HBSWA LOCAL EVENT
WHAT THEY ARE, HOW TO ORGANIZE ONE, AND HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP
We encourage individuals and small groups of members to connect with each other for informal meet ups, coffees, meals and networking.
Please note, these may not be considered official HBSWA events (therefore HBSWA Code of Conduct and Terms of Service do not apply.) unless they are organized by a member of HBSWA management or a member given permission to convene an official event and posted at hbswa.org.
SEEKING LOCAL EVENT CHAIRS *New role*
Location: Major cities across the US
Term: 1 Year
Interested in connecting HBS Women in your city? We are looking to fill Local Event Chair roles across the US.
Participate in quarterly meetings with Local Chairs and National Coordinator to share ideas, experiences and best practices.
Work with your local committee to organize 4-6 local events each year.
Collect input and interests from HBS Women in your community for future events.
Provide support for local Whatsapp Channel.
More details on local event chair below.
ORGANIZING AN EVENT
Determine where you will host the event
In the last year, HBS alumnae have organized evening cocktail events in their homes, breakfasts in cafes, and meetups in bars. Some events have been small—just a handful of attendees—and some have been 100-person-plus extravaganzas. They were all really fun!
Tell us about your event
What city? About how many people? What time of day? Will people need to pay to register? Or purchase their own food/beverage at the event? Once you give us an overview, we can tell you how many alumnae in your area we have in our database–that can help with planning. Also, we may know someone who wants to help you organize.
Pick a date!
We’ll leave it to you to select a date and time that works for your locale and preferred venue. Just let us know before you lock it so we can be sure there are no major conflicts.
Don't Forget...
How the event will be funded. We have had members who have hosted events in their homes and have underwritten the cost of beverages and light bites. We have had events where we have charged $50 per person for an open bar.
PROMOTING A LOCAL EVENT
Good news! We do most of the promotion for you. We have a mailing list of nearly 6,000 alumnae, and we can tailor email outreach to people in your area (although we find it helps to promote nationally even for local events). We also promote on our website and via social media and encourage hosts to share as well.
Timing is important, however. It’s good practice to allow at least six (6) weeks before the event for promotion so that it is a rousing success. Here’s what we need from you:
A description of your event. Who is it for? Is it primarily networking? Any other themes or speakers? Please also confirm date, time, location. And let us know if we need to let people know anything about parking or other logistics.
Names of hosts and contact info. We won’t share info, but we need to know where to direct questions we may receive.
Registration and payment logistics. If people are paying for the event, we will need to chat with you to work out who will receive payments and how documentation (receipts, etc.) will occur.
Once we start promoting, we will keep you in the loop on RSVPs. The day before the event, we will send a list of those who have registered for the event.
SAMPLE EVENT DESCRIPTIONS
LOCAL DROP-IN BREAKFAST; INDIVIDUAL CHECKS
Come prepared to share your story, what support you need and how you can potentially assist others
Please join us for our casual breakfast at the 100% organic Le Pain Quotidien, just a block from Grand Central Terminal. Have a cup of coffee or full-fledged breakfast — your choice as it is "pay what you eat and drink". Stay for the entire time, join later, or leave early — this event will be an informal and energetic start to your day.
Our objective is for HBSWA members to support women to succeed. The result of our events has been connections, both professional and personal, between recent grads and more seasoned alumnae that are leading to opportunities for growth. We are experimenting with different venues and times of day to make certain you can participate fully.
This "pay for whatever you order" breakfast will provide an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to one another and share a current need for support in a relaxed atmosphere.
LOCAL DROP-IN MIXER; SPONSORED BY THE HOST
Join HBS Women for an evening of networking and socializing. Are you an HBS Alumnae near the area? Traveling to the area? Then make sure to RSVP to join us for an informal gathering dedicated to connecting HBS Women. Stop in and say hello - or stay the entire time!
And… invite your HBS Alumnae friends in the area too!
Did you know… HBS Women's Association is the only HBS women's alumni club in the world. The club is a thriving community of HBS alumnae who come together to network, learn and support each other. Our goal is to support & promote members to attain leadership roles in business and beyond. It's simple: women support women.
START PLANNING YOUR LOCAL EVENT
Ready with your event details? Then follow the prompts to submit your event information to HBSWA.
Still have questions or need additional info? We are here to help! Email us to get started.
LOCAL EVENT CHAIRS
Term: 1 Year
Responsibilities include:
Participate in quarterly meetings with Local Chairs and National Coordinator to share ideas, experiences and best practices.
Work with your local committee to organize 4-6 local events (assign events to various members of the local chapter committee to organize events).
The event organizer can determine if the event is free, a charge to cover the cost, or if there is local sponsorship opportunities
Collect input and interests from HBS Women in your community for events.
Coordinate event details with HBSWA Operations.
Assist with event descriptions
Communicating event details via the local chapter Whatsapp channel.
Establish relationship with local club (if applicable) - Find ways to collaborate on local events.
Provide support to the local Whatsapp Channel.
Engages HBS Women at the local level.
CONTACTS
Alexi Upchurch - Operations: admin@hbswa.org
Heather Myers - President: myers.hj@gmail.com