Girl Power

Big Island

WomenRule! That was the name of a three-day weekend training session held in New York City last June for the 80 winners of the O — White House Leadership Project. The Big Island’s Andrea Dean was selected from more than 3,000 applicants from across the country after submitting a business plan and visioning process for her company, Green Business Consulting, Coaching and Training.

The White House Project is a national not-for-profit organization that aims to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors. The group advocates that filling the leadership pipeline with a diverse, critical mass of women will make institutions, businesses and government more representative of American society.

Courtesy of O, The Oprah Magazine

“The energy and excitement were palpable,” says Dean of her high-powered weekend of leadership training. “Being in a room with 80 women who want to create change in their communities and the world is very stimulating.” Participants represented a diverse group, ranging from potential business owners to aspiring politicians.

At the training, the women learned about online social networking, media communications, financing, organization and negotiation, among other things. But Dean says the most memorable part of the experience was the relationships she formed with the other participants.

“The relationships are invaluable,” she says. “Having access to a national network of high-powered, change-the-world kind of gals is inspiring and useful.”

Dean says her company has greatly benefited from a wonderful public relations boost after being featured in the November 2008 issue of O magazine.

“Anything that the Oprah wand touches turns to gold,” she says. “It has given me a platform to talk about the benefits of green business coaching and consulting, and my approach to integrating triple-bottom-line concepts [people, planet and profits] into business strategy.”

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to Hawaii Business Magazine »