School of Business > LEAP > Upcoming Events

The LEAP program initiated by the Women in Business Council of the UW-Madison School of Business will host a free social evening for LEAP participants and those interested in the program on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 from 5:30 to 7 at  2300 South Park Street, in the Villager Mall.

Dr. Larry Cox, of the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship at the UW-Madison School of Business will present an update on issues relevant to women's business initiatives. The event will also call on some current and past LEAP entrepreneurs and advisors to share their experiences on how the program worked for them.

LEAP has made headlines recently as a unique program that helps women business owners grow their existing businesses to the next level. The program creates advisory panels to work with female entrepreneurs on issues most crucial to their businesses. The four-to-six member LEAP panels consist of volunteers from the business and professional community who have an interest in women's prosperity and economic development. After an orientation for entrepreneurs and their boards, the panels work with the business owner for a year--generally attending meetings every four to eight weeks. At the end of the year, it is up to the entrepreneur to decide whether to continue with any of the panel members.

Immediately prior to the networking event (4:00 to 5:30 pm), the current LEAP teams will participate in a roundtable discussion about their LEAP experience and will share ideas for enhancing the performance of their LEAP teams.

LEAP started in 2001 as an initiative of the UW-Madison School of Business Women in Business Council.  At the present time, over 30 area businesses have been involved as LEAP entrepreneurs and over 120 men and women have served as LEAP Advisors.

A new class of LEAP teams will be forming soon and will receive their initial training in February, 2005.

Anyone interested in serving as a LEAP advisor--as well as women interested in joining as entrepreneurs— is welcome to attend the January 19 event.

LEAP is also seeking corporate sponsorships in order to continue its work in the coming years.  Companies interested in supporting this unique program are also encouraged to send representatives to this event to learn more about the benefits of the program for both the entrepreneurs and the advisors.

To RSVP for the LEAP event, or to get more information on the LEAP program, contact Helen Capellaro at the School of Business, 608/262-9213, or hcapellaro@bus.wisc.edu.  You may also view the LEAP web site at www.bus.wisc.edu/leap