January 2021 Newsletter - The Monthly ROR (Return on Relationship)
Welcome to the January ROR Summary!
Welcome to the first ROR (Return on Relationship) of 2021! In this time of new beginnings, we are hopeful for a year of health, happiness and meaningful connections in our Wharton alumni community.
We are kicking off 2021 with an exciting lineup of events! Next week, we are hosting a very timely presentation by Kermit Roosevelt, a Penn professor of constitutional law, on Lessons From the 2020 Presidential Election. Later this month, join us for a fascinating Tech Affinity Group discussion on The Future of Commercializing (Outer) Space.
If you are not yet a member, please join us here. In the meantime, please reach out to us with any feedback or suggestions -- we love hearing from you.
WCNCR Board of Directors and Advisory Committee
Upcoming Events
Wed., January 13 - WCNCR Women’s Affinity Group Presents: Ali Cudby
Keep Your Customers: Why customer experience is the new frontier in your company’s opportunity for growth.
WCNCR Women’s Affinity Group invites you to gain insights from Wharton’s own Ali Cudby (C91, WG97) the #1 bestselling author of Keep Your Customers: How to Stop Customer Turnover, Improve Retention and get Lucrative Long-Term Loyalty.
The reality of Covid-19 has created a seismic shift for companies. From sales to employees, interactions have fundamentally changed. Companies that emerge as winners will be the ones that embed new processes for engagement, both internally and externally.
Ali will share a little bit about her proven methodology that has helped organizations find hidden opportunities for growth in both the private and public sectors.
From the Fortune 500 to pre-revenue start-ups, Ali has spent 20 years refining her craft. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Ali worked at The New York Times Company, Golf Digest Magazine Group and Animal Planet TV Network. She received her MBA from The Wharton School.
Click here for more details
Tue., January 19 - Lessons from the 2020 Presidential Election
Join us and welcome Kermit Roosevelt, Professor of Constitutional Law, as he will be discussing what the 2020 Presidential Election has taught us and how the Constitution interacts with the party system to allow minority control.
The event will be moderated by Mark F. Lindsay, part of President Obama’s Transition Team and President Clinton’s White House Assistant to the President for the Office of Management and Administration.
Kermit Roosevelt is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a writer of fiction and nonfiction. He frequently serves as a media expert and keynote speaker on issues concerning national security, the Supreme Court, civil rights, and US presidential history.
His works is in a diverse range of fields, focusing on constitutional law and conflict of laws. He has published scholarly books in both fields. Conflict of Laws (Foundation Press, 2010) offers an accessible analytical overview of conflicts. The Myth of Judicial Activism: Making Sense of Supreme Court Decisions (Yale, 2006) sets out standards by which citizens can determine whether the Supreme Court is abusing its authority to interpret the Constitution.
Moderated by Mark F. Lindsay
Mark Lindsey (Wharton Advanced Management Program 2003) is the director of the health care and pharmaceutical practice area at The Livingston Group. He’s an expert in government relations, communications and private sector management. He served on President Obama’s Transition Team and in President Clinton’s White House as Assistant to the President for the Office of Management and Administration.
Mr. Lindsay was also the operational lead for the White House’s 2001 transition preparation and execution.
Mr. Lindsay holds a graduate degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota; a Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law; a master’s degree in international Affairs from Georgetown University; and a graduate degree from the Advanced Management program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Wed., January 27 - WCNCR Tech Exec Speaker and Networking Series Presents: Kelsey Ocasio-Christian
The Future of Commercializing (Outer) Space
Please join us to meet entrepreneur and strategic advisor, Kelsey Ocasio-Christian, to learn about the (outer) space industry’s progress toward commercialization. We will also feature interactive networking for all Wharton alums in attendance.
The global space economy is undergoing a fundamental transformation, picking up momentum over the past half-decade. The space domain has been governed loosely by dated international treaties and a patchwork of national laws, motivated by scientific exploration and nation-state competition. With growing demand from the public, the satellite and communications markets have matured.
Kelsey co-founded Caelus Partners to bring strategic and financial leadership to this space economy in its transformative stage. Kelsey addresses complex, ambiguous commercialization problems, serving global stakeholders across finance, government, and technology functions. She draws on her experience as a Principal at Kearney, a management consulting firm, where she advised leading global Life Sciences companies for 13 years.
Wed., February 24 - Galentine's Speed Networking
Cheers to the powerful network of Wharton women who inspire and support each other!
Please join for an hour of "speed networking" in virtual breakout rooms to get to know your fellow alumna in the National Capital Region.
The Women’s Affinity Group is dedicated to facilitating community among Washington’s Wharton Women. This event comes from the feedback of members asking for more opportunities to get to know each other.
To see all the upcoming events, click here!
A Donation is on the Way: WCNCR is Proud to Support DC Central Kitchen!
In a time of increased hardship and vulnerability in our community, WCNCR is proud to support DC Central Kitchen. We committed to donating $5 for every registration to our December Holiday Event, and thanks to that as well as the generosity of some of our attendees who made supplemental donations, we were delighted to contribute $1000 to DC Central Kitchen on behalf of you, our members and friends.
DC Central Kitchen is an iconic DC area nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. They provide hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. To learn more or donate, click here.
Membership Renewal
It’s hard to believe that we launched WCNCR just over a year ago! You may have received messages in your inbox reminding you to
Please continue to support our awesome new club by choosing the auto-renewal option on your membership. If you have any questions about the Club, programming, financial status, or other issues, please send a message to [email protected].
Get Involved
YOU are what make our club programming successful, whether it’s your attendance or your ideas and help in coordinating the events. Please check out our Volunteer page here to see how you can get involved.
If you have access to a centrally located space that we can use for a nominal fee, email [email protected].
If you are interested in putting together an event or a series, please click here to our volunteer page to submit your ideas.