This past Friday Wharton Women welcomed 10 prominent female speakers to its 2010 Business Conference.

Wharton Women’s largest event of the year, the conference drew over 150 attendees, including both students and faculty.

Cathie Black, president of Hearst Magazines, and Meredith Whitney, CEO of Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, were the keynote speakers.

Wharton Women President and Wharton junior Lauren Fleischer described that the conference attracts such notable women because the organization has “established a brand” for itself.

Concerning the event’s goals, Conference Chair Natalie Kelly said, “We really wanted to promote the idea that you don’t have to follow the traditional investment banking or consulting career paths that most students choose.”

Wharton sophomore and member of Wharton Women, Faye Cheng attributes the success of the event to the wonderful leadership of women in the business place and the attendance from other universities.

“Many people mentioned that they enjoyed having the opportunity to interact with students from these other institutions and backgrounds and bond over their common interest in business,” Cheng said.

The day long event began with breakfast and the first keynote speaker. Nicknamed “the First Lady of American Magazines,” Black oversees some of the nation’s most popular magazines, such as Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar.

Her speech outlined how women can get ahead in the workplace by seizing opportunity while also obtaining personal happiness, the definition of what she calls “the 360 degree” life.

Following Black’s speech, the morning panel “Women Pursuing Innovative Ideas: Ventures that Create Buzz” featured four speakers: Penn alumna and founder of high-end clothing company Alice + Olivia Stacey Bendet, CEO of (RED), Bono’s intiative to fight AIDS, Susan Smith Ellis, creator of SoleMates Rebecca Brown and Co-Founder and President of Rent the Runway Jennifer Hyman.

The panel was designed to show potential female entrepreneurs how to turn an idea into a successful business.

“Go out there, have an idea and meet with the people that will change it,” Hyman said, encouraging attendees to make their marks on the business world.

Following the panel, there was a lunch during which the attendees could ask the speakers questions.

Afterwards, Whitney addressed attendees as the second keynote speaker.

She shared her previous experiences working for CIBC World Markets and Wachovia Securities, among other companies.

“Women Transforming Global Industries: Finance Beyond Wall Street,” the afternoon’s panel, hosted Managing Director and COO of Octagonal Capital Carol McDermott, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for Neiman Marcus Stacie Shirley, Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Milissa Tadeo and Executive Vice President and CFO of Novartis Corporation Meryl Zausner.

Fleischer emphasized the importance of students speaking with these women face to face.

Now that the conference has finished, Fleischer says that planning for the 2011 conferance will soon begin.