This Woman Turned a Humiliating Networking Experience Into a Business | Forbes

To call Lana Pozhidaeva “dynamic” is an understatement. The Russian-born entrepreneur and activist arrived in the United States as a model, before founding a nonprofit foundation that provides scholarships to minority students. Her latest venture, WE Talks, is a monthly event series for women entrepreneurs and professionals – an idea Pozhidaeva came up with after attending “a very intimidating, big-time networking event.” Pozhidaeva mustered the courage to ask a question into the microphone, yet was cut abruptly cut off by the host in what she describes as a “horrible” experience. Pozhidaeva turned her anger into action, recruiting the help of a friend in experiential marketing with the goal of creating events that feel truly empowering for women.