Please login or join OWA to view the video.
The OWA's new Connection Series: Connecting Members to Leadership Ideas presented its first event on September 18, 2014, "Seeing (Blind) Spots? Men and Women Working Together." A panel of both men and women from the optical industry discussed their business experiences of working together. Attendees learned about "gender blind spots," false assumptions men and women share about each other, how men and women approach things differently, and solutions for how men and women can succeed together.
Based on the OWA book selection, Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots Between Men and Women in Business by Barbara Annis and John Grey, panelists answered questions on their experiences of working with and for men and women.
A light buffet lunch was served to those who registered.
Valerie Manso, regional vice president, strategic eye care partnerships at VSP Vision Care, moderated the discussion with panelists who represented a variety of work experiences and age ranges. Panelists included: Andrea Gluck, co-president of Eyewear Designs Ltd, and past chair of the Vision Council of America; Bob Colucci, president, independent distribution division, Essilor of America, Inc., and chairman of the Essilor Vision Foundation; Gilda Mehraban, director of brand management, REM Eyewear; and David Duralde, chief creative officer and member of the Board of Directors for Kenmark Optical.
Launched in 2005 originally as the OWA Professional Optical Women's Workshops (POWW), this popular event has become an OWA "signature series" overseen by the OWA Events Committee. Its goal is to provide forums for OWA members to gather and network while gaining access to information geared toward moving them along their career path. The first Connection Series event — Seeing (Blind) Spots? Men and Women Working Together — was held in September 2014.
Connection Series events will be listed on the OWA Events page, and registration links / additional details for upcoming events can be found here.
Learn more about our most recent events here:
Topics for past events include:
For more information on these informative and energizing workshops or to request program topics, please contact our Events Committee Co-Chairs, Courtney Myers at and Beverly Bianes at .