy, selling & decision making;
2.        Get more organized in hands-on sessions with the latest productivity-enhancing tools like smartphones
& PDAs;
3.        Build your technology expertise by learning about the latest sales-enhancing tools: customer
relationship management (CRM), search engine optimization (SEO) & blogging;
4.        Learn to work smarter (not longer) with tips & techniques from business experts who have ‘been there,
done that’ and want to share their secrets;
5.        Get your message out by discovering tools to be heard, remembered and achieve business results;
6.        Exchange best practices & business resources with other corporate women and inspiring entrepreneurs
on the fast track;
7.        Find answers to your toughest questions during interactive breakout sessions with lots of Q&A;
8.        Participate in a business simulation exercise to build your business IQ;
9.        Gain ongoing support to overcome your career and business challenges by joining an Entrepreneurial
Mindset team that will meet after the event;
10.        Create a vision and roadmap to reinvent your career by building real-world skills you can implement
right away and driving real results for you and your company.

“This extraordinary event addresses ‘elephant-in-the-room’ issues most conferences tip-toe around or avoid
altogether,” said Sam Horn, nationally-acclaimed author, award-winning speaker and conference emcee. “It
focuses on how to take responsibility for your career by building the confidence and skills to hold your own in a
pressure-packed environment. Get input from accomplished women executives who have ‘been there, done
that’ and are willing to share their lessons-learned so women working their way up the ranks don’t have to go
it alone.”

“The advancement of women is now a strategic requirement for employers striving to retain leaders, attract
new talent and bring products and services to market that reflect the diverse needs and preferences of
customers,” said Ruth Stergiou, Co-Founder of Invent Your Future Enterprises.

Co-Founder Denise Brosseau adds, “We teach women that the biggest mistake you can make in your life is to
think you work for someone else. Every job is a stepping stone to your future and the steps you choose to
take make up your career. Learning, expanding and honing your entrepreneurial skills will prepare you for the
opportunities ahead. We designed this unique conference to help women build the skills they need to be more
competitive, to nurture their entrepreneurial drive and to inspire them to reinvent their careers.”

More highlights:

•        Stanford’s top negotiation professor Maggie Neale will share time-tested techniques to improve your
negotiation skills;
•        Former HP 'intra'-preneur Adrian Ott (Exponential Edge) will reveal the secrets of starting and building an
internal corporate venture;
•        An SBA lender and the co-Founder of the Springboard Venture Forums will discuss founding and funding
a new business;
•        Sales expert Joanne Black (author, No More Cold Calling) will impart strategies for attracting and
retaining the most profitable customers;
•        Mathilda Khabbaz, Vice President of Citibank will improve your understanding of a P&L, including key
ratios that identify problems ahead;
•        Productivity guru Pierre Khawand (People-OntheGo) will share the most important tools and techniques
to overcome the email deluge;
•        Small business and PR experts Kara Swisher (Wall Street Journal) and Aundrea Lacy (Luv's Brownies) will
share tips and inspirational stories to spark your inner entrepreneur;
•        Tech experts Barbara Coll (webmama.com), Jory Des Jardins (BlogHer) and Carolyn Acker (Infusion CRM)
will highlight tech tools to increase your productivity, reach new customers and boost your profits;
•        Advancement expert Kara Helander (Catalyst) will help you take charge of your career and learn how to
be your own mentor;
•        Learn more at http://www.inventyourfuture.com/conference.html.

Supporters

Sponsors of The Entrepreneurial Skills Conference include: Microsoft; Bridge Bank; New Dimension Enterprises,
Ltd.; the SBA; Burke Williams Spa and Townsend and Townsend and Crew, LLP. Partners include: Professional
Business Women of California (PBWC); Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW); BlogHer; Forum for Women
Entrepreneurs & Executives; FountainBlue; Indian Business & Professional Women; NAWBO Silicon Valley; the
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center; Springboard Enterprises; Women Impacting Public Policy; Women In
Consulting and Women’s Technology Cluster. Learn about sponsorship opportunities at http://www,
inventyourfuture.com/conference.html.

“Microsoft’s sponsorship of The Entrepreneurial Skills Conference underscores our commitment to empower
women leaders in corporate and small business environments and foster their success,” said Diana Beckman,
Northern California area general manager for Microsoft’s Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P)
group. “Each year, we make significant investments in the top events for career and personal development
and networking, and we’re delighted to be part of this unique conference to help women realize their
potential.”

Register

Visit http://www.inventyourfuture.com/conference.html to register and receive gifts valued at more than $150.
Includes conference sessions, Business Simulation Challenge, materials, exhibits, continental breakfast, lunch
and reception. Group discounts available by emailing registration@inventyourfuture.com.

About Invent Your Future Enterprises

Invent Your Future Enterprises is a professional development company that is accelerating the success of the
next generation of corporate and entrepreneurial women leaders through corporate retention and diversity
programs, business simulation training, skill-building conferences, eseminars and toolkits. Built by highly
experienced, connected and committed social entrepreneurs, the company’s products and services fast-track
the success of corporate managers on their way up the career ladder, 'intra'-preneurs who are building
internal corporate ventures, and new or aspiring business owners. Learn more at www.inventyourfuture.com
or call (650) 472-3782.
SBA’s participation in this Cosponsorship is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products
or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity.
All SBA programs, services and cosponsored activities are extended to the public on a
nondiscriminatory basis.
Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two
weeks in advance.  Contact: Kathleen Butler Tom, (415) 744-6777, Kathleen.butler.tom@sba.gov
Cosponsorship Authorization #: 07-0912-10
Press Contact:
Ruth Stergiou
Invent Your Future
email: ruth@inventyourfuture.com
phone: 650-472-3782 X2