Over 140 prominent female business executives and lawyers gathered at the Penn Club in New York City on October 17th where their negotiation and high stakes decision-making skills were put to the test at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP's first-ever Women's Poker Night. The group consisted of about 60 Kramer Levin women attorneys and 80 women clients or business associates from over 50 different companies.
Instead of a typical cocktail party or golf networking event, Kramer Levin's Women's Initiatives Committee wanted to do something different. They wanted to hold a major event where women attorneys and their clients could form real connections, have fun, and learn something about business. After much deliberation, Women's Poker Night was born.
After sipping cocktails and networking, the women were seated at poker tables and participated in an interactive workshop led by Ellen Leikind, founder and president of Poker Prima Divas. Each woman received a Poker reference guide embossed with the tip "If you want to be in the game, you have to be at the table," a package of cards with poker tips on each card and a stack of poker chips. Ms. Leikind discussed similarities between poker and business in terms of taking risks, making quick decisions, negotiating and holding out for the best "deal." Each table's Dealer assisted in instruction and, after a few practice rounds, the Texas Hold 'Em tournament began.
"We were thrilled with the incredible group of women who attended the event -- women from some of the most influential companies in America,” said Jennifer Rochon, partner and Chair of the Women's Initiatives Committee. “We have already received terrific feedback from both our clients and women attorneys who say that they loved practicing their negotiation skills and networking in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.”
In lieu of prizes, the top five tournament winners selected a charity to which a donation would be made. Top winner, Rosemarie Cappabianca from McGraw Hill, chose Lambda Legal as her charity of choice. Another winner selected the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure because one of the women at her poker tableis currently battling breast cancer. Other charity selections included the Clinton Global Initiative, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Human Rights First, a human rights organization founded in part by the late Judge Marvin Frankel, a name partner of the firm.
"I try to never miss dinner with my three and a half year old child, but when I received the invitation for this event, I had to come,” said Barbara Eppolito from BNP Paribas. “The event was so much fun and really worthwhile," she continued. The next morning, Ms. Eppolito was slated to have an interview for her daughter Joely's private schooling in Manhattan. “A woman's work is never done!”