20 November 2007Women of Power Summit - A Huge Success!

The First Annual Women of Power Summit

Event Gallery

Joyce Murraine Panel discussion Panel discussion Summit Participants Panel discussion Paula Hunte-Cox Micing a panel guest Backstage at the Summit Questioning the panel Pastor Melvin Turnbull Panel members get ready Panelists get ready Sharing a laugh onstage Crowd reaction Getting ready for lunch Getting ready for lunch Iyanla takes the stage Iyanla firing up the crowd Iyanla ending the Summit on a high note

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Tuesday, November 20 - Over two hundred women from across the British Virgin Islands, United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and southern United States packed the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s Auditorium on Saturday, November 17 for the first Women of Power Summit.

The day long event featured a variety of local and international speakers, focusing on five key areas; personal and spiritual growth, professional development, financial empowerment, social relations and health and well-being.

Editor-in-chief of Business BVI, Portia Harrigan said, “The summit was a huge success.” Harrigan said the responses from participants were encouraging. “We originally decided to include the summit in the Business BVI Seminar Series to empower women. There are women in the BVI from all over the world and there is a lot that we can learn from each other on issues affecting our lives. We need opportunities for growth and development and if our people are unable to travel for that purpose, it is important that those of us who can; bring these opportunities to them.”

The aim of the seminar was to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women as well as to delve into and examine vital aspects of women’s lives, such as financial, spiritual, social and political issues, career development and health and wellness. Presentations provided insight into realities of building a career and developing leadership skills as well as focusing on the benefits of exercise and good nutrition.

The main speaker for the event was acclaimed, inspirational speaker and best selling author, Iyanla Vanzant. A frequent guest on Oprah, Vanzant spoke about spiritual development, relationships and health and wellness. Her lectures and workshops are aimed at empowering women and men, teaching them how to look inside for the strength and courage necessary to live their best lives.

Vanzant is the founder and director of Inner Visions Institute of Spiritual Development. Like its founder, the institution aims to share knowledge of universal principle and law and the truth of unconditional love to motivate others to create a better life, a better community and a better world. Some of her notable books include; One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, Acts of Faith, and The Value in the Valley.

Other speakers included; former Vice Mayor of Cincinnati Ohio, Alicia Reece, Director of BVI International Finance Centre and International Affairs Secretariat, Lorna Smith, Managing Director of Scotia Bank, BVI Ltd., Joycelyn Murraine, Fitness Instructor, Lisa Adamson, Paula Hunte-Cox of the Caribbean School of Etiquette and Sandra Grisham, General Manager of the Peter Island Resort. A men’s panel, comprised of Pastor Melvin Turnbull, Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Mr. Kenton Questelles and Mr. Alston Simmonds addressed the issues of male/female relationships.

There was also entertainment by Ouida Nisbett who performed two very fitting songs from her new album entitled Caribbean Soul and Dr. Drexel Glasgow, who performed a song, entitled Heaven by R. Kelly on saxophone.

At the summit, former Legislator, Eileene L. Parsons was honoured for her many and varied contributions to the British Virgin Islands. “It’s very important for us to recognise women amongst us.” said Harrigan. “We have many female heroes around the world like Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice and Maya Angelou, but it is particularly important that we acknowledge those that have made a difference in our communities. Ms. Eileene Parsons has been a true trailblazer for women in this community and it was easy for us to recognise the many contributions she has made for many generations in the BVI.” concluded Harrigan.

Eileene L. Parsons was the first of two female Legislators elected to the former Legislative Council. She was also the first female to become a Government Minister and remains the only female to be Deputy Chief Minister of the BVI. Parsons retired from politics this year.

The Women of Power Summit was the third in a series of seminars hosted by Business BVI, the premier business and investment publication of the British Virgin Islands. Business BVI is published by Oyster Global Publications, a division of Oyster Global Marketing Group a locally owned communications and marketing firm. The 2008 edition of the magazine is on newsstands Territory-wide. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.businessbvi.com.

Oyster Publications Inc, PO box 3369, Road Town Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG1110

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