Accepting a generous check for the NYWCC from the US Small Business Administration are, L-R: Eugenia Foxworth, owner, Foxworth Realty; Quenia Abreu, president and CEO, NY Women’s Chamber of Commerce; Lina Gottesman, chair, NYWCC and president and CEO, Altus Metal, Marble and Wood; Beth Goldberg, NY District Director, US Small Business Administration. Photo by John Barragan.

On Friday, March 17, Lina Gottesman, chair of the New York Women's Chamber of Commerce (NYWCC) and president and CEO of Altus Metal, Marble and Wood, moderated the Chamber's annual forum, State of Women in Business: Unlocking the Door to Success, held at Columbia University School of Business. The event drew a crowd of 70+ established and aspiring women entrepreneurs to hear panelists offer their insights, knowledge and keys to success.

Guest speaker Beth Goldberg, NY District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, delivered the keynote address and presented a check for $150,000 to the Chamber. NYWCC President and CEO Quenia Abreu hosted the event.

Gottesman spoke of her experience as a WBE (woman-owned business enterprise), stressing the value of becoming certified as a WBE or MWBE (minority and woman-owned business enterprise). She noted the need to “develop a relationship with various government agencies” that have participation goals; to hire an accountant and a lawyer from the onset; and to attend networking events.

Panelists included Alejandra Chaparro, founder of 17 Entertainment; Lynn Gray, founder and CEO of Campus Scout LLC; Cheryl Gentry, founder and CEO of Glow Global Events; and Alice Chin, founder of Your Other Half.

Gottesman's series of thought-provoking questions ranging from “How do you define success?” to “What do you see as the most significant barriers women face and how have you handled them?” inspired such responses as: “Women are our own worst enemy” (Chaparro); “Challenges aren't bad –look at them as an opportunity” (Gentry); “learn to ask for help and look for mentors” (Chin); and find “opportunities to expand and change” (Gray).

For more information on the NYWCC visit nywcc.org; for more information of Altus, visit altusmm.com.

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