ideal networking event

Over skype:

Me: Tonight I went to the ideal networking event.

Melissa, my work BFF: Was it held on a houseboat with cuddling [referring to Ephemerisle]?  Or ideal for a different reason?

Me: HAHAHA.

...

The event was free pedicures, with prosecco and finger sandwiches!  It was sponsored by SecondMarket, and held within walking distance of the Minted offices.  I chatted with various founders and lawyers, who were very witty.

Goodie bag: champagne, chocolates, nail care kit. Ideal!

I bet they had a meeting to plan this event, and one person said, "Let's corner the market on female networking events. Let's invite all the female execs, and give out pink gift bags with pink ribbon and nail kits!" And another person said, "That's really risky. What if it backfires and we look foolish? Pink ribbon?"

It totally worked! Any time that someone would like to host a networking event involving champagne and pedicures, I am in! 

Mother's Day

My mom is visiting me while my dad attends a college reunion trip in China.

One side benefit of my mom's stay is that my brother sent a pretty bouquet of flowers to my place for Mother's Day. Yay!

I gave all my paintings to my mom as my Mother's Day gift. She is going to hang them at home!

Christy Turlington at Minted!

Yesterday, Christy Turlington came to visit Minted.  Minted is working with her non-profit Every Mother Counts.  

Last night we held a press event announcing the launch of wall art on Minted. We're donating 50% of the proceeds from nursery art and children's art in May and December to Every Mother Counts.

Mariam (Minted founder/CEO), Christy Turlington, me.

Christy is an amazing speaker -- very natural.  She talked about her own childbirth experience, and how it inspired her to realize that women in developing countries often experience social pressure to avoid medical attention during complications in childbirth.  Women die unnecessarily in childbirth.

She talked about difficult topics, like how some countries ban abortion, even if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.  When people have seen such tragic events, sometimes their sense of indignation comes out so strongly that the audience wants to shy away.  But Christy said it in a way that elicits empathy and makes people want to help.

You can help by spreading the word about Every Mother Counts!