Expanding the Circle
This past June, ELYSIAN embarked upon an international adventure, heading to Switzerland for a week devoted to recognizing women in the arts and connecting women in leadership roles internationally.
Beginning on Saturday, June 8th, the ELYSIAN team joined Ambassador Ed McMullen at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Bern, Switzerland to co-host the Women Entrepreneur Cross-Cultural Round table, bringing together the ELYSIAN Circle of Inspiring Women with Swiss female thought-leaders, businesswomen, entrepreneurs and parliamentarians. The women seated at the table represented various fields and industries: publishing and media, business, law, diplomacy, software development, horticulture and plant sciences, pharmaceutical science, hospitality and wellness.
The cross-cultural exchange and open dialogue among the women set the stage for ongoing partnership opportunities between Swiss and US female-led interests and planted seeds for a peer-to-peer network for women’s resourcing, mentoring, and collaboration.
Chitra Narayanan, global leader and five-time Ambassador of India, currently serving as strategic advisor for international business, shared these thoughts: “I was very impressed with the cross-representation of professional ladies who have achieved a great deal in diverse fields. The common thread connecting these women was a sincere commitment to the improvement of society at the grassroots level—each in her own particular way.”
Later in the week, ELYSIAN invited our Circle of Inspiring Women to Art Basel 2019 for a VIP viewing of the renowned art fair.
Our executive editor led a tour focused on the female artists and female-led galleries highlighted in ELYSIAN’s Summer 2019 issue, including Turner Prize-winner Lubaina Himid, Galerie Lelong & Co., Hauser & Wirth, Hollybush Gardens, and Kate Werble Gallery.
Clockwise from top left: Deanna Banaszak, entrepreneur and software firm CEO; Tammy Kovar, Founder & CEO of Biological Tree Services; and Chitra Narayanan, strategic advisor and five-time Ambassador of India • Barbara Martinuzzi with Claudia Knie (center), hospitality expert, restaurateur and designer behind Himmapan Lodge, part of the family-owned Circus Knie and Himmapan elephant park • Guests gathered on the rooftop terrace of Martinuzzi’s home overlooking Lake Zürich • ELYSIAN cover model and aspiring political strategist, Rachel Castellani; Hannah Shepard, ELYSIAN Arts Editor; Angie Woodard, ELYSIAN Style Director • The participants gathered for the roundtable discussion, led by ELYSIAN publisher, Karen Floyd • ELYSIAN Publisher, Karen Floyd, with Swiss lawyer and parliamentarian, Christa Markwalder, and Dr. Desiree Baron, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Bern