NAWBO Newsletter July 2009

Joan Walsh

"BLAZING YOUR OWN TRAIL" TACKLES UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN

Delaware Valley Businesswomen Share Advice To Help Others Succeed

Business coach and author Joan Walsh has an encouraging message for professional women: "Fulfillment and success are absolutely available, personally and professionally, if you pursue them."

In her new release, Blazing Your Own Trail, A Guide for Women on the Way Up, (Wool Street Publishing, 2009, $20), Walsh offers practical guidance to help professional women overcome the unique challenges they face (www.blazingyourowntrail.com).

Walsh draws on her 27 years as an executive, business coach, consultant and co-founder of FSMI, a Chester County-based consulting company, to help women "navigate a competitive professional landscape that was once dominated by men without sacrificing their feminine identities," she says. "Many talk about the mountain they plan to climb 'someday.' They have big ideas and dreams, but never pursue them." Sharing dozens of stories based on the real experiences of professional women, she nudges readers out of their comfort zones to take action. Three successful industry pioneers profiled are:

- Susan Baker, VP Development at Vertex, Inc, Berwyn, PA

- Kim Woodworth, Regional VP, Comcast Spotlight, Eastern Division, Philadelphia, PA & Operations in West Chester, PA

- Lynne Brookes, VP for Business Development, Cephalon, Inc, Frazer, PA

They offer candid insights through in-depth interviews regarding the formidable challenges, competing time demands and doubts they overcame during their journeys up the corporate ladder, as well as the personal and professional lessons they learned along the way. "Women in their twenties and thirties may be in for a rude awakening regarding what's required to succeed in business today," cautions Baker. "One of the biggest challenges they face is to be taken seriously. This book helps them take stock of their goals and create a clear plan to achieve them."

Walsh shares straightforward advice regarding the skills and tools that professional women and aspiring professionals can use to plan a success strategy, including adopting the right attitude, networking, appearance, communication style and time management.

Blazing Your Own Trail is available at www.blazingyourowntrail.com and www.amazon.com (along with her first book, Ready, Set, Plan, Go! Strategies to Accelerate Your Success).

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About Joan Walsh: A professional business coach, author and speaker, Joan is co-founder and principal of FSMI, a firm that specializes in helping individuals and organizations create plans, set goals and implement actions to achieve extraordinary success. Over her successful 27-year career, Joan has worked in a variety of industries in the areas of strategic planning, marketing, sales and organizational development.

Joan has an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications. Her dynamic personality makes her a popular speaker and facilitator. She and her husband, Tim, live with their two sons in Kennett Square, PA.