Small Business Trends

St. Louis, MO (PRESS RELEASE – December 19, 2008) – What do the executive producer of the popular box office hit “Lord of the Rings”, a Stay at Home Mom, the most influential woman in social media, and a Harvard Business School professor have in common? They are all on the “Hot Mommas® Project” case competition judging panel announced on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets. Case-authors participating in the competition, which will run through January 31, have the opportunity to see their story published in a leading Prentice Hall textbook and featured in PINK magazine.

The “Hot Mommas Project” is an award-winning leadership project raising self-efficacy of women and girls through exposure to role models. The project produces case studies demonstrating the full range of factors influencing a woman’s success. At the conclusion of the case study competition, all submitted cases will be made available online to educators and others. The goal of the project is to produce the world’s largest woman’s case study library.

“I’m delighted to have such a diverse panel because role modeling isn’t about just one set of skills. Our judges and case-writers embody a range of personal and professional abilities that you’d expect to see in authentic role models,” said Kathy Korman Frey, founder of the Hot Mommas Project and George Washington University School of Business adjunct professor of management.

Judges will read and rate a maximum of five cases. The cases will be rated based on quality of: professional / business and personal issues set forth in the case, as well as discussion questions, teaching notes, appendices, and links.

Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV.com – Small Business Television, the Internet’s first television network focused on providing information to the nation’s small businesses is among the judges giving time to help women succeed in both their professional and personal lives.

The Hot Mommas project is housed at the George Washington University School of Business and is included in the mission of the GWSB Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Winners will be announced on March 10, 2009 in concert with International Woman’s Day.