At last week’s 29th annual Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards, corporate lawyer and healthcare executive Aimee Weisner shared key life and career takeaways before a crowd of over 750 local executives.
During the keynote speech, Weisner—who has served in a variety of executive roles at Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE: EW), Advanced Medical Optics and Allergan over the years, and who now serves as an independent board member for three public medical companies including Aliso Viejo-based device and drugmaker Glaukos Corp. (NYSE: GKOS)—emphasized the importance of turning adversity into a superpower.
“Women often try to control our environment to prevent adversity, but that’s not always possible,” Weisner said. “What we can control is how we deal with life’s challenges, and how we can become stronger from them.”
The Business Journal event was held Oct. 5 at the Irvine Marriott, and recognized outstanding professional women who have made significant contributions to their organizations, their professions and the Orange County community.
5 Honorees
This year’s honorees, selected from north of 150 nominees, were:
- Mandy Fry, co-owner and president of Costa Mesa-based women’s fashion company Z Supply.
- Jennifer Tseng, medical director of breast surgery at City of Hope Orange County.
- Brieane Olson, CEO of Anaheim-based retailer PacSun.
- Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and director of the Orange County Museum of Art (see Leader Board, page 85).
- Kathy Hogan, co-founder and president of Buena Park-based Primary Freight Services.
- In addition, JP Morgan Chase presented its “Women on the Move” award to Antoinette Naddour, executive director and co-founder of the Veterans Legal Institute.
Winners will be profiled in the Oct. 16 print edition of the Business Journal.
- Upcoming Event
The Business Journal’s next and final event of the year is the General Counsel Awards on Nov. 16.
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, is the master of ceremonies for that event.
