[RECAP] ‘Women Who Crush It’ Networking Mixer

Women Who Crush It kicked off its networking mixer on Wednesday, June 17,  in NYC’s fab District Cowork space. Female entrepreneurs gathered with movers and shakers to talk startups, business planning, professional growth, and how to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

[Related: [PHOTOS] Women Embrace Black Masculinity in ‘Dandy’ Photoshoot]

The intimate event was hosted by branding mentor and Women Who Crush It founder, Tani Chambers, and brand strategist, Marisa King. The “crush it” panel featured five accomplished female entrepreneurs

with inspiring, diverse backgrounds.

Check out the line-up:

Managing Director, Erica Duignan Minnihan, of DreamIt Ventures. According to Linkedin, Minnihan, who started out in finance, focuses on global company recruiting, fundraising, and developing investor relationships.  DreamIt has helped 127 companies, and over 400 entrepreneurs, turn their ideas into business.

Lily Liu, co-founder of Public Stuff, a startup that replaces or improves upon city call centers. Residents can make real-time requests to local governments, via a website or an app.

Founder and proprietor of beauty brand, Karen’s body beautiful, Karen Tappin. Tappin managed to transform her organic body-care line from a modest home-based business to a dynamic empire through internet sales, and a luxurious store and spa.

Yessi Morillo, who is a 17-year veteran of Citigroup, is now a risk manager in the municipal securities division, where she manages the division’s trillion-dollar bid proposal portfolio. Morillo also serves as the division’s records management officer, and manages the workflow coordinator group.

Esosa Ighodaro, spent six years at Citigroup before becoming the president of COSIGN, a social fashion app that allows users to monetize their selfies. Ighodaro raised more than $41,000 through Kickstarter, to fund the app’s growth.

Wondering how you can qualify as a woman who ‘crushes’ it? Chambers says, first things first, you must “be extraordinary.”

“It’s not about celebrity or being known,” said Chambers. “But we have a committee, where if you do something or we recognize you, like one of our honorees tonight, I saw her at a conference and she was phenomenal.  I looked her up and I was like ‘wow.’”

To discover more about Women who Crush It, or to find out about the next event, follow them on Facebook or visit the website at www.WomenWhoCrushIt.com.