Before the age of two, virtually everyone in the world has learned to talk. But only a small minority of people, even after reaching adulthood, know how to converse .

That disparity can mean the difference between a date and a proposal for marriage;
a job interview and a job;
a casual business contact and a long-term client relationship;
an empty evening and the most exciting dinner of your life;
an acquaintance and a valuable lifelong friendship;
a meeting and an adventure.

It's no coincidence that intercourse is another word for conversation.

I is for Intercourse de-mystifies and simplifies the art of conversation for people who want to make the extraordinary happen in their professional lives. These days, when we're surrounded by chatter but crave authentic connection, the ability to engage in meaningful conversation can be a powerfully strategic advantage for a business professional with something to say.

Bird gives you the tools you'll need to move from talk to conversation.

In global organizations today, where communication across geographies, between groups, and among individuals with diverse backgrounds is essential to success, a workforce of employees who understand how to engage in meaningful, strategic conversations is more important than ever. Embedding this kind of skill starts at the top, with a leader who freely and frequently communicates with his or her employees, whether they number 8 or 80,000. And it requires the commitment to bring people together in fully interactive conversations on a regular basis, to help them learn how to effectively communicate their points of view, and be able to hear the points of view of others. Bird shares the 8 steps to becoming a Conversational Company, including what is needed to create and maintain an organization-wide T that works, turning conversation into asset-building action.

In most companies, "women's programs" begin with much fanfare, little budget, and high hopes. In short order, they often become internally-focused outlets for complaint-sharing, rather than active venues for leadership development. And they do little to engage one very important constituency in promoting the importance of women's leadership: men. In this talk, Bird draws on 20 years of experience in women's leadership development to offer important advice for how to create women's leadership programs that engage both women and men, provide the opportunity for women to practice leadership in real-world environments, and showcase extraordinary women for all employees.

And she shares the stories of extraordinary world-class women leaders who have broken the mold while mastering the game, in order to lead some of the world's biggest companies.

For companies truly serious about building powerhouse organizations that optimize the potential of every employee, and for both women and men who want to learn from the lessons of some of the greatest women in business, Susan Bird's perspective on the corporate culture renaissance is a must.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. It takes unusual optimism, courage and resiliency to turn a great idea into a strong business. On this topic, Bird shares her own story as the successful owner of a series of businesses, and the visionary behind MainEventT, the global leadership conversation that connects thousands of corporate executives around the world in conversation. She offers practical tips for facing the perils of entrepreneurship with gusto, and offers hope to those starting out. And as a Founding Member of the Committee of 200 (the pre-eminent organization of women business leaders) and Founder and CEO of Wf360 (which showcases successful business leaders from all over the world) , Bird can also draw from her unparalleled repertoire of firsthand knowledge about entrepreneurs who have staked their claim in a variety of industries, from Lillian Vernon's catalog business to Joanna Lau's face-recognition technology-based company to Maxine Clark's Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Building a business of your own does not require a special gift or entrepreneurial gene. It's about having the guts to take a stand for your vision and the perseverance to execute, especially when the going gets tough. Bird uses examples from a wealth of real-life successes-and failures-to show you how.

Bird is available to speak at and facilitate senior-level gatherings with your company's own leadership team, or broader, best-practice exchanges with your industry peers. Consultative fees are tailored to each situation.

Contact John Campbell, 212-452-4800, jcampbell@wf360.com, for information on applicable fees and scheduling.