As part of Dykema’s continued commitment to diversity, our women attorneys and government professionals have organized the Dykema Women’s Business Initiative. This initiative brings together business women and leaders of diverse occupations, providing opportunities for networking and professional and personal growth. It also provides a vehicle to showcase Dykema’s women professionals.

The Dykema Women’s Business Initiative:

• Offers leadership opportunities in a variety of ways, including a team approach to planning and hosting social, educational and community service events. This initiative fosters a supportive environment and sense of community to ensure the success of our women professionals.
  
  
• Promotes business networking relationships within and outside the firm. We pursue business development opportunities and business channels unique to women. We mentor our young women professionals in professional and business development through individual partner/associate mentoring relationships as well as through group activities by our Women’s Business Initiative.
  
  
• Sponsors programs and conferences dedicated to enhancing business opportunities and relationships. Recent events hosted by Dykema’s Women’s Business Initiative included: “An Evening of Cocktails, Manicures and Networking”; a dinner program for the Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago Chapter on best practices for crisis management; and a networking event that included a presentation by Lynn Portnoy, a women’s travel writer and clothing retailer on “Primers for Efficient and Liberating Business and Personal Travel.” All were well received by the women business leaders invited.
  
  
• We had an impressive launch of our 2007 program year by sponsoring a Women’s Heart Health lunch program at the Chopping Block restaurant in Chicago, IL. This interactive program, part of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Friends of Prentice Educational Series, combined a presentation on the latest research on women’s heart health with a demonstration of heart-healthy cooking techniques. The lunch program was attended by more than 55 women business owners and CEOs and women active in Chicago’s not-for-profit community. The event offered excellent visibility for Dykema’s female attorneys and an opportunity to connect some of our clients with one another and to develop new contacts.
  
  
• In 2007, the Chicago WBI  hosted its first Women’s Golf Clinic at the White Pines Golf Dome, a top-rated golf facility in Bensenville.  The clinic was designed for both first time and experienced golfers and provided an opportunity for networking among the women attending as well a chance to improve their golf game. Attendees included women business owners, women banking professionals, and women general and associate general counsel.
  
  
• The Michigan WBI hosted a Women's Golf Clinic on June 20, 2007 at Fox Hills Country Club in Plymouth, Michigan. Women leaders, business executives and general counsel and associate counsel gathered together to network and learned the basics of golf or tips on enhancing their game in time for the golf season.
   
• In January, 2008, the Michigan Women's Business Initiative hosted a networking event at the Motor City Casino in Detroit to recognize influential business women and leaders in southeastern Michigan. More than 50 guests joined us for an evening event.
   
• The Illinois Women's Business Initiative and the Intellectual Property Group were pleased to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of POWER: Opening Doors for Women by sponsoring POWER's Science and Technology Dinner on May 22, 2008. POWER®, a diverse networking and professional development program for women, began in Chicago in 2003 and premiered in Philadelphia in 2008. The mission of POWER®is to develop a sustainable pipeline of future women leaders. Following a reception for more than 800 participants at the Alder Planetarium, Dykema hosted 40 guests for dinner at the Chicago Women's Athletic Club. The dinner included a program presented by a panel of senior-level women form academia, business and research institutions.
   
• The Illinois Women's Business Initiative group hosted their third annual "Ladies Night Out" in November 2008. More than 80 guests attended the event. The attendees included in-house counsel and business women from major corporations and financial institutions.
   
• In December 2008, the Michigan Women's Business Initiative held a Wine Tasting networking event at Shiraz in Southfield with a Master Sommelier. The Wine Tasting was done in conjunction with a very successful Toys for Tots drive. The mission of the southeastern Michigan Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.

Photo Gallery of Networking Events

ACC and Dykema Networking Event

NAWL Annual Luncheon and Program Dinner

Networking Event with Lynn Portnoy

Networking Event at the Chopping Block

Women's Golf Clinic at White Pines Golf Dome

Women's Golf Clinic at Fox Hills