Founder of Women of Wisdom

We have the good fortune this month of conducting an exclusive interview with Kris Steinnes, founder of the renowned, Annual Women of Wisdom Conference in Seattle, Washington. 
 

This year marks the thirteenth conference put on by Women of Wisdom.  How does this conference compare to your early conferences?

In the beginning the first year there were 23 events! The next year 39, then we exploded and within a few years we were having over 90 events. The past two years we've reduced it down to about 75 events. Also the venue has changed. For the first 12 years we were at Seattle Unity Church. This is our first year at Seattle's Magnuson Park which has a great Activity Center that allows us to have the space we need to do the workshops we need to have plus have room for our vendors, psychics, art show and concessions. We love our new space in a park setting. Also new is we've been creating a new organization structure with teams that have been involved in different areas. So it's not just the conference planning committee, we have a marketing team and an Ecstatic Arts Team.   Each team has representatives that sit on the council along with elected council members to run the organization.  Other than a few necessary staff to manage the day to day registration, we  are all volunteering to create this conference.

What changes have you seen over the years, both with the presenters and the attendees?

I've seen attendees who have been coming for years and have witnessed their growth, many have become leaders at WOW as well.  The last few years I've seen that the women are so ready to dive in to do the work.  We've carried the energy for years and whether they are new at WOW or have been coming for years, there's a container in place already there for women to feel safe to do this work and explore themselves.  Presenters have been surprised at this, they've often had to speed up their workshop to keep up with the women.  Writing workshop leaders have commented on the talent of the women in their workshops and where did I find them.  The container of the conference has allowed for women's voices to be freed.

How many people generally come to the conference?

In the past few years it's been an average of 800 - 1000 - we don't have an actual count because of the attendees who come to the evening events, we don't know if they've come to more than one.

Could you share some of the feedback that you have received from previous conferences?

Most of the comments have been how it's changed their lives  - here's

some in their own words.....

What an incredible event you have created! Changing women’s lives is HAPPENING, Propelled along by a blast of spiritual energy gathered at the conference. These life changes are deep and full of exciting potential for the GREATNESS of women as a whole. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Starfeather, owner Starfeather’s Gallery

I thank you for allowing us to see the manifestations of the feminine side of God in every possible way this week with music, dance, art and workshops. It is such an affirming experience to be here and to feel at a body and cellular level the numinosity of the feminine archetype. I have never felt anything quite like it in terms of numbers and variations.

Marion Woodman, Author and Jungian Psychologist

Women of Wisdom has facilitated an arena where we as a community can bring forth ideas, dreams and visions of healing and transformation on a personal and collective level. Every year I see the ripple effect of the powerful gathering reaching further within and outside ourselves.

Flor Fernandez, Ph.D., Author & Psychologist

Women of Wisdom has taught me so much about life balance and connecting to my spirit. I wish I had known about your organizaiton during my years as a financial services executive. I hope you can attract more women from the corporate world so they can learn how to find happingess and serenity without feeling the need to abandon their careers.

Mary Ella Keblusek, Former corporate Vice President

Thank you for your help and support for my workshop. The WOW Conference is one of the best organized and most presenter-friendly in which I've participated (and there have been many.)

LiDona Wagner, Artist

I am so happy and encouraged for you each time I receive a newsletter. Each one shows me how much your dream has grown and how far the WOW Foundation has gone in making its mark in this world. It's wonderful to watch and to know that I was able to participate and I hope contribute something positive in a small way.

Charlene Williams, Volunteer

I support the Women of Wisdom Foundation and the work they do because they provide a place for women to integrate healing and spirit into their everyday lives, with their families and careers. Yes it is possible to bring spirit to the corporate world!

Sherry Harris, Former Councilmember, City of Seattle

I'm just starting to go back to work after three years of struggling with Manic Depression. Attending this Women of Wisdom Gathering was the best thing I could have done for myself....it truly does empower and support a women's dreams and spirit.

Bonnie, Conference Attendee

What led you to start the WOW foundation?

I read the book The Feminine Face of God by Patricia Hopkins and Sherry Anderson who had wonderful stories of spiritual women of diverse traditions. At the time I was on the board of directors at Seattle Unity Church and they had a Wednesday evening speaker program.   I was driving home late one night and it was one of those crystal clear moments when the  universe speaks to you and I clearly got the message to have a focus to bring these women spiritual leaders to Seattle, which led to a bigger picture in my mind that it should be a week long conference so that there would be a feeling of community.

Why did you separate from the Unity Church?

It was a mutual decision. They have a new minister with a new ministry and purpose.  I had started the conference under the ministers of Revs. Steve Towles and Karen Lindvig. They were very supportive of WOW. Whenever you change ministers there are changes. We've been slowly drifting apart since we became our own organization i n 1998.  I feel good about being on our own.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  What is your background?

My background was clothing design. I worked in this field for around 20 years in Seattle, as a pattern maker, design coordinator. I worked in the design department at Brittania Jeans. After 5 years I was pretty burned out, and I took off to travel around the world for 3 years. When I came back I was definitely going to do something different and not go back to the corporate world.  I did some freelance work for a few years, and then I started going to Seattle Unity Church and also started studying a healing system through an organization, Training in Power.  This led me to manifest my true mission in life which was to bring people together.

What are some of the other programs that WOW has to offer women?

We do monthly women's circles with different focuses, such as drumming, healing, spirit circles.  We also have our Wings of Wisdom program where presenters donate their time to present to women in transition, at a  corrections work release shelter for women and domestic violence shelters.  We're looking for women who would help be a coordinator for the programs at these centers so we can provide this to more women.

Is WOW just for women?

No, there are many men that come to our conference - the evening events are open to men, and the past few years we designate a time slot for workshops with men and women together. Men like to support the work we're doing for women.

If someone would like to become a member or become involved with WOW, how would they do so?

They can call us at 206-782-3363, or go to our website and become a member online.

What does a membership entail?

You receive benefits such as reduced pricing to our events, a newsletter and the fact that you are helping us continue to bring this empowering program to other women, a program that has empowered women to make positive changes in their lives. It's about giving back to others!

Are there on-going events through-out the year?

We've sponsored a Fall Festival weekend for several years that features our women artists, psychics, healers and body workers. We've also sponsored a pampering day for women. For 2005 though we are going to take a break and not do any events after the conference so that we can focus on re-creating WOW and our structure to truly reflect our purpose in anchoring the feminine consciousness here in our society so that we can demonstrate a new model of leadership.

Each year the conference has grown; when you first began, did you imagine it becoming what it has become today or did it surpass your dreams?

The first year we were just creating the conference, inventing the wheel as we went. On the first night I welcomed everyone to the First Annual Women of Wisdom -  I didn't know I'd be saying that. Since then I have always felt it's got a life of its own.  I had no idea in the beginning.  But my feeling is that it keeps continuing because there's a mission of bringing the feminine into power on this plane that is so needed.

Could you share one inspiring story conspired by an experience at a WOW conference?

I just heard one the other day. I was at the New You Expo, and one of our donors for our silent auction had been an owner of a store.  After experiencing one of our speakers, Cheryl Richardson, she went into training to be a coach and is in a new career - sold the store and is so happy.  That's just one of many examples of how WOW has changed women's lives. They feel supported by the other women and when they leave after the conference they put their desires into action and make positive changes in their lives, or make the changes they've always been wanting to do.

What is your ultimate goal for WOW and what would you like to see carried on as your personal legacy?

I've had a goal for WOW in other cities. We get lots of emails from people asking if there's an organization like ours in their region. We just don't have the infrastructure to do that, but someday we will - we may need to align with a good sponsor who could help us do that! Perhaps we'll have a conference in the Bay area in the future. Women also ask for circles in their city and I'd love to have those started, chapters around the country. I would also like to see a WOW Teen after school program where we provide our young women with a place to explore their power as a female.  Think what they could do if they felt supported by other women and how that would effect our society because they were empowered to fulfill their dreams!

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Thank you for the opportunity to share WOW with your audience!