President of Women Foundation to Appear on Local TV Show

Michelle Patterson (left) visits with hosts Denis Nurmela and Naomi Temple on the set of the Saturday Morning Success television show.

One of the most influential leaders in women's issues will be the featured guest Feb. 22 on the Saturday Morning Success television show, hosted by Menifee residents Denis Nurmela and Naomi Temple.

Michelle Patterson is president of the Global Women Foundation, a public charity that provides support, leadership and advocacy for women's initiatives around the world. She also is the founder, president and CEO of Women Network LLC, a digital media company giving women a voice to share their message. Next week, she will address the United Nations on the subject of women's issues.

In addition to these activities, Patterson will discuss the upcoming California Women's Conference, which is scheduled for May 19-20 at the Long Beach Convention Center. In its 30th year, the conference is the nation's largest running two-day forum. In addition to Patterson, coordinator of the event, scheduled speakers include Jack Canfield, author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series; Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis; and TV anchor and journalist Jane Pauley.

Patterson has a special passion for the Women's Conference. In its first year, as an eighth grader, she interviewed Gov. George Deukmejian, who created the event (left).

"In running this event, I took on the role Maria Shriver had," said Patterson, who has been running the conference since 2012. "I pinch myself all the time. It's been the most amazing experience ever.

"The whole basis is to give women the opportunity to reach their full potential. Women were opening up businesses and they were failing at a rapid pace. It was time for them to team together. This brings all the resources they need in one place."

Patterson also discusses what she calls the five elements of a thriving life: Career, social, financial, physical and community.

"The mindset is to take all the different organizations out there that do such great work, and to partner them and create a network of those organizations," she said. We talk about empowering women.

"Our theme is 'we're better together.' Rather than working independently of one another, how can we support one another? We have many organizations working together -- everything from the United Nations to NAFE (National Association of Female Executives) to the Alzheimer's Foundation. It's all about cross promoting and supporting each other's events."

One of the goals of the conference and the Women Network is to help women realize they don't have to be perfect to be qualified for positions in the workforce -- just motivated and confident.

"If a man fits three of 10 criteria for a job, he says, 'I'm perfect for that job.'" Patterson said. "If a woman fits three of the 10, she says, 'I'm missing seven.' We teach women that you have plenty, that you are gifted beyond your wildest dreams."

For information on the California Women's Conference, visit www.CaliforniaWomensConference.com.

The Saturday Morning Success television show is filmed at the Eagle Vision Studios on the Mt. San Jacinto College main campus. It airs Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. It can be watched in Riverside on Verizon FIOS Channel 45 and Time Warner Cable digital channel 26.105. It can also be viewed from anywhere in the world as an archive on http://www.SMSuccess.org/