OWL members share insights for breaking new ground at home, work

April 19 - Washington, DC - Members of Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL) gathered Monday for an evening of networking at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) meeting.

James V. Mazzo, chief executive officer of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO), introduced the keynote speaker for the evening: his sister, Nina Mazzo.

Nina is a consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and senior care industry. She shared her insights about breaking barriers and dealing with the myriad challenges that working women face as mothers, daughters, and business professionals.

"I hope you will walk away with at least one thought-provoking idea," she said. "Take the choices and challenges in your life and develop the courage to move forward."

Learn the skill of networking and maintain relationships, she added.

"You never know when that person is going to show up again," Nina explained. "Don't burn bridges."

Develop your own 30-second elevator speech that captures who you are and what you do, she advised.

"Finally, as one of my favorite current philosophers said: 'She who laughs, lasts.' And that's Mary Englebreit," Nina concluded.

Support for the OWL program was provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ASCRS. Corporate sponsors included Alcon Laboratories Inc., Allergan, AMO, Bausch & Lomb, Santen, and VISX.