Next Step Sponsors Oslo Innovation Week October 17-21 in Oslo, Norway.
Redwood City, California-based Next Step is excited to sponsor Oslo Innovation Week 2011, taking place October 17-21 in Oslo, Norway. The event brings together investors, scientists and business leaders from around the world to promote innovation and value creation across a range of industries and their respective markets.
One of the key events of the week is the Norwegian Investment Forum. The forum is the largest of its kind in Norway and heavily attended. Up to 30 growth companies in the IT, life sciences, and clean technology industries will have an opportunity to present their businesses to more than 50 investors in attendance at this year’s Forum.
Next Step’s involvement in Oslo Innovation Week is multifaceted. According to Next Step Founder and CEO, Jennifer Vessels, “In addition to our sponsorship role at Oslo Innovation Week, we’re especially proud to represent Michelle Messina, CEO of Explora International and Jon Baer, Principal of Threshold Ventures and Managing Partner at FDI Institute, both of whom will be keynote speakers at the Norwegian Investment Forum. Michelle will explore how the Norwegian innovation community can support and motivate startups to think bigger, faster, and to exploit the many bridges between Norway and Silicon Valley, while Jon will share his insights into the ups and downs of the venture capital business from a Silicon Valley perspective of the global market. I know that both speakers are excited about addressing an auditorium filled with Norway’s leading innovators and entrepreneurs. I’m happy to say that I privilege to moderate both talks.”
Vessels also pointed out that she would be conducting a keynote speech to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade & Industry/Department of R&D and Innovation during the week. This agency’s primary goal is to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, investors, and centers of excellence to promote innovation and growth. Throughout the Forum, Next Step will be involved in providing entrepreneurial coaching and investor pitch preparation training to attendees via a series of workshops at the Oslo Innovation Center.
The Norwegian economy is strong, open, globally integrated with a high level of trade and foreign investments, and a favorable international competitiveness. British business magazine, The New Economy, recently named Oslo as the best city for attracting inward investment. Key factors behind the decision were economic development and growth, good governance, and transparency and liquidity.
Vessels agrees, saying that, “There are many sound business reasons for investing in the Oslo region, but equally strong are the incentives to experience a quality of life unparalleled in many European countries. With a unique blend of vibrant big city life and recreational opportunities, Oslo makes a great place to both live and work. Vessels understands the uniqueness of Oslo first hand having lived and worked there from 1994 to 1997. While in Oslo, she served as International Sales Director for Tandberg (now a Cisco company).
About Next Step
Next Step improves revenue and profitability for organizations through sales effectiveness and employee productivity programs. Since 1997, Next Step’s team of 40 seasoned professionals have made a difference for organizations as they are expanding into new markets, competing in a changing environment and building a sustainable approach to growing results from sales, marketing and people. Clients include Cisco Systems, Adobe, Genentech, and many small to mid-sized technology, services, cleantech, and life sciences organizations.
For more information on our clients or our integrated training programs and consulting services, please visit: http://www.nextstepgrowth.com or call at 650-361-1902.
Butterfly Tears: A Powerful Voice for Empowering Women
Inspirational Stories of Life Transformation—How Nine Young Women Broke the Cycle of Destruction
Butterfly Tears: Stories of Entrapment to Empowerment reveals the gripping, intimate stories of nine brave women who found the strength to turn their dark, raging worlds around. Women who against all odds, broke free of the destructive cycle of sexual, verbal, or physical abuse. Women who suffered abandonment and/or addiction and who found themselves in life’s dark corners of gangs, prison, or homelessness.
Drawing on deep-rooted tenacity, these women have now attained love, security, and successful lives. They have emerged as lawyers, teachers, medical professionals, and counselors who now joyfully give back and serve as mentors in society.
These young women’s compelling gut-level transformations offer strong inspiration to anyone who has suffered life’s hardships—to the breaking point and beyond.
The book also highlights the life of Dave Bishop, describing how his life journey—a journey that included his own alcoholism and recovery, and serving as a teacher to troubled teenagers—opened his eyes to how many young women need help and led him step by step to the formation of his groundbreaking Pathways to Independence foundation in Huntington Beach, California. With its all-volunteer network of therapists, doctors, mentors, and other professionals, Pathways has provided life-changing support and resources to these women and hundreds others like them since opening its doors in 1991.
Butterfly Tears can be purchased through the Butterfly Tears website at www.butterflytears.net or at Amazon.com.
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About the Editors
Butterfly Tears was produced and published by longtime Pathways benefactor Wil Drouin and seasoned writer-editor Jennifer Thomas. The book features the powerful stories of nine Pathways clients and graduates—heart-wrenching first-person accounts of their metamorphoses from childhood horror to personal triumph in Pathways.
For more information about Butterfly Tears or to arrange a book signing or interview, please visit http://www.butterflytears.net or contact Joanna Laznicka, publicist: 408-448-3113 or joanna@butterflytears.net.
High Resolution Images of the Book Cover can be found at:
http://www.butterflytears.net/press-room/press-images/