Hundreds of women descended on the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, January 30 and 31st for the second annual Silicon Valley She’s Geeky Conference.
Kaliya Hamlin did a stellar job moderating the proceedings. Introductions were made using the expression: “I’m geeky because….” and everyone tried hard to outgeek each other with comments like “I’m geeky because I named my first born child after my favorite search engine,” and “I’m geeky because I take my laptop in the bath with me.”
During intros, everyone was encouraged to share their Twitter ID, which revealed over 90% of the room was already Twittering. One gal proudly announced that she was going to do her 10,000th tweet that morning!
As for me, still a Twitter virgin, I decided I’m a just nuevo geek with a very long way to go.
Highlights on Saturday were a seminar on social media and business (twitter, facebook, myspace, Hi5 among others) by Jen Leggio – ZDNet, and Jen from Adobe; and Mary Vincent of Green Star Solutions led a seminar about ecopreneurship; and Lynne Sopchak talked about biomimicry You can check out more at this TED video
Great to see Debra Bowen, Secretary of State for California there. She’s a strong advocate for using the Internet to open government to computer users worldwide. In 1993, she successfully helped to pass legislation making all of California’s bill information available on the Internet.
If you want to read a wiki listing notes from all the seminars and information shared (and there was a ton of it!), check out this link. And if you want to find out more about my seminar, Greening your business, click here
In this second part of Heidi Roizen’s interview, she talks about her Silicon Valley career and her new venture; she has some good advice for entrepreneurs.
Working at Apple in the 90’s, the work/family balance
How she became a venture capitalist
The challenges of working from home
Pursuing your passion as a business
Dealing with doors slamming in your face
Keeping the ball moving forward
Why the Roizen family is going green
To listen to Heidi’s interview about Skinny Songs and her new bookclick here
On Tue evening, Maria Shriver was in town to promote her new book: Just Who Will You Be? and I was lucky enough to be invited to a private reception in Palo Alto at Books Inc.
I had several burning questions for her, but was most intrigued to explore the theme of losing your sense of self when you get married and have children. She had some great advice for women who’re married to high achieving husbands (the majority of us in Silicon Valley). She encourages us to ask each day: what am I going to do with my one WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE? And points out that most men have no problem with finding their calling and going for it…
I was most impressed with Maria’s grace. Despite her stunning appearance, she comes over as “just another mom”: no fancy airs, no superiority – despite the secret service guy hovering around; and she has seemingly endless energy to chat (indulged me as I asked about the dire state of California’s schools -high on Arnie’s priority list she assures me- and breaking the poverty cycle). Maria was completely honest about the challenges of having career and family (On having to quit her high profile TV job in NY/DC: “I hate hate hated that”) and described exactly the same conflicts we all face attending evening events and finding time for yourself. Maria even admitted to hiding in her closet the night before just to do some centering and meditation before dinner…though I imagine her closet is about the size of our master bedrooms in Silicon Valley!
Many thanks to Jill, Beth and Tekla of The Silicon Valley mom bloggers group for organizing this event.
Do you ever get mad at the Hallmark view of motherhood? Fed up with the media’s soft focus lens?
Get real books
Here’s your antidote.
This list has been compiled by siliconmom contributors for your delectation. Enjoy the real world of mothers, laugh with them and cry with them…and don’t feel so bad when you mess up! We’ve all been there!
EARLY DAYS Inconceivable, By Ben Elton
The truth about trying to get pregnant. Witty and real.
Operating Instructions, by Anne Lamott
An achingly funny and poignant tale of first time motherhood. This should be compulsory reading for every first time mother. Can relieve massive guilt buildup.
Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a hurry, by Katrina Kenison
Vikki Bowes Mok says, it’s a great reminder to savor the moments of childhood and just let kids be kids.
WORK/FAMILY BALANCE
Perfect Madness. Mothering in the Age of Anxiety by Judith Warner.
I don’t know how she does it! By Allison Pearson
A hilarious tale of investment banker mother of two, who tries to keep all the balls in the air in a mean man’s world. Excellent read for anyone who is trying to “have it all.”
Surrender to Motherhood
A mother’s journey from high flying journalist to full time mother
Mothers who think
Excellent collection of short essays from a cross-section of articulate mothers including Anne Lamott (don’t miss her essay on temper control!)
Babyhood, by Paul Riser
Misconceptions, by Naomi Wolf
The Myth of the Perfect Mother by Jane Swigart [Siliconmom contributor, Eileen Bordy says that this is a must read item and good reality check]
The Mommy Myth By Susan Douglas and Meredith Michaels
Dispatches from a not so perfect life by Faulkner Fox [career choices/ family choices from Duke University teacher]
The Price of Motherhood By Ann Crittenden [outlines the major financial impact of taking time off work for your children and how other countries are more family friendly]
PARENTING
Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk (same authors as above)
Raising Financially Fit Kids by Joline Godfrey [a very worthwhile book with practical tips and age-appropriate tools to teach children the important skills of financial savvy. Joline is a financial guru for children and gives workshops and advice worldwide]
MARRIAGE Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler
Siliconmum, Deb Gales says, “it’s as depressing as H*** but even though it looks at a marriage of our parents’ generation, it has many relevant and potent themes.
BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN
Poetry Speaks to Children, Edited by Elise Paschen [read and hear some of the world’s best poetry, from Robert Frost to Roald Dahl and JRR Tolkein]
BOOKS by siliconmom contributors
Getting it right: How working mothers successfully take up the challenges of life, work and family, by Laraine Zappert
Caffeinated Ponderings on life, laughter and lattes by Shana McLean Moore
Femail, A comic collision in Cyberspace by Shana McLean Moore and Linda Sharp
Star Baby, by Margaret O’Hair
The Sport of Motherhood, By Genevieve Butcher: filled with marathon training techniques for busy mothers, from the cable TV show presenter and mother of four.
Please contact us with your ideas!
Cheers Alison, Editor silicomom.com
because I named my first born child after my favorite search engine,” and “I’m geeky because I take my laptop in the bath with me.”
Mary Vincent of Green Star Solutions led a seminar about ecopreneurship; and Lynne Sopchak talked about biomimicry You can check out more at this TED video 
it!), check out this link. And if you want to find out more about my seminar, Greening your business, click here
