InvestmentNews Women Advisor Summit kicks off

investmentnews.com:

TheInvestmentNews Women Advisor Summit in New York Wednesday began not only with a bang, but with a rejection of the unfair questions so often asked of female business owners.

Mandy Gilbert, entrepreneur and author, opened the summit by discussing the challenges of working in male-dominated industries. She started by recounting the demeaning questions women entrepreneurs often face as they grow their businesses, questions like, “Did you start this business with your husband?” or “Did your father start it?” and “How do you manage the business while keeping up with your house duties?”

Gilbert then discussed the obstacles that female entrepreneurs and CEOs need to overcome on the way to success. Most importantly, she pointed out that entrepreneurs “cannot do it all themselves.” In her view, they need to bring in qualified people and welcome their help, which is why “inclusive decisionmaking” is so vital for growing a business.

“Being an inclusive leader is not only the right thing, it’s critical for success,” Gilbert said.

She warned the attendees not to be crippled by the “fear of making a mistake,” and as a result micro-managing a business to death.

“If this is showing up, you have to let go,” said Gilbert. “You will only be as successful as you effectively delegate.”

Gilbert’s keynote was followed by a panel on leveraging who you are to drive results, which was led by Liz Manibay, director of management consulting at Charles Schwab.

The panel included Haleh Moddasser, partner at Stearns Financial Group, Sibyl Slade, financial advisor at IntegriVest, Jennifer Kenning, CEO of Align Impact, and Paula Nangle, president of Marshall Financial Group.

During the discussion, Kenning remembered the circumstances when she told her