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A WIT-Fueled Evening of Inspiration and Entrepreneurship in NYC! Guests gathered together in New York City, on May 11th, for a fun and empowering evening to learn how two successful toy industry women got their start in business — Samantha Freeman, CEO of Out of the Blue Enterprises and Kate Karcher Clark, President & CEO of Yottoy Productions, Inc. Many thanks to Out of the Blue for hosting and sponsoring a fantastic event, including the delicious nibbles and vino! Samantha kicked things off by sharing the story of her journey, including how she got her start in the industry and the many steps she took to launch Out of the Blue and become CEO of Colorforms. She also provided invaluable insights on what it’s like to work in a variety of media platforms and how to navigate the educational marketplace. Kate introduced us to the world of creating toys based on timeless children’s books. From the land of Madeline to the jungles of Curious George, Kate has gained a foothold in the toy and gift industry with retail and promotional clients by bringing classic children’s books to life. Check out her top 10 tips for what it takes to be a successful women-owned business: 10 Tips for Women-Owned Businesses: 1.  Follow your intuition. 2.  Be a creative thinker. 3.  Don’t think you are so driven in business that you don’t have time for your children. 4.  Delegate in all aspects of your life. 5.  Don’t sweat the small stuff. 6.  You must be a driven multi-tasker. 7.  Catch up whenever you can, but turn off work sometimes to gain fresh perspective. 8.  Realize everything won’t be perfect, and don’t feel guilty about what you can’t get done. 9.  Look for what you can do to change an industry – what sets your business apart. 10. Tap into organizations that promote women!

WIT’s Hong Kong Chapter mingled over cocktails with a harbor view mixed with a fun & funky vibe at Spasso on April 14th! Special music guest The Anello entertained the group with their eclectic mix of R&B, trumpet, electro-beats and even a freestyle song with a “Women in Toys” spin! Known as one of Hong Kong’s best new bands, The Anello gave guests an exclusive intimate performance at an event that capped off an evening of fantastic networking. Hats off to Chapter Chair Jacqueline Vong and the HK Chapter Committee for hosting a fabulous event!

The WIT Roundtable breakfast event was held on April 5th at The Jim Henson Company, and was a huge success! Thanks to everyone at Henson for the warm welcome and fantastic studio tour, and toThe NPD Group for an insightful presentation!

WIT Australia Chapter Originally published in Toy & Hobby Retailer, March 31, 2016 The first event on the Women in Toys Australia calendar was held at The Boatyard in Melbourne during Toy Fair. Women in Toys Australia chapter co-chairs, Annelies van Doorn and Fiona Cameron, hosted a champagne reception that attracted executives and business owners from across the toy, hobby and licensing industry. This year’s speaker was Louise Causon, toy developer and director of The Natural Character Company who shared the highs and lows of her career in business. “Women wear high heels for a reason: so we can dig them deep and hold our ground,” Causon said. “You have to go for it in business; don’t doubt your own experience and back yourself, avoid the legal where possible, and remember your dream – you’ll need it in the hard times.” This year Axis Toys donated a beautiful 108-piece Wooden Story Peace Love Natural blocks to the event which went home with Alana Hope from Porter Novelli.

WIT’s Corporate Chapter Program kicked off with an mixer at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media on March 15th, and was a resounding success! The inaugural event opened with a welcome presentation from WIT President Ashley Mady (President at Brandberry) and WIT Corporate Chapter Chair Genna Rosenberg (Principal at GennComm). Next up was a inspirational panel discussion and Q&A lead by speakers from DCPI – JoAnn McLaughlin, Senior VP Global Merchandise & Product Development and Elaine Carovilla, Director Hardlines, Princess & Tink; Cat Demas, Global Business Lead & VP Preschool and Girls Design at Spin Master; Ashley Mady and Genna Rosenberg. The event capped off with a fun social hour and a great opportunity for guests to network.