Corporate Partner Corner
Special benefits and offers from our corporate partners for NAWBO members.
Did You Pivot Your Business?
Use Content To Build Trust in 2021
- Use social platforms to build community. Your social presence can make or break or break perceptions about your brand — 74% of peoplefollow brands on social media, and 96% of brand followers also interact with them there. Instead of using social channels for shameless self-promotion, build trust by providing relevant content that enriches your audience’s understanding about topics related to your business, and inspires trust in your expertise.
- Communicate about the things that matter. Consumers are looking for brands that align with their beliefs and the causes they support. And, 92% of Millennials are more likely to buy products or services from a business they consider to be ethical. Instead of burying your head in the sand, don’t be afraid to take a stand. You might lose a few customers but being true to your beliefs will help build and maintain a loyal audience.
- Remember: Less is usually more. In the past, more content meant better SEO. That is no longer the case: People are bombarded with information, and Google and other search engines have become savvy to these tactics. Rather than posting a flurry of short articles that touch lightly on a topic, think about developing fewer but meatier pieces that help establish thought leadership and authority on topics that matter to your audience.
President’s Message | December 2020
Dear NAWBO Silicon Valley Members & Friends,
2020 has been a tumultuous year and we have been by your side.
Early into shelter-in-place we reinvented our way of communicating and staying connected with you by creating a virtual meeting platform. Our Educational and Networking Meetings continue every 3rd Tuesday of the month, and on the 1st Thursday of the month, respectively. We developed Thirsty Thursday to encompass a casual atmosphere for our members to network and get to know each other’s business and their needs & wants.
Last month we announced the launch of our new Member’s Only Newsletter to share valuable information just for our members, in conjunction with our CONNECTIONS Newsletter, which gives our corporate partners and affiliates the opportunity to share pertinent information with our subscribers.
We also reengaged with our alliances and created new partnerships. Join us on January 19th and meet our Corporate Partners and Affiliates to explore business opportunities, to get to know them, and the importance of why the partnerships were developed.
NAWBO National has also been busy with their weekly virtual Lunch & Learn programing and Community Connects where members across the nation can share best practices and support one another.
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Development remains open to all women business owners. The platform facilitates communication, virtual networking, best practice sharing, and education for Women Business owners, partners and supporters with measurable and significant impact.
Don’t miss the latest opportunity to qualify for the NAWBO Accelerated Growth Program sponsored by Wells Fargo, a premier suite of learning modules designed to help women business owners scale through high-level education and mentorship. This program for just 25 participants will increase their market competitiveness and position them to achieve the next stage of growth and expansion. Deadline to apply is Monday, December 14th.
As we approach years end, we are hopeful for a safe and robust 2021.
Happy Holidays from the team Griselda, Maxine, Flor, Marina, Robin, Megan and Randi.
#NAWBOSV #NAWBO #NAWBONation
Virtual Holiday Celebrations
How To Rewrite Your Career
Buon Natale—Italian Arts for Future Generations
Become a California DECA Judge
President’s Message | November 2020
Dear NAWBO Silicon Valley Members & Friends,
Fall is here and our beautiful California weather continues. November is a special month for us as we focus on what we are thankful for. This week we launched our “Giving Campaign” for our Corporate Partners.
We are thankful to the affiliations we have made throughout the years with other wonderful organizations and local offices.
Most recent is the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), a special district office who will share advanced notice of procurement opportunities and also assist our membership with securing DBE/SBE certification.
Also with The Startup Squad, a Macmillan-published book series and mission-driven entity dedicated to inspiring and empowering girls through entrepreneurship – https://www.nawbo-sv.org/affiliates/.
We are especially thankful for our members who believe in our Mission and Vision and the sisterhood of NAWBO.
And also dear to my heart, I’m thankful for my fellow board members; Flor, Robin, Megan, Vandana, Marina, Jennifer, and Maxine who stand next to me and volunteer their time and energy to this organization.
Best wishes to you and yours this Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Griselda Quezada-Chavez
#NAWBOSV #NAWBO #NAWBONation
Sales Tax and Online Sales During The Pandemic
In the last 10 months, daily life has been turned upside down because of the pandemic. One of the many consequences of COVID-19 is less in-person shopping, so many consumers have turned to online shopping as their default. This has offered many retailers the lifeline they needed to stay afloat, but it has also creating problems for those who were unprepared for the complex sales tax burdens associated with online retail.
President’s Message | October 2020
Dear NAWBO Silicon Valley Members & Friends,
On Sept. 21 – 23 NAWBO National had their first Women’s Business Conference virtually. Due to COVID they went from an in-person event to totally online. The challenges of turning this event around were huge, but the determination and perseverance of NAWBO really came through. This feat was a perfect example of strong, determined, smart and organized women that can make things happen. This describes the caliber of women we have in this organization.
It was a fabulous event based on the theme Brave is… We celebrated NAWBO’s 45th Birthday, the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage, and paid tribute to some of our outstanding women of 2020-2021. There were wonderful speakers on topics from creating leaders for world change, leveraging technology for your business, to strategic planning.
One of the highlights was a Fireside Chat with Glennon Doyle, award-winning author and activist. If you did not get a chance to see her, you’ll want to read one or all of her books: #1 New York Times bestsellers Untamed and Love Warrior and bestseller Carry On, Warrior.
NAWBO awarded the “Woman Business Owner of the Year Award” to Rebecca Fyffe, CEO, Landmark Pest Management, presented by Bank of America.
NAWBO National also, wait for it, announced the 2020 Accomplishments and Initiatives Chapter Awards. We are proud to let you know NAWBO Silicon Valley was 3rd place among 50 chapters for Best Chapter 2020 and the 5-star Chapter Award.
Congratulations to the NAWBO Silicon Valley Chapter!
Stay safe and healthy. We are here for you!
Sincerely,
Griselda Quezada-Chavez
#NAWBOSV #NAWBO #NAWBONation
President’s Message | September 2020
Dear NAWBO Silicon Valley Members & Friends,
During these unprecedented times, our community continues to demonstrate its resilience amidst the multiple fires in the Bay Area and beyond. We have members directly affected and therefore, we will be postponing our meeting events for the month of September.
But wait… there is a ray of sunshine and it is packed with an abundance of opportunities.
NAWBO members, you heard it here first! The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has upcoming projects and they want YOU to apply for:
- Financial audit services
- On-call facility repair, painting & remodeling
- Temporary staffing services
What else does VTA Buy?
- Highway, bikeway, pedestrian LR and facility construction
- Professional services
- Legal, audit, temp labor
- Hand sanitizer, masks and other PPE
- Custodial services & products
- Office & promotional supplies
- Uniforms & accessories
- Consulting services
- Public relations
- Real estate services
- Technology & equipment
- Safety/security services
- Telecommunications
- Automotive, bus & light rail parts and related services
VTA’s Business Diversity Programs include the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program for federally funded projects, the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program for state funded projects and the Minority, Women, Disabled Veterans and LGBT Business Enterprise Programs for locally funded projects.
Through these diversity programs VTA assists certified businesses seeking construction, purchasing and professional services contracts and create a level of playing field on which minority, women, disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned businesses can fairly compete for contracting opportunities in Santa Clara County region.
Visit the business center, view solicitations, get registered and get certified. Contact John Wesley White, Deputy Director & Chief Procurement Officer for specific details.
We have a fun filled month coming in October. Make sure to check out our events page.
Stay safe and healthy. We are here for you!Sincerely,
Griselda Quezada-Chavez
#NAWBOSV #NAWBO #NAWBONation
Employee Appreciation Gift Idea
Submitted by Tracy Gordon Proforma Concepts Unlimited
Every year, my client and I come up with ideas for a branded Employee Appreciation gift to distribute throughout their offices. We’ve done numerous items over the years including logoed blender bottles for shakes, lunch box containers, t-shirts, tumblers, etc.
I was wondering what we could do this year, during Covid-19, while so many employees are working remotely. My client and her committee developed a wonderful idea, a booklet called, Together Appreciation Book | Messages of Gratitude from our Community.
They received an outpouring of messages from their communities to thank them for the care they provided. They compiled a collection of messages, pictures, and quotes from the client’s employees and their children to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and first responders.
Instead of giving another logoed gift item, they provided a booklet filled with inspiration to help lift one’s spirits as their health care community works together through these challenging times.
What a unique and wonderful gift!
Focus on the User Experience, Rather than the Content When Designing Online Courses
How is your online course UX? Is your organization scrambling to move classroom programs to online? Are you taking time during that process to think about the learner UX? This can be REALLY overwhelming, especially now. But we have tips to help you.
First of all, let’s slow down and think about the content from the user’s perspective. If we’re teaching in-person with our students then we can read the room, engage our learners, and elaborate on topics. But for online courses we have to focus on user engagement through polls, group activities, games, and knowledge-checks. It’s challenging, but if you set it up thoughtfully, and take the time to plot out each step, you’ll save tons of time and $$$ going forward. Plus, your students will love you for it.
Online courses are typically delivered through an LMS (Learning Management System). Your LMS definitely plays into the user experience. Planning is critical to delivering content that is tailored to your audience. Set up your virtual classroom in the same mindset as if you are walking into your physical classroom. Is our online classroom welcoming to your learners? Does it guide them through what they need to do. Can they work through the content without your personal guidance?
What if you have no control or influence over your organization’s LMS. What can you do? Turns out, You can actually do a lot!
But, let’s start from the beginning.
If you don’t have an LMS and/or a system to deliver virtual live training, talk to us before investing in one. And, don’t let this stressful decision stop your progress getting your training/instruction online. We have systems like LMSs, virtual classrooms, a webinar platform and 3D virtual training worlds, that you can use without committing to your own. Plus, it’s always good to test drive before you buy! Picking the right LMS to fit your organization’s needs is an entirely different discussion, so maybe table that for another time.
Think of how an automobile 🚘 is designed. Engineers perfect the engine, drivetrain, aerodynamics, etc. But the same engineers do not design the interior of the car; aka the user experience. Similar to designing the car, when it comes to online learning you don’t have the database engineers or the IT department design the user experience for an online course. That’s the job for the instructor designer. 🚧 But not everyone has the budget or bandwidth to hire instructional designers. So what are your options? You have several.
- Self-paced online courses
- Self-paced online courses taken in cohorts/groups (you can add group activities and spark some fun competition for motivation)
- Virtual live online classrooms
- 3D virtual world live training – VR without the headset, kind’ a like playing SIMS. (you can bring the job site to the school)
- VR/AR (though you would have to buy and maintain the headsets, which could be a computer support issue), there are many programs already available, that you could integrate into your courses
- Virtual live group breakout sessions
- Online group projects (applying what they have learned)
- Question forums, maybe a question of the week to inspire and engage the learners
- Online libraries, resources, and glossaries
🎯 Remember: The more engagement = more retainment
Keeping with the automobile analogy, think of these online training options as a car’s features. You don’t NEED them all, but boy wouldn’t they be nice and make your life easier? We recommend using many of them together, or maybe all of them. Yes, all!
Let’s go back to the virtual classroom setup. What are some of the most important things to consider for the Learner UX?
- Make everyone feel welcome.
- Make it entertaining. Keep things interesting.
- Make it relevant. Bring real world artifacts into your course design.
- Make it accessible – make sure “readability” is set up correctly. Many people think about blind or visually impaired accommodations, but many people forget about color blindness when designing.
- Make it engaging – Don’t create an online course that only spits out information to read or watch. Include questions, social events, workshops, and other participant-centered activities that will pull your learners into the content.
- Avoid overload – It can be difficult to stay focused in an online course. Break your content into 5-8 minute chunks.
Need Help, or a little direction? Schedule a free consultation with us.
President’s Message | August 2020
Dear NAWBO Silicon Valley Members,
Let me first begin by saying I LOVE NAWBO! I am thrilled to be your next President for 2020-2021.
Being a part of an organization that represents a unified voice of over 10 million women-owned businesses is an immense support to our community of women business owners, which includes my business and your business as well.
I share the same values with NAWBO and I’m very proud to be a part of an organization that recently launched a Diversity and Inclusion Initiative to bolster empowerment and inclusion of women business owners across all backgrounds and industries.
This month our meeting event is just that. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will present a new certification program for women business owners in order to empower and include all with contract opportunities with VTA in a variety of industries. Don’t forget to register!
Stay tuned for additional fun and interactive meetings and casual discussions. Join us and be a part of the unified voice NAWBO offers.
Sincerely,
Griselda Quezada-Chavez
Preserving The Arts For Future Generations
Submitted by Katherine Winkelman
Italian ceramic pottery is referred to as Maiolica because painted pottery to arrive in Italy during Roman times came from Spain through the island of Mallorca before the 15th century. Down the road from Rome boasting the finest terracotta in the land was a small village, Deruta, in the province of Umbria not far from Perugia a bustling Roman city. Since the mid 1400’s pottery has been made in Deruta and throughout Italy. Since the Renaissance, the art has flourished using a special tin glaze to bring out the finest colors. The only closure was during the two World Wars. and now due to Covid. In our small personal Italian import business Gioia Company Italian Art Products we wanted to help to preserve this art through a program called Gioia Luce, Shine the Light on Italian Artists.
In every part of Italy where Italian Artist friends live and work, they share the same sentiment: It is very dark in Italy for arts. “Joy for Those Who Give and Those Who Receive” is the founding motto for our small personal business. Can you imagine four generations of Lace Makers and Fabrics business in Burano Island of Venice having to close for half a year? The history of the linens and laces can be traced back some 30,000 years in the world. The legend in Venice from ancient times is that lace evolved from a beautiful seaweed that a sailor gave to his love and she used thread to preserve its beautiful pattern. Visit Burano and the museum of the laces. It is these arts and others that I wanted to personally help sustain for future generations. We help to keep the lights on in Italian Art studios. Learn more >
Beyond California: Notice at Collection Requirements for Businesses Across the United States
Submitted by Sari Ratican, Marina Gatto & Saroop Sandhu
In response to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), many businesses have recently had to implement additional consumer-facing disclosures to meet the requirement that covered businesses provide notice to consumers “at or before the point of collection” of personal information, as to the categories of information to be collected and the purposes for which it will be used. Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100(b). While much of the focus has been on the recent developments to the law in California, there is often less consideration as to whether there are laws with similar requirements in other states.
In an effort to determine whether any states outside of California require businesses to provide some notice at collection of consumers’ personal information, we conducted a 50-state survey. The chart here highlights the results which show that currently, only eight states (including California) require businesses to provide some notice to consumers before or at the point of collecting their personal information. It will be interesting to see whether this list will grow in the near future, and if more states propose consumer-privacy legislation with notice at collection components. See full article here.
