“Behind every successful woman there is an empowering story!”

This is so true. The Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN) business breakfast series is a NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark program started in 2005 and designed for women entrepreneurs to give them a sacred place and space to hear empowering stories of how other women have succeeded in business and career. Attending these intimate business breakfast meetings, gives women entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet role models in business and make contact with professional career women who are power brokers in their private or public professional sectors, as well as network with other women of like minds with the same aspirations for success through entrepreneurship while making contacts that matter.

K. Deneen Bennett

K. Deneen Bennett is a results-focused Human Resources professional with expertise in organizational and leadership development, learning solutions, recruitment and retention and process improvement.

Deneen has a rich background working in high-end, luxury service environments. From responsibilities for assessing, developing and facilitating learning programs, to coaching managers across the country and opening new stores globally, Deneen has supported teams focused on creating exceptional opportunities for their customers and staffs.

Ms Bennett is a graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelors degree in Ancient History. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Strategic Management from Manhattanville College. She is a certified Myers-Briggs Instructor, and has earned certifications in the Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean and Black Belt from Villanova University culminating in a Masters Black Belt. In 2009, she completed certification in Business Leadership, Executive Leadership and Change Leadership from Cornell University.

While coaching throughout her years as an HR professional, Ms. Bennett has recently undertaken a twelve-month coaching and certification through the Co-Active Coach Training Program – widely recognized as one of the most rigorous coach training and certification programs in the industry. The CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) certification, awarded January 2017.

Always looking for ways to support non-for-profit organizations, Deneen was an active member of the Board of Directors for Dress for Success Morris County for 8 years. She was also on the National Advisory Board Member of Minds Matter and the National Association of African Americans – Greater New York Chapter in the role of Vice President of Learning and Development. Recently, Deneen has joined the Board of Directors for DASI – Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Intervention Services, located in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Willa Edgerton-Chisler

Orchestrate Your Vision! © is the mantra of, award winning Coach, professional/personal strategist, inspirational speaker, and author Willa Edgerton-Chisler, CEO and founder of the Makali Institute©, Symphony Strategies©, and Symphony Coaching, LLC. Thought leader and advocate for Inclusive Leadership, Edgerton-Chisler is celebrating her 14th year as a professionally trained and certified coach, and a member of the International Coach Federation, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, Society of Human Resources Management, and the Center for Credentialing and Education. She holds additional certifications in Emotional Intelligence, HR, Leadership, Myers-Briggs ®, and Diversity Management from Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Emotional Intelligence and Diversity Institute, and American University. She did her undergraduate work in psychology at Upsala College. Recipient of numerous awards, Edgerton-Chisler was recently recognized as the 2016 Shirley Chisholm Business Leader by Speaker Emeritus Shelia Oliver representing New Jersey’s 34th Legislative District. She was honored in 2013 by Magic 98.3 Women in Business for her contribution to the community. She is one of the Best 50 Women in Business in 2012 by NJBIZ. She was also recognized as the 2011 Garden State Woman of the Year-Diversity and is the 2008 U.S. SBA Region II & NJ Minority Business Champion and has been recognized in 2008, 2010, and 2015 by the State of NJ Senate and General Assembly Joint Legislative Resolution for her diverse body of work, leadership, and contributions. Edgerton-Chisler serves as career coordinator/facilitator for Dress for Success – Northern NJ. Previously she served on the advisory board for the NJ Small Business Development Center – Rutgers-Newark, and past State President for the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners. She has appeared on Princeton Community TV – The Dr. Joy Show – “Your Prescription for Total Wellness” and WCTC 1450AM “Life Advice” with Jennifer Lewis-Hall.
A born and raised ‘Jersey Girl’ Willa lives in Northern New Jersey with her best friend and husband Lawrence. Willa can be reached at – willa@symphonystrategies.com