Welcome New Members



Rini Mariani Soemarno ‘81

Rina is president  and commissioner of Darma Henwa Tbk. Formerly she was the Minister of Trade and Industry for the Republic of Indonesia, deputy of the National Banking Restructuring Board (BPPN), finance director of Astra International Tbk, and vice president , Citibank N.A. Jakarta.




Karen Twitchell ‘77

Karen is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Landmark Aviation. Prior to that she was vice president and treasurer  of Lyondell Basell Industries and Lyondell Chemical Company; vice president and treasurer of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation and Southdown, Inc.; and an investment banker with Credit Suisse First Boston. She is a member of the board of directors, KMG Chemicals, Inc. Karen received her MBA from Harvard University.

 


Kristin Pearson ’85
 Kristin is executive vice president, of content publishing and corporate communications at Krames Staywell. Formerly she was executive vice president at Staywell Custom Communications; vice president, strategy and network development at West Suburban Health Care; and administrative director, women's health services at Loyola University Health System. Kristin received her MBA in corporate strategy and marketing at the University of Michigan.



Bettina (Betsy) Plevan ’67

Betsy is a partner in the labor  and  employment department at Proskauer, Rose LLP in New York City as well as co-head of the international Labor and Employment Group and the Class/Collective Action Group. She served as president of the New York City Bar from 2004-2006.  mary received her JD from Boston University Law School.


 

Membership Criteria

Membership in the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College is by invitation only. If you feel that you meet the BLC membership criteria (listed below) or if you are interested in learning more about the membership process, please contact the BLC office at (781) 397-8870.

 

Membership Goals


To identify qualified leaders in business and management among the active Wellesley alumnae body. Alumnae that meet the membership criteria will be considered for the BLC. The BLC strives to achieve geographical/industry diversity, and represent strong business leadership in each region. Members must be committed to the overall mission of the BLC and meet participation and financial requirements (dues, fees, travel, lodging, etc.).

 

Membership Criteria


A candidate must meet the primary criterion of a management leadership position: she is an active, high-level decision-maker in a company, organization or institution. Consideration will be given to demonstrated, sustained and recognized leadership abilities. In all cases, the size of the candidate's organization will be measured by the standards of its own industry or sector. Candidates will be nominated for membership based on their leadership in one or more of the following categories. 

 

Business leaders, owners, senior executives and high-level decision makers engaged in for-profit business, including:

  • Candidates who are running and growing their own businesses;
  • Candidates holding a top-level leadership position in a company that occupies a major position within its industry or sector. Candidates holding a position of significant responsibility below the highest levels will be considered for membership depending upon the size of the company or division and the degree of influence the individual exercises over the company's overall sales, spending and profits, and operations.

 

Leaders whose primary activity is in serving on corporate boards of for-profit businesses and who serve on the board of a Fortune 1000 company or equivalent or on the boards of several companies with total revenues of $250 million. Consideration will be given to corporate directors whose board role involves more active management of a company.

 

Leaders from the professions provided their primary involvement is with for-profit business in a leadership capacity or who have a primary responsibility for management of their firms.

 

High-level decision-makers with significant management responsibilities, employed by not-for-profit organizations or institutions. This may include, but not be limited to, grant-making foundations, with assets of $100 million or more; educational institutions with operating budgets of $50 million or more; and cultural institutions with operating budgets of $20 million or more.

 

In addition to the leadership criteria described above, members must be committed to active participation in the BLC. It is also expected that each active BLC member will financially support the College at a level defined by the member.

 

Ex Officio Members. Individuals with the College who are in a management leadership position or who are active members of the Wellesley College Board of Trustees. Positions deemed ex-officio will be determined at the discretion of the BLC Executive Committee. Ex-officio members will be invited to the Plenary Conference and  to events in their regions.

 

Honorary Members. On occasion individuals will be honored in recognition for their extraordinary service to the BLC. Honorary members will be non-voting members. They will be invited annually to one BLC event that is primarily social in nature. In those cases when honorary members continue to be members of the Wellesley faculty or staff, they may be asked to participate in those meetings of the BLC that pertain to College issues and are appropriate to their position as representatives of the College.

 

Terms of Membership


Members will continue to be deemed qualified for the BLC as long as they continue to meet the responsibilities of an active member. These responsibilities include:

  • Commitment to the active participation in the BLC, including attendance at a Plenary or regional BLC event in the previous three years or participation in other BLC activities.
  • Satisfaction of BLC member dues/fees commitments. Members who do not pay their dues in two consecutive years will be dropped from membership status.

 

Ex-Officio members must be affiliated with the Wellesley College governing body or organization that enabled them to participate in the BLC with Ex- Officio status.