Susan A. Keller has been named facilitator of the Rhode Island chapter of the Women Presidents’ Organization. Keller’s responsibilities will include direct contact with potential members, outreach to other community organizations and facilitation of monthly meetings. Keller is a partner at the law firm of Edward Angell Palmer & Dodge, where she counsels entrepreneurs on new entity structure and corporate governance, as well as private equity funds on investment structure and portfolio management.
PBN: What are you looking forward to in your new role?
KELLER: I have seen the tangible results of the success of The Women Presidents’ Organization program through knowing Marsha Firestone, founder of the WPO, and by hosting a New York City chapter for two years at the New York office of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge. Bringing an incredible group of women together so that they can share and learn and become even more successful is gratifying on so many levels.
PBN:: What are the benefits of belonging to the organization?
KELLER:: The most important benefit of belonging to an organization is having unqualified access to peers. A network brings critical mass to a particular segment of a population so each person can benefit from the greater good of the whole. Being part of a network allows for the sharing of skills and obtaining guidance, as well as an opportunity to meet and forge relationships. Presently the WPO has 80 chapters in the United States and United Kingdom, so by being a member you have access to women across the country. … Each member has access to over 1,300 women just like them to guide them to success in their business.
PBN: Has the increase of women’s professional organizations leveled out the gender imbalance?
KELLER: There are still many implicit and explicit barriers to entry for women into existing organizations. People tend to want to spend time with people who are like them – their peers – and in many instances that results in exclusivity. There have been great inroads, in that the number of small businesses started by women have continued to grow in double digit numbers; therefore flooding the marketplace with entry-level women. However, it will still take time to fill the upper ranks in corporations and to have large numbers of midmarket women run businesses. •
