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28 29 THEWOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION Turkey, Israel, the Middle East, Northern Afri- ca, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Each chapter is composed of approximately 20 accomplished women entrepreneurs with industry exclusivity and from diverse back- grounds who address business concerns in a confidential roundtable format, and function as an informal board of directors for each other’s businesses. The WPO was founded in 1997 by Dr. Mar- sha Firestone, co-author of The Women Presi- dents’ Organization 50 Fastest Growing Wom- en-Owned/Led Companies Guide to Growth. A recognized expert on entrepreneurship, adult learning theory, nonverbal communication, and managerial competency, Dr. Firestone has published research on adult learning theory in business and education journals and is a frequent guest speaker. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from Columbia University. Recently, Business ViewMagazine spoke with Dr. Firestone about the WPO.The following is an edited transcript of that conversation: BVM: Can you talk about the genesis of the WPO? Firestone: “I started WPO in 1997, so we’re in our 21st year. And I started it because I was working for a non-profit called the American Women’s Economic Development Corporation (AWED). I was the Vice President of Training. Over a period of five years, I realized that there were many women who had started a business and were successful, but there were no programs that addressed the needs of women at this level. And so, after five years, I was up for the presidency of AWED. I went to the Board and I said, ‘If I get this position DR. MARSHA FIRESTONE FOUNDER OF THE WPO as President, I will start something called the Women President’s Organization.’ “But they did not give me the position. I was very upset because I loved that organization and I felt I had really found a home for myself. And so, I spoke to my mentor, Bea Fitzpatrick, who had started AWED. Finally after many evenings on the phone, she said to me, ‘Stop complaining. Go do this on your own.’ And I did. I started the first WPO chapter in New York City in 1997.We now have 137 chapters on six continents.” BVM: You said that the needs of successful women you knew were not being met. In what way? Firestone: “What was missing for these women was that they did not have a place that they could go to AT A GLANCE WOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION WHAT: A peer learning group for successful women business leaders WHERE: New York, New York WEBSITE: www.womenpresidentsorg.com