Business
Kathy McShane is new marketing director of Ladies Who Launch Franchise Fairfield County
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Aug 10, 2010 - 11:58 AM

Kathy McShane, a successful New Canaan business woman and entrepreneur, who founded Kendrew Group, Ltd., an award-winning marketing and brand development agency, has taken over as marketing director of the Southwestern, CT chapter of Ladies Who Launch. Ladies Who Launch is an international organization dedicated to helping women become successful entrepreneurs.

Ladies Who Launch (LWL) of Southwestern, CT has a growing membership of more than 300 women who already take advantage of its numerous resources to help develop new businesses and grow existing businesses, according to McShane. “This is a serious organization and we are focusing on attracting serious businesswomen,” McShane said. “Today, our statistics show that women are starting businesses three times as quickly as men and are as competitive and eager to succeed as their male counterparts.

“I want to initiate a ‘fast-track’ boot camp-style series for our Fresh Entrepreneur training program,” said Ms. McShane. “Many women who are trying to launch their own businesses are still employed in other jobs, or juggling family with part-time or fulltime jobs. They need a way to jump-start their businesses so they can hit the ground running. I will also offer a number of new programs that will be educational in nature and provide women with resources to support them.

She plans a series of working luncheons called “Lunch and Learn” where we will have experts in specific areas come in and speak. The first networking event will held on September 15, 2010 at the Phillip Johnson Ball Residence in New Canaan (www.philipjohnsonmodern.com

YouTube - Philip Johnson Ball Residence New Canaan, CT .

McShane points out that this is no lipstick and lunch organization of women spending someone else’s money. These women are investing their own dollars for their own livelihood. They can’t afford not to succeed, McShane said.

McShane also is looking at innovative ways to reach out to niche groups, like women in the military, who are often not on anyone’s radar for helping them to develop as entrepreneurs.

Ladies Who Launch was started in 2002 and is now located in more than 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada . It provides support, training, financial and creative resources, and valuable connections to aggressive, enterprising women who want to put their new-business ideas into action and become successful as soon as possible.

McShane brings 25 years of marketing and product/brand development expertise to the Ladies Who Launch organization. Under her leadership Kendrew Group was awarded the “Small Business Hero” award from WCBS News Radio 880 for workplace innovation (Kendrew Group was renowned for offering flexible work arrangements to its more than 50 employees). The company was also honored by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates who bestowed the “Small Business Award of Honor” to Kendrew Group from the National Business and Disability Council.

More than a successful entrepreneur, McShane is a committed community leader. She serves on the board of directors for the Bank of New Canaan and on the Norwalk Hospital Foundation. She is also co-chair of Norwalk Hospital ’s Circle of Caring. Additionally, she runs positive psychology workshops throughout Fairfield County and created the non-profit “Exceptional Woman Series,” a program to recognize women leaders in Fairfield County . She is also an adjunct professor at New York University .

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