Elizabeth Czuprynski gets her copy of Williams book signed. Nils ReidSusan Sarandon has it.
Gwen Stefani has it.
Venus Williams has it.
Condoleeza Rice has it.
They’re all “wildly sophisticated,” said Nicole Williams author of “Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success,” to an intimate group of 17 on the fifth floor of the Barnes and Noble bookstore Thursday.
To truly succeed in the business world, Williams said women should adopt an attitude that integrates boldness, passion and excitement with commitment, grace and respect.
The workshop was part of Barnes ‘ Noble’s author series, but differed from most installments in its focus on discussion, rather than author recitation, Barnes ‘ Noble Community Relations Coordinator Valerie Costa said.
“It’s at the college bookstore, so we’re all here looking for careers and directions in life. It’s a great opportunity to come together and talk about it,” Costa said.
Williams outlined her seven commandments for workplace success and explained her inspiration for starting a career-building business.
“I watched my mother go each day to a job she hated,” she said. “Over 70 percent of our waking lives [are] spent at work, so our jobs need to be confidence-inspiring and stimulating. We need to be personally invested in our work.”
Williams went on to show a promotional summary of the pilot episode of her upcoming show, “Making it Big,” which is set to air on the Oxygen network as a series in September. On the show, three young people compete for industry connections in their professional fields.
Williams was quick to separate her show from its NBC equivalent, hosted by Donald Trump.
“My show is different from ‘The Apprentice’ because we really show the networking process these women go through,” she said. “Other than how to shake your booty, I didn’t learn much [from 'The Apprentice'].”
Williams encouraged young professionals to “expect nothing but the very best” and to “just think the unthinkable.”
“It sets the universe in motion,” she said. “Opportunity is all around you.”
Dress for Success’ Boston branch co-founder Enith Levine spoke briefly about her organization’s goals of providing low-income women in transitional stages of their lives with interview-appropriate attire and helping them jump-start their careers.
Williams’ Director of Business Development Emily Murgatroyd said she wishes she had an outlet like her current job when she first entered the workplace.
“It has been a great opportunity to meet so many different types of women and to know that, despite our differences, we’re all in this together,” she said.
The “Wildly Sophisticated” crew will appear again, along with a runway show and cocktail hour, at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Prudential Center on Feb. 26.
