WIE Symposium New York 2013 - September 20 & 21, 2013

Founded by Dee Poku, this year's 2013 WIE Symposium in New York City brought together prominent women leaders for inspiring discussions and workshops on finding work and personal fulfillment.  We attended this year's event at the beautiful Center 548 loft event space in Chelsea.  Going to a unique event like the WIE Symposium gives women the opportunity to hear prominent women leaders talk frankly about behavioral traits they see holding women back in the workplace, their personal lives and what women can do about them to reach their full potentials. 

The event featured dynamic panel discussions and live Q&As with celebrity guests like Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Dee Dee Myers, Tyra Banks, and other women leaders in food, publishing, journalism, media, and philanthropy.  Lifestyle coaches like Gabrielle Bernstein and Helen Mumford Sole were also present to give uplifting and engaging workshops on finding happiness and the power of believing in positive outcomes.  Other workshops include personal branding, financial acumen, and projecting executive presence.

Breaks between sessions gave attendees opportunities to network with other ambitious women who excel at their fields.  Lunch was catered by Wichcraft and plenty of refreshments were provided by Corso coffee, T Salon fine teas, Ciara Kombucha, and Kind bars.

Tickets for this year's event run at $500 for two days, but for two full days of inspiring workshops and discussions that helps you step back from your busy schedule to reflect well on how to improve the most important work that is your life, we say it's well worth it, well deserved (and much cheaper, fun, and exciting than therapy)!

The loft event space of Center 548.  Attendees gather for a lunch break with tasty salads and sandwiches from Wichcraft.

Krystal Ball of MSNBC moderates a panel about challenges female journalists have in being taken seriously in a world that places a premium on female looks and youth.  Participants here include Katie Couric, Lee Woodruff, and Isha Sesay of CNN

Former White House Press Secretary and television commentator Dee Dee Myers moderates a frank discussion about issues holding women back in the workplace with former CEO of Time Inc, Laura Lang and Facebook Global Marketing VP Carolyn Everson.  It's never been a better time to be a women in a world full of opportunities, but women need to learn to let go of guilt from the choices they make.

Katie Ford (Katie Ford Foundation), Deborah Dugan (RED), and Anne Pasternack (Creative Time) talk about how to brand hot button social causes and engage the audience on making that initial step to embracing non-profit missions

Brooke Shields poses with Harpers Bazaar Executive Editor Laura Brown after a discussion about the importance of pursing varied interests and projects in life to open up new doors of opportunities for yourself

The Morgan Dining Room and Cafe at the Morgan Library & Museum

The Morgan Dining Room and Cafe is a calm gourmet oasis where the food never disappoints.  The space is well lit, modern, and invites introspection in the midst of busy Midtown Manhattan.  Whether if you're in the mood for saffron wild mushroom risotto or chilled Maine lobster salad, this is museum dining for the discerning foodie.  The executive chef here is a Jean-Georges Alum.  Museum admissions is not required to get into either the Dining Room or Cafe.

The Morgan Dining Room and Cafe is located inside the Morgan Library & Museum, right on Madison Avenue between 36tha nd 37th Street.  The Dining Room offers a formal sit down dining experience while the Cafe has a similar menu but with a more casual vibe.  The Dining Room serves brunch on weekends and lunch on weekdays, and the Cafe serves lunch and afternoon tea.  On Friday nights, the Cafe serves up a delicious seasonal tapas menu.  The full set of hours and menus can be found here.

For a limited time, brunch is 25% off through September 21 with this offer.

Perfect Midtown Workday Lunch : saffron wild mushroom risotto with grilled vegetables

Elegant Modern Dining in the formal Dining Room

The Chef of the Morgan Dining Room shares with us the recipe for the delicious Wild Mushroom Risotto below:

1 cup Arborio rice (For a faster cooking time, we recommend soaking the rice in water overnight first)

1 shallot

2 cups vegetable stock

1/2 cup mushrooms (trumpet, shitake)

¼ cup chiffonade of basil

¼ cup parmesan cheese

2 tbsp butter

pinch of saffron

pinch of salt

pinch of pepper

Mince the shallot and sweat with olive oil for 5 minutes. Add rice and completely coat with onion and olive oil. Slowly add broth and a pinch of saffron and simmer until rice is al dente. 

Sautee the mushrooms in olive oil to desired wellness. Add desired amount of rice and mix well with mushrooms. Add desired amount of broth and simmer for one minute. Add parmesan and basil then sauté before finishing with butter and salt and pepper.  Top with steamed spring vegetables or roasted fall vegetables.