Written by Kelly Stickel, Founder and CEO of Remodista
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In community, the ultimate gifts are the unexpected surprises that lead to new commerce streams and opportunity.  This particular insight led me to focus on this model for a business that would somehow educate brands, cultivate women leaders and connect globally.
 
In 2013, we built an agile methodology for research, so we had the same process for every project focused on something that hadn’t happened yet.  “Not yet happened” meaning, it had not reached mass consumer adoption in business.  Most businesses do not have time to focus in this space because the money is not there yet.  It is typically called "research and development".
 
After 40 projects over three years, we had a base line for what was to come in retail disruption, and could start making predictions.  At the same time, there was a pattern emerging where we were clearly solving the future, and the women involved still weren’t taking their credit.  It was then, I realized that it's not in most women's nature to seek outside credit for their work.  Therefore, if you don’t educate her as to “why” getting credit is important, she will continue to not seek it.
 
Learning this, we launched our first Women2Watch program in January 2016, with 80 honorees and the spotlights were on them.  We worked with these leaders through out the year, to help solve problems and support the cultivation in their thinking around new ideas in the market -sanding off the edges. 

​By December, we had enough research and success stories of business challenges being solved in retail, that we published our first Look Book filled with analysis and insights.  The thinking was just ahead of the market, and created by our innovative community.  Immersed in many areas of the business, we were learning quickly, while helping women leaders gain credit for their work.
 
Turns out our predictions were on point, and the book just happened to be written mostly by the pioneer-first-to-market-complex-puzzle-solving-women-leaders we rarely get to see. Why, because they are usually on to the next puzzle, rather than running to the stage.  We are no longer in the time of Hidden Figures, and we can get the credit for our work.
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Three unexpected surprises from our Women2Watch program:
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• In year one of our program, we saw over 40 title or company changes with our W2W.
• In year one, we had 22 promotions in our retail committee of 20 executive leaders. 
• In year two, we have had over 65 keynotes, panelists and moderator roles at conferences around the world and in the US.  

As we head into 2018, we have gone through our 2nd year of W2W and expanded to Australia and Europe.  In addition, we opened up nominations to the financial vertical.  We recently published our 2nd Annual Look Book, again combining our collaborative research and Women2Watch program.  

Our thriving community will continue to test assumptions and shape them as more insights are gained.  Doing this through a community creates a quickening of knowledge, and a high level of accuracy.  When you use purpose to attract your customer, they will answer that before their own needs.  This creates a self-policing environment where its members make sure the purpose stays intact and fulfilled.
 
Now, we have 12 global conference partnerships where we help match women speakers and their developed thought leadership focused on things that are just happening in early mass consumer adoption.  As the innovation is accurate and it builds momentum, so do our Women2Watch.
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Look forward to announcing our 2018 Women2Watch in Business Disruption Honorees on December 31st.

Down the Look Book for 2018: