Robin Wolaner

I'm a huge book lover. I enjoy all things books and am currently reading three simultaneously. I just completed a book authored by Robin Wolaner. Robin shares behind the scenes stories about her experience climbing the corporate ladder. "Naked in the Boardroom: A CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career" is a must read for all women. Young women entering the work force as well as professionals hoping to take their career to the next level, will benefit from the information Robin shares.

Robin's publishing career began when the industry was primarily dominated by men. She landed unexpectedly at Penthouse magazine and went on to head Mother Jones and Runner's World before launching her dream publication, Parenting. Robin's background is filled with strategic career moves, which makes her an ideal person to provide advice on how to succeed in the fast paced world of corporate America.

"Naked in the Boardroom" covers steps for successful negotiation, how to manage your career and how women can recover from potential harmful career mistakes. The book not only provides the perspective of Robin, but it also features advice from other women. "Naked in the Boardroom" was extremely helpful as I am in the process of making a career move. You're heard the saying "Knowledge is Power." Read Robin's book to move your career onward and upward.

Women, start making your Moves today!

Ra Synclair Hall

This post was originally featured in the online magazine, Guts.Glam.Grace. Visit www.gutsglamgrace.com weekly for girlfriend spotlights.

Living the life of a fashion designer is the life of Ra Synclair Hall. Working in the fashion industry is a dream for many, but it’s a dream Ra set in motion to achieve over three years ago. She’s fabulous at 25 and is happy with her life at the moment. “I’m still in the first quarter of my life and I’m learning and loving every minute of it,” rejoices Ra. This sounds like a girlfriend who has achieved a great deal, but still has much more to accomplish.

Ra is the Assistant Footwear designer for the private label division of Mark Tucker Inc. The footwear she designs for women and juniors are sold in major department stores including DSW, Macy’s and JC Penney. Ra’s job allows her to travel throughout the U.S. as well as oversees to China and Europe. The footwear designer spends most of her day sketching new designs, reading fashion magazines for the latest trends and looking for inspiration throughout the shoe market. “I’m on the career path that is completely in-line with my personal life. I have a fabulously supportive boyfriend who is at a common place in his life and this allows us to encourage each other and grow together.” Nothing beats encouragement from your girlfriends, but having a supportive guy in your life is just as helpful as well.

Ra shared with Guts.Glam.Grace how she landed in the field of fashion. “I realized I could design shoes as a legitimate career during my junior year in college and at that moment I set myself on the path to achieve that goal.” Ra completed additional coursework at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles to strengthen her skills. She went on to accept an internship with the world-renown Brown Shoe Company in St Louis, Missouri. After the completion of a successful internship, Ra had some hard decisions to make. “I was trying to wrap my head around living in St. Louis permanently, yet little did I know the company would offer me a position in The Big Apple.” Ra was in the midst of seeing her dreams come true. She relocated to NYC just two days after she accepted the job offer and started her new position the following Monday. Ra was on her way to making a mark in an industry long dominated by older white men. With this new opportunity in hand, she was determined to move through life by establishing good relationships, learning as much about the industry and dispelling any preconceived notions people would have about her. Ra’s master plan was in place, which would ultimately lead her to success.

We all know girlfriends like Ra who are not afraid to take risks. Ultimately, these are the girlfriends who tend to be successful because they go for what they want. Ra’s decision to take a job offer across the country proved she was open to accepting new challenges in her life. Ra lives on this mantra. “If I had to give advice to other girlfriends, I would encourage them to keep an open mind. Women should open their hearts and mind to change and the possibilities that are in store,” said Ra. At the moment, Ra’s dreams are all coming true, but she admits that the road hasn’t always been smooth. “You live and you learn. But don’t be afraid to take risks!”

Ra proclaims she’s a self-motivator, a trait she gained from being an only child. But like most of us she sometimes needs empowerment. “My passion to succeed drives me to be the best I can be. But I know I’m also really lucky to have a supportive family.” Ra shares that her mom is very supportive and has always encouraged her to do anything her heart desired. Moms are often the backbone behind most women and Ra’s mom has set the pace for her to be a success. Ra had several beauty tips to share with Guts.Glam.Grace readers. Her top three beauty items include Dr. Bronners Castile soaps, Dr Scholl’s For Her Expressions Insoles and Alter Ego’s Leave-in Conditioner. Ra states she is a simplistic person. One of her ultimate life goals is to become a minimalist, but the beauty items she shared with are items she can’t live without.

Ra has proved that she’s extremely focused, but she isn’t all work and no play. Ra’s free-spirited attitude will lead to an exotic excursion with her mother later in the year and she’s also scheduled to compete in an upcoming design competition. Ra’s independent streak is also bound to show itself soon. She encourages girlfriends to watch-out for her own line of shoes, 10Thirty by Ra Synclair, sometime in the near future.

Ra is an outstanding girlfriend whose star is sure to continue shining in the future. She is an encouragement to girlfriends everywhere.

Women, start making your Moves today!

Christina Wirth

I have to admit, I'm not he best person to discuss the world of sports. But just because I don't know the different positions of players on the court doesn't mean I can't highlight a female athlete who's making moves.

Christina Wirth, a senior at Vanderbilt University, is a high achiever on and off the court. She was recently named women's basketball player of the week by the Southeastern Sports Conference when she helped lead the Vanderbilt Commodores to wins over teams from Florida and Georgia.

Christina's record is filled with honors. Starting from high-school onto college, Christina has accumulated tons of points, rebounds, steals and assists on the court. Last year alone, she was recognized by the Associated Press, ranked the number 8th player in the SEC's Top 10 Scorers and is a member of Vanderbilt's 1,000th point club.

It's no surprise that Christina has such a successful athletic career. Her father, Alan Wirth, is a former major league baseball player. Although Christina has accomplished a number of milestones in her basketball career, she's still down to earth. During the off season, Christina enjoys traveling, spending time at the beach and eating at her favorite hometown restaurant, P.F. Chang's. Women Making Moves salutes Christina Wirth for her moves on the basketball court. Keep up the great work.

Women, start making your Moves today!

Cathy Browne

I've had the privilege of connecting with a number of spectacular women through Twitter. One of my recent connections is Cathy Browne, a Canadian by birth, but a true Californian. Cathy discussed her She's Geeky experience, an unconventional technology convention for women., with Women Making Moves. The most recent gathering in California attracted a variety of women, all with a passion for technology.

Cathy works in the public relations field for companies in California's Silicon Valley. Her experience working with technology companies is extensive. Cathy attended She's Geeky to connect with others in the technology space and to share her positive experience with Twitter. Since She's Geeky is an unconference, participants sign-up on the spot to present topics to other attendees.

"Twitter has changed my life." These were the words spoken by Cathy before she shared her journey of the last couple of months. As I mentioned earlier, Cathy is from Canada, but a work visa has allowed her to reside in California for the past eight years. Unfortunately, Cathy's visa expired and she gave up her cottage and left her cats behind with close friends. Less than two months before returning to Canada, Cathy made an announcement via Twitter regarding her ordeal. Twitter allows users to be transparent and Cathy used this outlet to make connections with hopes of finding a new job opportunity. While Cathy's tweet didn't directly lead to a job offer, she was asked to guest post on several blogs, which led to increased attention about her search.

Cathy's encouraging Twitter experience led her to be an advocate for the site. She considers herself a Tweetvangalist. Cathy uses the micro-blogging service to network, learn and for its community building. She encourages people to jump on the Twitter bandwagon, be open and share themselves honestly. Although Cathy has recently experienced some setbacks, she's still a woman making moves. Connect with Cathy on Twitter or LinkedIn and feel free to forward job opportunities her way.

Women, start making your Moves today!

Dress for Success

Last week I had the opportunity to volunteer at a Dress for Success event. I received volunteer training from the organization, but until recently I had not been able to be as involved as I would like. I received an invitation to help with attendee check-in for the New York Professional Women's Group, which provides on-going workshops for DFS participants.

It was such an honor to volunteer for the event. I chatted with many of the participants and the event was filled to capacity despite the snow that was accumulating on the New York City sidewalks. Heart disease and healthy living was the event's focus. The American Heart Association was on hand to provide information about its Go Red for Women campaign. The association shared stories of women, young and old, who were affected by heart disease. It was an eye-opening moment for me since a good friend passed a little over a week ago from similar symptons. Proper diet and exercise along with encouraging women to listen to their bodies were main highlights of the evening.

It may sound like the event consisted of doom and gloom, but it was evident that everyone in attendance had a great time. Medical students were present providing blood pressure tests and the American Heart Association solicited participants for its Go Red for Women Casting Call that allows women to share stories about healthy living. There's still time to become a spokesperson for the 2009-2010 campaign. The entry deadline runs until February 27.

I'm humbled to be involved with a wonderful organization such as Dress for Success. It was an eye-opening experience to meet so many women who were determined to make their move in the workforce. Kudos to DFS for its unwavering commitment to women across the country. Is there a woman-focused organization that Women Making Moves should feature? Leave your suggestion in the comments section and the organization will receive the spotlight it deserves.

Women, start making your Moves today!

Katie Spear

This post was originally featured in the online magazine, Guts.Glam.Grace. Visit www.gutsglamgrace.com weekly for girlfriend spotlights.

A small town girl moves to the big city of New York, lands her dream job at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia where she is submerged in an atmosphere fueled by motivated co-workers, and lives her life like its golden. Katie Spear made a promise to herself that she would not start the New Year of 2007 as a resident of her home-state, North Carolina. To achieve this goal, Katie worked three jobs seven days a week and saved enough money to relocate to New York in August of 2006. “I was excited to close one chapter of my life and open another,” said Katie. “I decided to go with the flow and accept what I could not control, which ultimately led me to where I am today.”

Katie’s determination to move to New York involved three simple goals. She wanted to find a job, rent an apartment and connect with people who were open to being a part of a new chapter in her life. She quickly achieved these goals and began living the life of a New Yorker, which can be filled with celebrity events, shopping on 5th Avenue and going to work the next morning with only four hours of sleep. “I have a supportive family, fabulous friends, a great apartment in a neighborhood I love, furnishings I can afford and bills that are paid in full each month,” states Katie. “I’m also able to walk to and from a corporate Manhattan office, five days a week, in the best city in the world.” This positive outlook on life allowed Katie to connect with a number of new people. Katie’s interests have changed tremendously since she moved to NYC, but she is currently living her dreams, which are sure to change as she experiences new things in her life.

Becoming a New Yorker has been a blast for Katie, but she admits that it can be difficult to maintain relationships with her girlfriends due to the city’s hustle and bustle. She’s become an advocate of brunch dates to ensure she is the best girlfriend she can be. “It’s easy to get discounted in NYC, but I find that making Sunday plans for brunch with my girls is a great way to stay in touch. It’s easy to get caught up in technology and use it as your lifeline to stay in contact with friends, but offline interaction is a must.” Hanging with her girlfriends helps Katie empower herself. She always tries to find the silver lining in situations that occur. “Sometimes it’s a lesson. Sometimes it’s a matter of appreciating what you had and looking forward to new possibilities. Sometimes it’s realizing that you have no regrets. And if you reflect on yourself enough to notice it, you’ll see that the empowerment sort of just follows.” This attitude confirms that Katie is a girlfriend who has it together!

Katie is determined to live her life to the fullest and this involves biking across the U.S. in honor of her 30th birthday. America by Bicycle allows adventurers to experience the country’s scenic views. To get the most out of your life, Katie suggests that other rising girlfriends get to know themselves, find things in life that makes them happy and keep their eyes open for opportunities to help others. She hopes to encourage other girlfriends by leaving them with these encouraging words. "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a Margarita in one hand, chocolate in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, ‘Woo-hoo! What a ride!"

Women, start making your Moves today!

Bettina Lee

I connected with Bettina when I relocated to New York four years ago. She's also my sorority sister and she immediately embraced me as I adjusted to life in NYC. Bettina is the Founder and Principal of Tinalee Media & Events, a full service public relations and special events firm. She's also creator of Girlfriends Get-Together, which coordinates social activities that allows women to meet new girlfriends. It amazes me how much she's accomplished in her lifetime, but it goes to show that when you work hard, great results are sure to follow. Bettina was previously featured on Women Making Moves, but she's done so much more since we last checked in with her.

Bettina shared with Women Making Moves news of her latest venture, Guts.Glam.Grace, an online magazine catering to women of all backgrounds. The magazine encourages women to compete with the big boys of the corporate world all while being glamorous and graceful. I am a contributing writer for Guts.Glam.Grace and it's amazing that I get to be apart of this media venture. Below Bettina shares more information about the online mag. Ladies, take a page from Bettina's book and turn your dreams into a reality.

Women, start making your Moves today!