Four Coaches, One Forum: FWI Introduces New Blog

CONTACT: Ann Kvaal, Financial Women International at 651-487-7632 or ann@fwi.org

Roseville, Minn.  – Starting today, Financial Women International is adding a new level of career expertise and interactive advice to its recently redesigned website,www.fwi.org.

A new FWI blog, called “Women At The Top: Fostering Professional Development for Women in Banking and the Financial Services Industry,” will deliver the collective wisdom of four career coaches, each with her own unique niche and perspective. They are:

• Executive Coach Regina Barr, CEO of Red Ladder, Inc., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.;
• Career Coach Carol Crilly, president of Crilly Consulting, Billings, Mont.;
• Sales and Training Coach Jolene Sigg, sales coach at Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Archbold, Ohio; and
• Academic Coach Terrilyn Morgan, master teacher—finance and accounting, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah.

Writing on a rotating basis, the coaches will update the blog frequently with entries based on their own on-the-job observations and experiences, questions they’ve been asked, relevant studies and news articles. Visitors are encouraged to log in and leave comments to enhance and expand each discussion.

“Blogging will help us extend the sense of community that FWI creates. Participants can check in when they want, ask questions at their convenience and get responses quickly,” said Regina Barr, one of the featured coaches and the current FWI president. “We envision this blog as the next best thing to picking up the phone and talking with your own personal coach.”

“The blog may be especially useful for women who don’t have access to mentors or coaches within the workplace, or for those who may be a little more reluctant to ask questions face-to-face,” Barr added.

The Women at the Top blog takes its name from the well-established FWI Foundation Women at the Top™ study, which has tracked women’s progress in reaching executive-level financial services positions since 2000.

The first of its kind within the banking and financial services industry, the blog complements the association’s other professional development resources, which include:

• Free monthly TeleForums (which are open to non-FWI members as well as members);
• FWI group meetings, district workshops and an annual FWI international conference;
• Certification through the FWI Professional Development Program; and
• Self-paced Internet courses through FWI’s new eLearning Center;
• Online and local in-person classes through a partnership with the Center for Financial Training; and
• Scholarships to the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Gradate School of Banking at Colorado.

To access the FWI blog, go to http://www.fwi.org/ and clicking on “Blog” in the upper right-hand corner. FWI membership is not required to participate.

Financial Women International and its Foundation are dedicated to developing leaders, accelerating careers, and generating results for professionals in the banking and financial services industry. Membership is comprised of financial executives representing all 50 states, Canada, and Russia. For more information, call toll-free 866-236-2007.