Ladies First

Things I Learned From My Big Brother Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Ladies First

In the next few weeks I’ll be attending and presenting at some inspiring and illuminating events focused squarely at women, and I couldn’t be more excited. Sharing with you in the hopes that you’ll be able to join me or can help spread the word!

April 21: Watermark Conference For Women

This one-day conference presents at the San Jose Convention Center brings together women from all over the Bay Area for professional development and networking. Keynote speakers for 2016 include Abby Wambach, Mindy Kaling, and Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive, whom I got to interview for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Style section a few weeks ago for a story that ran yesterday. There are a crap ton of other impressive speakers too – check out the full roster here.

As part of Watermark’s social media Street Team, I’ll be live-tweeting the keynotes on 4/21, as well as breakout sessions on “Unconscious Power Dynamics” and “Aging with a Vengeance.” In the afternoon, I’ll be leading a social media round table on “Extending Your Blog’s Reach.” Follow along Thursday on @midlifemixtape if you’d like.

Or better yet, come with me! Tickets are still available and it’s a great investment in your professional career, regardless of what field you’re in. I guarantee you’ll come away with practical advice and you’ll make some amazing connections. At last year’s conference I got to sit on a shuttle bus between author Gail Sheehy and former Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt, and I’m still kind of woozy with the thrill of the discussion we three had. We three. You know, me, Gail, Gloria.

April 27 – 29: Mom 2.0 Summit

I’ll be heading to that hideous spot, the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, to tough it out for three days of conversations between mom, marketers, and media at the fabulous Mom 2.0 Summit. I’m looking forward to yet again realizing that I should be podcasting; connecting with my blogging friends in real life; and holding their purses as they collect their Iris Awards for being blogging superstars. Last year it was Andrew McCarthy handing over the hardware; given what I wrote recently about Blane being the worst ‘80s movie love interest ever, it will be significantly less awkward for me if they send Duckie this year.

May 6: Listen To Your Mother

[image error]The San Francisco performance of the Listen To Your Mother staged reading series that seeks to “give motherhood the microphone” will have an extra body on stage – me, as the emcee. As an alum of the 2013 cast, I couldn’t be more honored and excited to participate, and I’m especially pumped having read this year’s essays. What a wonderful, diverse, funny, and touching group of stories – and the perfect way to celebrate the moms in your life on Mother’s Day weekend. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Oakland’s Elizabeth House, a residential transitional program for women with children who have experienced homelessness, violence, addiction, and/or poverty. Tickets still available for the show at 7:30 the Brava Theater – check it out!

My sister, can I get some? Sure, Monie Love, grab the mic and get dumb.