MARTHA ZEIGLER ’74 hadn’t attended a Duke Alumni Association event since the early 1980s. The retired certified public accountant and single mother had been raising her children. “My life was too full,” she says.
On February 28, 2020, alumnae gathered for a candid panel conversation featuring Laura A. Menninger '91, P'23, Kim Johnson '88, Heather Prochnow Brecl '94, Summer Puente '11 and moderated by Brandalyn Powell MBA'18, on navigating fear, failure, feminism and a flock of other F words. The panel provided valuable insights on the professional and personal levels for all attendees.
From alumnae venture capitalists to women-led start-ups, Duke women are staking their claim in the entrepreneurial space. On November 14, 2018, the Boston Women's Forum hosted an inspiring conversation with alumnae who are launching new businesses, seed funding new companies and pioneering solutions in multiple sectors.
On November 15, 2017, the Philadelphia Women's Forum hosted a discussion titled : "Finding and Pursuing Your Reinvention". the discussion featured Lesley Jane Seymour '78, journalist and media entrepreneur; MaryFrances Moriarty McCourt '83, University of Pennsylvania vice president for finance and treasurer; and Amy Lutz, '85, former engineer and consultant and current chef and owner of Catering by Amy.
On October 11, 2017, the NorCal Women's Forum presented a panel titled "Women in Media—Perspectives on Using Independent Film, Branding and Audio Production to Harness the Power of Stories".
Over 45 NorCal alumni joined together on October 2, 2017 for a panel titled "College Sexual Assault - Going Beyond Awareness". The event was sponsored by the DukeNorCal Women's Forum.
A combination of networking and learning from outstanding Duke women, held in a prominent international law firm, made this event top notch. Four high-achieving Colorado Duke women shared their experiences, successes and challenges with managing work-life balance, in a unique and intimate format called a “fish bowl” and moderated by an experienced Duke alumnae moderator.
