I was delighted to learn that my 2006 student delegation fellows Prudence Mutowo and Pardis Sabeti have been selected as “Rising Talents” for the 2007 Women’s Forum (see also these previous posts for more on the 07 RTs).

It is no surprise, though, as these 2 friendly young women are real brains and committed scientists in their countries: The American Pardis Sabeti is an Assistant Professor at Harvard in Systems Biology and Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, after shooting-star studies at MIT, Oxford University and at Harvard Medical School. Prudence Mutowo, from Zimbabwe, works as a doctoral researcher on micro-organism archea at the University of Nottingham.

Prudence and Pardis both received the 2006 “L’Oréal For Women Science Fellowship”, an L’Oréal-UNESCO award, given to young female scientists.

Catching up with Pardis, I was wondering why there were so few women involved in sciences. “We need a better science education, and more role models in sciences”, she says, and this is one of the key aspect of her job as an Assistant Professor: teaching scientists and teachers-to-be how to communicate about science. “Children should also be given the chance to see the people behind a project.” Project Runway, a reality show showing designers realizing their project, could be a good source of inspiration for something similar in sciences.

Nevertheless, she shows a great enthusiasm in attending the Women’s Forum for the second time, this time as part of the Rising Talents delegation. “It’s a great network, and there was a good balance between all generations coming together, and meetings for the Rising Talents Group, where we could discuss the issues applying to our stage of career.”

Meeting so many dedicated and generous women in this forum, committed in social entrepreneurship, in NGOs, fighting for human rights and helping people, I sometimes feel a little bad only “selling creams and perfumes”…

So I decided to have a look at the L’Oréal Foundation Discovery Corner, just in case, to see if it could pump up a little my corporate pride.

That’s how I met Delphine Sevelinge, director of the “Look better, Feel better” Program for France (under the name “la Vie, de plus belle“), a program run by leading cosmetics companies and cancer associations. And there she started an enthusiastic explanation…

The “Look Good…Feel Better” program started 20 years ago, after realizing the impact of a “make-over” on a woman in cancer treatment experiencing appearance-related side effects. “The woman was so depressed and self-conscious she would not venture outside her hospital room. [The doctor] made some calls and was able to provide cosmetics and a make-up artist. Miraculously, the make-over transformed not just the woman’s look, but her outlook, as well. She immediately felt happier and less burdened, laughing for the first time in weeks. The doctor credited the make-over with improving her attitude and emotional approach toward her treatment.”

With such a profound result, the cosmetic industry recognized the opportunity to help more women maintain self-esteem and face cancer treatment with greater confidence, and many cosmetic brands immediately offered funding and cosmetics. Cancer associations provided their medical network and make-up artists volunteered for this generous cause. Today, LGFB group programs are held in 19 countries and helped 830K women around the world.

Sure, it doesn’t save the world, but it definitely helps it feeling better.

Being a woman is also about harmony…  How better than through music?

Croatian mezzo-soprano Renata Pokupić is known internationally through acclaimed performances of baroque, classical and other coloratura-mezzo repertoire as well as solo songs, and she’s been selected by the Women’s Forum and JP Morgan as one of the 20 “Rising Talents” this year.

As an opera-fan, I couldn’t leave Deauville without meeting her, and this serene-looking woman charmed me by her simplicity and the passion she expresses when talking about lyrical singing. “Singing is my first and biggest love. I was 6, listening to Verdi on the radio, and I knew I wanted to become a singer.”

And so she did, and not half-way: after studying singing at the Music Academy of Zagreb, she made a successful debut at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in 2003, where she sang Anna in Les Troyens by Hector Berlioz with Sir John Eliot Gardiner conducting. A year later, she was blowing up the London scene, during the London Handel Festival, singing Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules the London Handel Orchestra under conductor Laurence Cummings. Since then, it seems nothing can stop this graceful young woman to charm Europe with her vocalises.

As a woman, is it a problem to travel so much from festivals to music theatres all around Europe? Not for Renata, who agrees her job hardly leaves her time for her personal life, but, as she beautifully says: “As a singer, you don’t work for a living: you entirely live your job. I am fortunate enough to work with amazing musicians, singers, orchestras and conductors, and this fulfils me completely.”

It’s the first time Renata attends a gathering such as the Women’s Forum, and she finds it tremendously inspiring. “It’s something very new to me to meet so many admirable and committed women, and I now feel an urge to commit beyond my job.” The Rising Talents program offers mentoring to its laureates, and Renata hopes this will help her finding what she could do “to help make things better around the world”.

In the meantime, her musical career keeps her very busy. On Sunday, she is heading to London to prepare a Lieder recital with Roger Vignoles. “Working with this pianist is simply heaven!” And so was listening to you, Renata!

A Women’s Forum? This sounds pretty threatening, doesn’t it guys?

Some of you did make the choice to come to Deauville, though… Why?

Beyond the usual jokes (”Well, 1200 chicks! What man wouldn’t come?”), I am impressed by the true interest these men are showing for this event, whether they come as partners, speakers, or attendees.

A trendy-dressed filmmaker working for the Women’s Forum smiles at the sight of the chattering ladies in the Discovery Moments space. “I’m glad to be here. I’m used to covering events, but this one is different: things are smoother, not as aggressive, more harmonious.”

Some men came as partners of the event, convinced of the importance of women in shaping the future of their company. Bain & Company partner Bertrand Pointeau, whose consulting firm runs the “Men’s Corner”, expresses the concerns of his company in attracting women at management levels and in meeting their professional aspirations and private constraints.

Gerald Lema, President Asia Pacific of Baxter International Inc., came as a speaker, to share his company’s experience on attracting women at management levels (an almost 50-50 ratio) and the great benefits of this balance. He expresses his enthusiasm in meeting inspiring women at the forum and definitely expects to take new ideas back to China. He will be debating on “Sustaining Corporate Loyalty”, on Friday.

A few men came as king consorts, as well. Claude G., a Belgian lawyer, accompanies his wife, and explains why there are so few of his kind. “Some men wouldn’t feel at ease with the idea of accompanying their wife to such a forum. It still isn’t in the mentalities. For others, it’s the wife who wishes to keep her own private space.”

All express their admiration for these women who, often on top of their family life, commit themselves professionally and in public life. Well, Messieurs, as women, we are very grateful that you came, and we are happy to welcome you!

This year, the Women’s Forum welcomes a delegation of 15 students, both men and women, coming from all over the world to live together this unique event and share their vision.

Last year, at the 2006 Women’s Forum, we were 18 students from 12 different countries who were given this unique opportunity.
It was amazing to meet each other; women students from all around the world, who were in many ways very different, but at the same time so alike in their concerns and their hopes.
It was amazing to meet women in top management and decision making positions, who shared with us their experiences and provided us with invaluable advices and guidance. It has also been a unique platform for us, to enrich the discussions and debates with the young generation’s perspective and to voice young women’s issues and aspirations.
We are very grateful for the inspiration which we brought back from the 2006 Women’s Forum. It has given us new ideas and built up new confidence. It has encouraged us to think “out of the box” and to start to act, to make changes, at our level; in the societies we live in.

The 2006 Forum has inspired us as women, and still today we acknowledge the richness and the impact these 4 days had in our lives.
I have no doubt this 2007 Women’s Forum will be as inspiring and uplifting for the coming student delegation, and I look forward to being part of it!