Prominent women
get personal

Though her expertise is in higher education and science, Nancy Lewis won't necessarily focus on those fields when she addresses the inaugural International Women's Leadership Conference.

"They have asked us to weave in some of our personal stories," said Lewis, research program director at the East-West Center. "I'm going to be talking a little bit about my own professional academic journey as well as talking about women in science and women in higher education."

Personal stories are expected to be the focus at the two-day conference beginning today at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The conference brings together female leaders from around the world to share their stories and strategies for career advancement.

About 300 people are scheduled to attend, including several dozen Hawaii students, said Gov. Linda Lingle, whose administration is organizing the conference. Lingle said it is an opportunity for women from diverse backgrounds to find common ground on what it takes to be a leader. "We wanted it to be personal stories of people so we could relate to them as people," she said.

Lingle said the conference was organized in part to give women in Hawaii -- particularly young women -- a chance to meet prominent women who serve as role models. Other scheduled speakers include: