Date posted: 12/11/2006*

More than 4,000 women from across the nation attended the second annual Massachusetts Conference for Women held Dec. 6, 2006, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The event served as a forum for women to network, discover professional opportunities, and exchange personal experiences on life and career.

Raytheon supported the event as a corporate sponsor and encouraged more than 200 of its employees to get out of the office for the day and hear from nationally recognized female leaders, including Dr. Maya Angelou, world-renowned poet, historian and civil-rights activist; and Iman, author and CEO of Iman Cosmetics.

These two keynoters were joined by 80 other powerful female speakers, including Raytheon’s own Lee Silvestre, vice president of Mission Innovation and a member of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems’ leadership team. Silvestre kicked off the day with an inspiring speech to employees during a company-hosted breakfast and later participated on the Raytheon-sponsored panel “Access to the Board Room.”

Speakers Encourage Women to Shine; Help Others Shine
Understanding self-value and the value of other women was a common theme that resonated throughout the day. Each speaker inspired the audience to own successes and mentor others to do the same, addressing issues of business, family and positive world change.

The morning’s session featured remarks from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Chairman and CEO of Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourne. Highlights included Laybourne’s charismatic blend of comedy and strength as she reminded women not to “shrink to fit” cultural stereotypes.

Following Laybourne, the President and CEO of Oxen Hill Partners, Marian Heard, hosted an interview with Iman in a talk show-like setting. Iman spoke candidly about her journey from struggling as a young refugee to being a successful model and mother. She enforced the overarching message of the day by stressing the importance of “knowing your worth.”

During the luncheon keynote, Dr. Maya Angelou captivated the audience while expanding on the daylong theme of self-worth. Angelou stepped up to the microphone singing “This Little Light of Mine.” Her robust voice carried the song through the audience as a strong reminder to share personal strengths with the world. She navigated the audience through childhood anecdotes that emphasized the duty of women to help light a path for others and become mentors. Her inspirational speech left few dry eyes in the house and revealed why it is important to help others succeed.

Silvestre Offers Board Room Advice
During the Raytheon-sponsored panel discussion “Access to the Board Room,” Raytheon’s Lee Silvestre spoke about her role as a board member. Currently she serves on the Newport Hospital Board of Governors in Rhode Island, the Community College of Rhode Island’s Industry Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors for the Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town and the New England Modeling and Simulation Consortium. Silvestre was able to offer five key pieces of advice about how to decide whether you should accept an invitation to serve as a board member.

1. Face the facts: Ask yourself what value it would bring to you and what value you would bring to the board.
2. Do your homework: Know the company before you join their board and know how your participation can positively or negatively affect your company.
3. Be upfront about your level of influence: Communicate whether or not you have follower-ship and influence within your company.
4. Become part of the system: Engage yourself with the right people at the right time and use your voice wisely.
5. Decide what you want your reputation to be and become it: Choose a few areas where you want to be known as an expert and promote yourself as such.

Lessons That Will Live Well Beyond the Event
Participants in the second annual Massachusetts Conference for Women walked away from the event rejuvenated and inspired to bring the lessons they learned back to their friends, family and workplace.

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