Fox 26 in Hoston covers the Conference in this "Worth Your Time" segment.  See the clip on the Fox 26 News web site.

The Houston Chronicle reported on ex-Ebay CEO Meg Whitman's opening keynote speech at the conference. Read the full article here.

"In 2005, I found myself at a major crossroads in my life. I went to the Texas Conference for Women looking for something that would help me find a new purpose and direction," says Lolis Garcia Baab. "What I found were women who inspired me to push past my fear and doubts and create a reality from a long-held dream."

That dream became "The Ladies Room with Lolis", Texas' only women's talk radio show featuring "real people, real stories, and real radio." The Ladies Room with Lolis a supporting organization of the Conference, airs Friday at noon at 1650AM El Paso, Sunday at noon at 1370AM Austin, or online at www.theladiesroomwithlolis.com. See all supporting organizations.

While on book tour for our third book, The Girl's Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear, we were asked by dozens of reporters what is the most surprising thing we have learned while writing these books.

Well, the biggest realization we have had is that our professional challenges are not so unique. That is good and bad right? Good that we aren't alone, but bad that we're not as special as we thought. Being serious for a moment, the challenges that continue to crop up during our careers seem to be stumbling blocks for many of us.

A quick recap on what stops many of us from achieving our career goals:

• We don't ask for what we deserve or want at work.
• We don't sell our successes to our boss.
• We assume that if we put our heads down and work, our boss will notice and give us a raise or promotion.
• We let fears — public speaking, being told "no", getting fired — get in the way of where we want to go.
• We focus on what we don't want to do, not on what we do want.

So what can we do? Be aware of what baggage you may be bringing into the workplace that could be impacting your advancement. Know what motivates you.

Start keeping track of your accomplishments and contributions so that you will be ready for your yearly review or the timely elevator ride with your boss. Don't assume anyone is noticing your hard work so start filling your boss in. Ask yourself the tough questions about what you love about working and what situations bring out your best. And most of all, find a professional situation that inspires you to want and ask for more from yourself.

Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio are public relations and marketing professionals, authors and entrepreneurs. As authors of the best-selling Girls Guide series (The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business, The Girl's Guide to Being a Boss and The Girl's Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear), Ms. Friedman and Ms. Yorio have been featured on numerous national media. They will speak in a session titled Kicking Your Career into Gear: An Action Plan for Creating a Worklife that Thrills.

Last year, I left behind the wacky hours as a morning news anchor and embraced stay-at-home motherhood.  I’d been waking up at 2:30 a.m. for almost 10 years, and my husband and three girls were used to having someone else in the house every morning to help get them off to work and school.   Needless to say, this change was a huge transition for all of us.

Past that, I’ve found that I have a lot in common with other moms who have made this decision to quit work, slow down and shoulder the financial sacrifices of one income.   I’ve talked with teachers, skilled professionals and business executives who were successful but, like me, were burning too many candles at too many ends. 

We commiserate about hectic evenings crammed with a quick dinner, baths and homework, not to mention cranky weekends of laundry and household chores.  Heads nod in agreement when I say I felt like I was doing a little bit of everything, but never quite doing anything right.   
   
In fact, there’s a growing trend of college-educated women who are trading in their identity as a successful, working mom just to stay home and raise their children.  Census figures show 54 percent of mothers with a graduate or professional degree no longer work full time.

So, what does this mean?  At least we’re in good company. 

For now, I’m still learning to shrug off the “so what are you doing now?” and the “what do you do during the day?” daily spittle from others.  I keep busy with scattered projects and a few regular writing jobs.  But, I feel obligated to say yes more often, volunteer for more events and do more cooking and cleaning because I don’t have any money to eat out. 

But just when I feel like I’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire, I get a thank you from one of my kids.  All three of them seem genuinely happy that I’m home.  My husband’s visions of gourmet dinners and matching socks flew out the window after the first week, but even he seems more relaxed knowing that I’m holding down the fort.
 
So, for now, life is good.  I'm doing my very best to appreciate the moment, and not worry about what's down the road.  I'll always want to give my kids more, but I no longer have any doubt that what they really need is me.

Tonya Kerr lives in Round Rock, TX, with her husband and three daughters

Today’s economy has made the workplace more competitive than ever.  Financial services firms, retailers, and even your neighborhood Starbuck’s are feeling the crunch. You can increase the likelihood of not just surviving in this economy, but thriving by being the kind of employee who adds value and is also a delight to work with. Try following these ten simple steps to increase the likelihood of being bullet proof:

1. Make it easy to give you feedback by regularly asking what you can do "more of" or "less of" to better meet the boss's expectations. 
2. When you are given feedback, don't rebut it or argue with it.  Simply listen, thank the boss for taking the time to give it to you and promise that you will take it seriously.  Then act in ways that show you got the message. 
3. Learn the boss's primary objectives and develop your own goals around those.   Be certain to illuminate how your actions are in sync with his or hers.  Making the boss look good makes you look good.
4. Don't cry on the boss's shoulder.  Even though some appear very kind and understanding, bosses really don't want to play the role of psychologist.  If you do break down in front of the boss, excuse yourself and do your boo-hooing in the ladies room. 
5. Never try to change the boss.  It's not your job.  You can (and should) ask for what you need to be effective (more time together, more feedback, etc.) but whether or not you get it is entirely up to the boss.
6. Distinguish your boss from your parents, husband or other meaningful people in your life.  Many times women react to the boss as they might to a parent because the boss is an authority figure of sorts.  This can result in you misinterpreting the boss's behavior or comments. 
7. See your boss as a human being, not a one-dimensional entity.  The boss is bound to make mistakes, let you down, and have his or her own problems too.  Don't put bosses on a pedestal -- they'll always tumble off.  Be as forgiving as you would want the boss to be with you.
8. Deliver more than you promise.  Make certain you meet or beat deadlines, submit work free from errors, and go the extra mile to interpret data, not just report it.
9. Avoid being a "high maintenance" employee.  Too many complaints, too many challenges, or being too needy will put you in this category.  As one CEO said, "I like it when people push once and push twice.  Three times is too many."
10. If  you've done all the things described above and you still don't trust your boss, if the boss is making your life miserable, or if it's clear your boss doesn't trust you, you have only three options: wait the boss out until a new one comes in; transfer to another department within your company; quit.  It's that simple. 

Texas Conference for Women speaker Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D. is the author of the international bestsellers Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office and Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich.  Her latest book, See Jane Lead is based on the premise if ever there was a time in history that cried out for women’s leadership, now is the time and you are the woman.

by Betsy Bagley

Are you a woman who took a career break and are now eager to find your next path? Is the thought of brushing off your resume and going on an interview overwhelming? Technology has changed everything, and there is an unlimited supply of information online; how do you sift through the maze to find what you need? How do you update your skills and build the confidence you need to succeed?

The journey does not need to be a struggle, but instead can be an exciting, rewarding experience, BUT you need an "OnRamp Plan".

A new book, Your Career OnRamp, a woman’s guide to re-entering the workforce, offers a 10-Step Plan to OnRamp—fun, essential advice and tools for everything from clearing the decks to finding your true career passion to writing a compelling resume.

Here's a preview of the 10-Step Plan:

1. Are You Ready? Looking for a job is a job in itself. You don’t want to start this process if you are not really ready to set aside time in your busy life. Make sure you have a plan of attack to make the career search easier and enjoyable.
2. Clear the decks! Deliberately set aside time and space where you can focus without the multitude of interruptions that often cloud your days.
3. Get the Support You Need. A support network is critical to your success in getting back in. Everyone needs a cheerleader or two! Find a friend, mentor, or colleague who can help you.
4. Discover Your Path. Devote time to a self-assessment, a valuable opportunity to recognize what you enjoy doing and when you feel the most successful and fulfilled.
5. Get Educated. Research technology, ideas, industries, companies, people—you name it. There is unlimited information available with a few key strokes.
6. Develop Your Marketing Tools. Add an elevator pitch, resume, and cover letters to your toolkit.
7. Build a Network. Your chances of getting a job are much better when you know someone at the company. A complete personal profile will help friends and colleagues find you with ideas and new connections.
8. Find Your Career. Search for that perfect job. Whether you want to work for a company, hang a shingle as a consultant, or start your own business, the job search is the exciting part of the process.
9. Prepare for Interviews. Preparation is the key to successful interviewing. What questions will I need to answer? How should I explain my time away from the workplace? What if my skills are outdated? Look the part.
10. Bring it Home. You have successfully networked, researched, and interviewed your way to a job offer. But how do you know if it is the right offer for you? Aside from the obvious gut feeling you get when it is the right move, you need to analyze the offer to see if it is a winner.

Turn the chore of finding a job into an empowering enjoyable journey. Good luck in discovering your new path!

Texas Conference for Women speaker Betsy Bagley is the Director of Development at YourOnRamp.com, an online community where professional women manage their career OffRamps and OnRamps, and connect with employers. The team has just released their first book,  Your Career OnRamp, a woman’s guide to re-entering the workforce.