QuadWest Associates

HR Management – Employee Handbooks

Susan West — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:19:58 +0000

Being in the HR business for many years, I have seen the value in having a well written employee handbook. My good friend and business associate, Rowland Austin, Managing Partner at Management Impact, LLC has published an article called “The Rationale for an Employee Handbook”

Rowland writes “A well-drafted handbook can serve as a defense to a wrongful discharge suit or a charge of violation of a state or federal employment law, thereby reducing or eliminating potential liability.” Please take a moment to read this article. I wholeheartedly agree with his statements. Read The Article

Investing in Women-Led Companies

Susan West — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:11:16 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren Flanagan, General Partner and Founding member of BELLE Capital. BELLE is an acronym for Bold Enterprises Leveraging Leadership and Experience. With a focus on growth companies led by women, Lauren is seeking investors for the new Michigan-based fund. Lauren shared, “Companies seeking our capital must have at least one female founder or C-level exec, and/or be willing to recruit top female talent to the C-suite and Board of Directors. We prefer teams with strong domain expertise, and proven commercialization and entrepreneurial experience.” The premise for creating this fund is based on solid research as outlined here from their Mission:

Women-led or owned companies are the fastest growing sector of new company creation and women now own nearly half of all privately held US businesses. Studies by the Kauffman Foundation have shown that venture-backed companies led by a woman typically produce higher revenues and launch on a third less capital than their male compatriots. Despite a record of greater capital efficiency and a lower failure rate than companies run by all men, women-led companies receive less than 10% of venture capital invested, and substantially less angel capital as well.

Research at the University of Michigan and at other universities supports our experienced-based belief that diverse leadership teams comprised of women and men produce superior results. Women entrepreneurs have told us that if they have a choice, they would prefer to have women investors and additional top female talent on their boards of directors and advisory councils.

It is refreshing and warming to my soul to know that BELLE Capital General Partners, Lauren Flanagan and Carolyn Cassin, are providing this opportunity for investors to invest in women led companies and for qualified women-led companies to receive badly needed investment resources. Here is their press release: BELLE Capital to Launch Michigan Fund for Start-ups with Women in Charge.

And you can learn more at BELLE Capital LP an early stage fund.

The Family Boardroom

Susan West — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:18:02 +0000

QuadWest Associates, LLC announces the launch of its newest program, The Family Boardroom. The first program kicked off this last weekend with rave reviews from the participants.

Building Trust As A Leader

Susan West — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:15:49 +0000

In tonight’s mini workshop on Trust, we had a many examples of what to do and what not to do to create an environment of trust.

Leadership Skill – Listening

Susan West — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:12:45 +0000

Listening is one of the most critical skills leaders must master.

Family Leadership

Susan West — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:11:10 +0000

For the last 8 years, our family has been meeting as a Family Board.

Leadership Coaching

Susan West — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:28:20 +0000

Have you ever thought of the long term impact of your leadership and the difference you can make in your life, the lives of others or your community?

How are you demonstrating your leadership success thus far? Are you being a courageous leader?

Have you ever thought that you are just surviving and wonder what it would be like to be thriving? To move your leadership from effectiveness to greatness?

Discover our Leadership Development and Coaching Programs…

These dynamic programs will empower your leadership so there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish! QuadWest Associates has a variety of high performance leadership programs that are practical and powerfully relevant. Our Executive Coaching programs propel successful executives, business owners and leaders into taking steps to defining what is significant in their lives, applying proven strategies to achieving goals and finding balance day to day.

Learn how you can take action and enhance your Leadership Development…