Women in Consulting (WIC), a San Francisco Bay Area organization of seasoned professional consultants, has formed a Leaders Network to attract and provide services for senior consultants. Network participants have an average of 22 years of work experience, eight years running their consulting firms, 12 employees, 13 subcontractors, $5 million in revenues over the past three years and an average of 17 projects per year.

Piloted and launched this year, the new initiative is designed to not only attract senior, seasoned consultants to WIC and promote the organization, but also to foster collaboration and share knowledge in what can be the solitary profession of an independent consultant. The Leaders Network provides a quarterly roundtable to discuss current business issues and a forum for further development and growth of the successful consulting practices of WIC members.

Admission to WIC membership at the exclusive Leaders Network level takes into consideration a number of criteria, such as years of experience, revenue, areas of expertise, number of employees or subcontractors as well as consulting work that takes place primarily with director, VP or C-level clients. A recommendation by a WIC board member or current Leaders Network member is also required.

The inaugural members of the WIC Leaders Network include:

- Elaine Starling, President and Founder, Starling Media Services, Inc.(www.starlingmedia.com)
Since 1998, Elaine¹s company has provided businesses with a 360-degree approach to media planning and buying. She brings 20+ years of client and advertising agency experience from her work with dynamic domestic and international businesses in the software, Internet, high-tech, telecommunications, toys and entertainment industries.

- Molly Davis, Founding Partner, Rainmaker Communications (www.rainmakercommunications.com)
Founded in 2000, Rainmaker is a boutique marketing firm offering both marketing strategy and program execution to large and small technology companies as well as service companies including venture capital firms and investment banks. Each Rainmaker partner brings more than 16 years of marketing experience, working directly with a select few clients to support their business objectives with intelligent marketing solutions.

- Marisol Pizarro and Linda Tsien, Founders, KnowledgePoint Marketing (www.knowledgepoint.net)
KnowledgePoint Marketing was founded in 1997 to deliver strategy development, market research, product marketing, launch management and marketing communications to technology companies. Linda offers clients more than 25 years of marketing and senior management experience in both technology and consumer goods. Marisol offers more than 20 years of high-tech marketing and senior management experience in the US and internationally. Both founders bring extensive experience in the areas of hardware, enterprise software, networking and wireless infrastructure, security, IT consulting services, and consumer electronics and services. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Adobe Systems, Symantec and Network Appliance.

- Barbara Fagan-Smith, CEO and Founder of ROI Communications, Inc.(www.roico.com)
This award-winning internal communications consulting firm is focused on helping large organizations adapt and succeed in times of change. Building on more than two decades of experience in corporate communications and journalism, Barbara leads ROI¹s work with Fortune 500 companies. The ROI Communications client roster includes Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Adobe Systems, Blue Shield of California, Cisco Systems, GAP, Maxtor, Oak Technology and Dreamworks.

- Adrian Ott, President and Founder of Exponential Edge, Inc. (www.exponentialedge.com)
This fast-growing strategy, and research services firm specializes in igniting revenue growth through innovative marketing strategy and next-generation partner and customer relationships for Fortune 500 and medium clients.

Prior to founding Exponential Edge in 2001, Adrian worked in management at Hewlett-Packard for 15 years and was honored in an HP Annual Report for her significant contributions to business growth and strategic alliances. A frequent author of articles about strategy and best practices, Adrian also teaches in an Executive MBA program and has appeared on PBS and CNBC.

- Karen Janowski, Founder, KJ & Co. (www.kjco.com)
During her 20+ years of experience, Karen has launched more than 30 products, resulting in revenues exceeding $500 million. Prior to founding KJ & Co. in 1997, she served as vice president of marketing for a range of technology companies and was a key member of the executive teams of four pre-IPO startup companies. KJ & Co. helps clients grow by investing in products and marketing programs that target real market needs. The firm's client list includes: Adaptive Planning, Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems, LoopNet, Network Appliance, and Nextance.

- Tracy Weatherby, Founder, Active Ingredient (www.activeingredient.com)
Tracy¹s consulting firm is dedicated to solving product and customer marketing challenges through strategy, research and analysis. She has 20 years of experience in the technology and healthcare markets. The company client list includes Fortune 500 customers such as Cisco Systems, Oracle and Adobe Systems, as well as emerging companies such as Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Placeware and Nextance. The firm¹s industry experience includes enterprise, education and consumer technology companies and biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies in the healthcare space.

- Monica Nester, Vice President and General Manager, Marisan Group (www.marisan.com)
Marisan Group has been providing a variety of program, project and business strategy services to the high technology industry since 1990. The company develops customized consultancy and resource services that are fine-tuned to the culture and mission of each client. Marisan Group consists of a diverse, highly experienced group of high technology marketing, technical and business consultants who provide solutions to a wide variety of client needs. Marisan Group makes filling knowledge and resource gaps quick and simple for companies, while providing them with effective budget management. A sampling of Marisan clients includes Hewlett-Packard Company, Symantec, Cisco Systems, AMD and Network Appliance.