From Social Network to Computer Software: All in a Day's Work
Boston resident Diane K. Danielson is the CEO of DowntownWomensClub.com, which she describes as "a career website and social network for businesswomen."
Diane received her BA from Colgate University and her JD from Boston College Law School. "The legal degree helps as I understand and can spot legal issues," says Diane. In addition, it saves her money because she can create first drafts of legal documents herself.
The Downtown Women's Club started "as a networking organization on the side," explains Diane. Last year, she was thinking about closing it. Instead, Diane "worked with some friends on a feasible business plan which we are now executing and includes developing software in the social network space."
Diane received help and mentoring along the way from her "personal advisory board, which I call my "buzz club". They are other entrepreneurs, business coaches, etc. who kept me motivated, mentored and well-informed."
Although Diane admits to "a very high standard for overall success," she seeks "to focus on little successes: I delivered to the market the product I dreamed about; I have a membership that grows at a healthy rate; I have people enthused about the Downtown Women's Club and DWC Faces."
To relax, Diane enjoys reading and playing soccer. As a single mother, however, she feels as if she is "the one raising my son and I don't think he feels like he comes second to my work. I am able to be flexible in my afternoons (working while he's in school and then in the evenings after he goes to bed)."
In her future goals, she would "like to build up our DWC Faces profiles and partner with other women's organizations, so that women can come to DowntownWomensClub.com to network as well as to find other women's groups to meet their career needs. Women seem to require more formal networking than men, and I want to make sure they have an opportunity to even the playing field, so that we can make changes in corporate America. Women have not progressed at the rate we should have and my goal is to provide a platform for all women whether they are 22 or 62 to connect, find support, do well in business, and most of all, have some fun while doing all that."
