The General Assembly on June 6th were particularly engaging this year! After the usual presentation and approval of the financial statement, we had the opportunity to lead a knowledge sharing session on members’ experience and expectations about PWN Milan future activities and programs. 

In order to actively involve all participants, PWN Member and Business Coach Louise Goodman guided us in the conversation with the World Cafè format. The World Cafè is a structured conversational process in which groups of people discuss a topic at several tables, with individuals switching tables periodically and getting introduced to the previous discussion at their new table by a "table host". 

We started reminding the Vision and Mission of PWN Milan:

• Vision: inspiring women and men to achieve gender balanced leadership to make workplace more meritocratic and inclusive
• Mission: Professional Women’s Network of Milan is a dynamic group of women working towards Gender Balanced Leadership through professional development and international networking, cross-industry, online and in-person. 

Then we asked to answer two questions:

• Imagine yourself trying hard to convince a girlfriend to join PWN. Which are the 3 top reasons you would use to convince her?
• Which are the 3 high-priority existing or new initiatives you would like PWN Milan to plan in the future? 

It was a very lively session with new and old members contributing with new and creative ideas! At the end we summarized the main outcomes in the following:

Main reasons to join PWN:

1. Energizing and inspiring environment!
2. Business networking with an heterogeneous group of women from different nationalities, ages, backgrounds, and experiences
3. Opportunity to practice English
4. Professional and Personal development (e.g. mentoring program, workshops, generating new ideas)
5. The “girls” power (no competition, mirroring, collaboration, sharing experience, benchmarking)
6. High level programs, content and level of speakers 

Future activities that members would like to see on PWN Milan agenda:

1. What can I do for you? Give back: the reciprocity circle.
2. Create a PWN mantra to identify PWN Milan. Improve internal and external communication about PWN values and aims
3. Everyone is a broadcaster, every member can become a PWN ambassador
4. Create networking events and communities for members working in the same industry or sharing the same interest in a specific role
5. Engaging men, especially for new generations (and leverage daughters in the conversations)
6. Have a social impact 
7. PWN academy for personal and professional development
8. Maintain a high level of speakers and include more men

Thanks to all the members who joined the conversation in a constructive and positive way!

Keep on giving your suggestions and ideas to improve the PWN Milan Member Experience!

Text edited by Claudia Bonani