'The Power to Empower': Speakers Provide Inspiration and Advice to Aspiring Business Leaders during Women's Entrepreneurship Week at Berkeley College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 23, 2023
Contact: Kelly Depsee
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
‘THE POWER TO EMPOWER’:

SPEAKERS PROVIDE INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE TO ASPIRING BUSINESS LEADERS
DURING WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK AT BERKELEY COLLEGE
 

President of Jimmy Choo Americas: ‘Not One of Us Got to Where We Are by Ourselves’

Berkeley Women 

Photo Caption: Patty Greer, JD, Berkeley College Provost (far left), moderates a panel of leaders in business, fashion, media, and information technology during Women’s Entrepreneurship Week at Berkeley College. Seated (L to R) are Kim Baker, CEO and Founder, GLAMAZON Beauty; WyQuasia King-Thomas, Senior Director of Merchandising/Head of Clothing, Francesca’s Clothing Boutiques; Maryann Pagano, CEO, BlackHawk Data LLC; and Shelley Wade, Radio Personality, New York City’s 94.7 The Block. 

Share the News: @BerkeleyCollege #WEW2023 #NewsBerkeley    

Watch the Event: Click here to watch the full Women’s Entrepreneurship Week program. 

Trailblazers in business, fashion, media, and information technology shared their career journeys during Berkeley College’s ninth annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Week (WEW) event, held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. More than 150 students, business leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs attended “The Power to Empower: Paying It Forward in Business,” which was livestreamed and held in-person at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ. 

The event was headlined by Jaime Wynn, President, Jimmy Choo Americas, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management from Berkeley College. 

“Not one of us got to where we are by ourselves,” Wynn said during her keynote address. “As we rise in our roles and positions, we must remember to reach back, mentor, support, and advocate for others on their respective journeys.” 

Berkeley College presented Wynn with the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Award for Inspiring Future Leaders. The award recognizes the entrepreneurs, business and community leaders who have shared their career advice and personal experiences with Berkeley College students and the community at-large.

Berkeley Award Graphic

Photo Caption: (Left) Jaime Wynn, President, Jimmy Choo Americas (left), accepts the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Award for Inspiring Future Leaders from Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College, during Women’s Entrepreneurship Week 2023. (Right) Graphic recorder Jill Greenbaum, EdD, captures the highlights and key messages from the event. 

The WEW summit also featured a panel of prominent entrepreneurs who shared their journeys to professional success. Speakers included Kim Baker, CEO and Founder, GLAMAZON Beauty; WyQuasia King-Thomas, Senior Director of Merchandising/Head of Clothing, Francesca’s Clothing Boutiques; Maryann Pagano, CEO, BlackHawk Data LLC; and Shelley Wade, Radio Personality, New York City’s 94.7 The Block. The panel was moderated by Patty Greer, JD, Berkeley College Provost. 

Graphic recorder Jill Greenbaum, EdD, captured the summit’s highlights and key messages on a large easel drawing. 

Event sponsors included BlackHawk Data; Eastern Funding, LLC; and Valley Bank Women in Business. Partners included D’s Cozy Kitchen, Shop Rite of Little Falls, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, and the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

Berkeley Women 

Photo Caption: More than 150 students, business leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs attend “The Power to Empower: Paying It Forward in Business,” which was livestreamed and held in-person at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ. 

WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK 2023:
IN THEIR WORDS 

Berkeley Wynn
“Understand that with every success there are failures. Failures are stepping stones to success.” – Jaime Wynn, President, Jimmy Choo Americas

Berkeley Motos
“I am sure at least one of our panelists have been told ‘no’ or ‘you can’t do it’ at some point in their journeys. Programs like this serve not only as inspiration, but also as a reminder that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to.” – Tania Mottos, Student Leader, Berkeley College

Berkeley Recinos
“Empowered women inspire one another, creating synergies that pave the way for endless possibilities.” – Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College

Berkeley Baker
“I don’t wish I had done anything differently, because I did exactly what I set out to do – and I proved a lot to myself by doing so. I never want to be that woman who sits back later in life and has regrets.” – Kim Baker, CEO and Founder, GLAMAZON Beauty

Berkeley Greer
“Shatter the glass ceiling! Be a guiding mentor for other women in their professional journeys.” – Patty Greer, JD, Berkeley College Provost

Berkeley King Thomas 
“I stay true to my brand by being unapologetically me. If I can’t walk in the room and be unapologetically WyQuasia, that room is not for me.” – WyQuasia King-Thomas, Senior Director of Merchandising/Head of Clothing, Francesca’s Clothing Boutiques

Berkeley Pagano 
“As a woman in technology, you had to be confident in yourself, you had to build your own abilities, you had to show people that you could do it. You had to be self-made.” – Maryann Pagano, CEO, BlackHawk Data LLC 

Berkeley Wade
“You can find me at the intersection of pop culture and positivity. When I’m on the radio, my intention is to uplift. That’s the kind of energy I want to put out there – just goodness.” – Shelley Wade, Radio Personality, New York City’s 94.7 The Block 

About Berkeley College 

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials. 

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 3,600 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for 10 consecutive years. Berkeley College was also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2023-2024 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.

-end-