Women?s conference tackles work goals

The Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference won’t be a cotillion reunion. Balancing business goals with financial logic and courage, speakers for the conference will describe their experiences in an effort to help others conquer career obstacles.

One task to overcome — clock watching — riles up Emory Austin. When people settle for a job out of convenience, they bind themselves to waiting for fun time and dreading their jobs, she said.

“It’s not about watching the clock…” Austin said. “It’s about finding your passion.”

At the conference, being held Sept. 19 at the Bentonville Clarion Inn, Austin and four other women will discuss financial security, motivation, stress management and breaking barriers.

Women in advertising, medicine, construction, homemaking, or any other jobs can find a place in the conference if they buy their $45 ticket in advance. Conference organizers expect an audience of about 150 people, almost double from last year’s inaugural event. This year’s theme is “Reaching New Heights.”

“Women still are expected to be ladylike,” Austin said. “What women need to do is move beyond those parameters that have been set by men and by themselves. It is very easy to let yourself be defined by your job description. The people who will make a difference in the future are the ones that look around the corners at possibilities outside their current job.”

Austin averages about eight speeches per month with her business, Emory Austin and Co.

Various industry lists compiled by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal show a need for a female support system in the area. Only one woman, Carolyn Thomason, executive vice president for First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc., appeared on the Business Journal’s list of highest paid executives in Benton and Washington counties. She ranked at No. 51 with $249,914 of total compensation for 1999.

Another lone listing, Sonja Hubbard, president and CEO of E-Z Mart Stores Inc., was among the state’s top 127 University of Arkansas business college success stories. But last year more than half of the 148 top producing real estate agents in the area were women.

While sharing experiences with other women in business helps form a network, Mary Ann Campbell, a Little Rock-based entrepreneur, also said being too narrowly focused can be harmful.

“If you get too isolated in women’s groups,” she said, “you get too isolated.”

However, she knows the value of working together to get a job done.

Early in her career, Campbell began working with the National Women’s Business Council, and after four years, President Clinton appointed her to the position of chair.

While touring the nation for the council and rallying people to testify, Campbell packed auditoriums with her passionate speeches about promoting female business owners.

Consorts like Hillary Rodham Clinton helped Campbell pursue funding, and before she left the council, Congress passed a bill for a 5 percent procurement goal for all federal agencies to promote women in business.

Campbell said about 3 percent of all outsourcing through federal agencies goes to women businesses.

Campbell owns Money Magic Inc., a finance education-focused communication venture. A regular live spot on KATV called “Money Magic,” a part-time teaching job at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, and speaking opportunities occupy Campbell’s career.

At the conference, Campbell wants to help people in the audience believe in themselves and have the courage to ask for what they need.

Lynn Russell has another point to make at the conference. Giving money-saving tips and debt-reduction strategies will be her focus for the day.

“It’s important for families to prepare for their financial future,” Russell said.