We welcome two new National Partners and
thank them for their support of the USWCC.

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20004

Phone:
202-661-4701
Toll Free:
888-96-WOMEN
Fax: 202-478-0995

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USWCC Blueprint for the Future:
Creating the Next Generation of Leadership for Women

A. Introduction: An Important Time

We are at an important time for the leadership of business and professional women in the United States. Over the last century, women have moved into careers, business and politics. And, over the last quarter century, women have moved into key positions of leadership and business ownership. Now, there is one last leap to be made – the leap to proportionate economic and leadership levels.

This leap will be accomplished by leveraging key strategies to create a strong economic and leadership entity that will:

Teach women how to maximize their economic and leadership opportunities.
Provide women with the real, unbiased information they need to make informed decisions.
Provide a structure for this leveraged voice that will create strong influence.
Use this structure and influence to create new opportunities and create real and lasting change.

B. The Next Generation of Leadership for Women

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce seeks new solutions. We believe the old adage, "if we keep doing what we've been doing, we will continue to get what we've got." Our focus is on taking the strides women made during the last century, and turning this progress into strong economic and leadership gains for the future.

Pioneering Strategies

The USWCC has established a pioneering set of strategies to accomplish this new leap for women including:

Reach – Includes both women business owners and career professionals.
Scale – Nationwide with local leadership all under one, united organization.
Influence and positioning – Leverage reach, scale and positioning, and communications technology to achieve a strong level of influence.
Inclusion – A belief that the involvement of both women and men are important to the process.
Consistent empowered leadership – Local presidents are carefully selected and maintain leadership for a number of years to set and meet objectives.
Un-Biased news and information – Real unbiased data, statistics, news and information that will assist with business and career growth.
Technology driven communications – This enables members and leaders to easily communicate with one another, and provides members with up-to-date information individualized to their needs.
Member driven corporate relationships and product/services – Corporate relationships and products/services that align with the USWCC mission and objectives.

C. Relevant Statistics for Women: Economic and Leadership Progress Still Needed

While women have made tremendous advancements in income, opportunities and leadership, there is still much to be done.

Women Business Owners:

48% of women-owned businesses have less than $10,000 in revenue annually
87% of all women-owned businesses generate less than $100,000 in revenue annually
Only 1.8% of women-owned businesses generated $1M or more in annual revenues (compared to 5.04% of all firms)

Career Women:

16% of women earn six-figure salaries
12.4% National average for number of women on the boards of Fortune 500 companies

Politics:

Women held 13.6%, of the 535 seats in the 107th US Congress
In 2002, 89 women (27.7%) held statewide elective executive offices across the country
In 2002, women held 1,680, (22.6%), of the 7,424 state legislators in the United States

D. Strategic Plan

The U. S. Women's Chamber of Commerce™ is the vehicle for change in making a visible, measurable difference in improving economic and leadership opportunities for women. As the next generation of leadership for women, the USWCC is the connection to influence, education, opportunity and advancement.

In all decisions, the USWCC relies on one underlying mantra: Leading – Authentic – Opportunity. Everything we do must adhere to these three words:

We must lead and be seen as the leader for women. We should not take part in activities where we are not viewed as the leader for women on issues of economics and leadership.
We must be authentic and trusted – not sold out to other influences. Women must know that everything we do is for them, not for some other external influencer.
We must create and sustain opportunities for women. Opportunities are our lifeblood. Opportunities create choice, freedom and the ability for women to feel fulfilled.

Affiliates Create Backbone for Change

We are building a network of statewide affiliates that work in unison to provide a backbone for change across the U.S. These affiliates are linked by consistent, empowered leaders; a clear and strongly driven mission; and a backbone of technology based communication systems that provide a high level of interaction, delivery of news and information, and ease of operation.

Four Key Areas of Focus, Three Underlying Concepts

The USWCC has four key areas of focus: Business, Career, Leadership, and Wealth. In each area, we apply three underlying concepts or principles: Education, Influence, and Opportunity.

We believe significant, sustained change can be created through: educating women on how to achieve growth; providing methods and opportunities for women to gain influence; and providing new opportunities for women through the structure of the USWCC. These core concepts run through each of our initiatives.

USWCC Councils Create Local Implementation

Each affiliate market develops member councils to lead these initiatives. These councils also communicate on a national level to maximize opportunity and adjust programs as necessary to create ongoing progress. Local leaders will choose the elements of these initiatives that are most important to their markets and implement them as the affiliate grows. USWCC National will develop national staff and leaders to assist with the implementation in each market to bring consistency and strength to the system and to relieve local leaders from administrative burden.

Business Initiative

A. Education: The USWCC views education as one of the unmet needs of women in the entrepreneurial community. While women have started businesses at a record pace, they have not achieved acceptable levels of revenues/profits, have not taken full advantage of procurement markets, and have not accessed the full breadth of capital options available to assist with business growth and sustenance. The USWCC is providing every member with the opportunity to gain a strong business education focused towards business growth and opportunity, including a Mini-MBA program, Business Growth Series and information on Targeting Procurement Markets and Business Finance Options.

B. Influence: While women now own a large share of the businesses in the U.S., they have not leveraged their growing numbers to exert influence in the marketplace. The USWCC is using a multi-pronged approach to dramatically raise the influence of women in business locally and nationally, including: reporting, news and opinion, government affairs and the creation of economic development councilsthat will bring together key influencers (male and female) to open doors for women, improve opportunities, and breakdown barriers to success for women entrepreneurs.

C. Opportunity: Since the growth of women-owned businesses has happened over a relatively short period of time, many women lack access to the types of opportunities that can create business growth. The USWCC is providing opportunities for women in business to access markets, capital and technology, assist with teaming arrangements and secure more of existing business opportunities.

Leadership and Career Initiative

A. Education: While women have made great strides in their careers and businesses, they are still underrepresented at the top levels of management, on boards and commissions, and in political arenas. The USWCC is providing every member with the opportunity to gain a strong leadership education focused towards career, business and political advancement through executive leadership programs, CEO forums, and career summits.

B. Influence: While women have made strong leaps into management and leadership positions. However, they continue to lag in advancement to the highest levels of executive management and board appointments. Through the use of reporting, news and opinion, government affairs committee, alliances and awards, the USWCC is dramatically raising the level of influence for women.

C. Opportunity: As women work towards leadership and career growth, they must have opportunities to practice leadership and be recognized as leaders. The USWCC is providing many opportunities for women to gain leadership experience including our own internal opportunities, our Board Ready program, andour community leadership alliances.

Women's Wealth Initiative

A. Education: As women have made dramatic moves into the workforce and into business ownership, it is important that they have a full understanding of financial growth, protection and legacy building. The USWCC is providing strong financial education through our Women's Economic Summits, Economic Forums, andour Women's Wealth Alliance.

B. Influence: While women have become one of the most desirable market segments of the financial services industry, they have not leveraged their power to exert influence on the marketplace. Through the use of reporting, news and opinion, government affairs, and securing of preferred and discounted financial products/services, the USWCC is dramatically raising the level of influence for women.

C. Opportunity: Many quality financial opportunities (and information) are shared only in small influential networks. The USWCC is positioning its members as one of these influential networks and will provide news and information to members creating new opportunities for women.

The Leap to the Future

These four initiatives in concert with the pioneering strategies detailed within this "Blueprint for the Future" will create a powerful leap for the economic and leadership future of women. By working together, we will create the next generation of leadership for women in the United States.

Join us today and change the world tomorrow