Con Edison's Marilyn Caselli (first row, fourth from the left) spoke at this year's Women's Leadership Forum.

This year’s Women’s Leadership Forum, which was held last October in the President’s Conference Room, featured Marilyn Caselli, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at Con Edison.

After a welcome from CSI Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. A. Ramona Brown, greetings from Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs Barbara Eshoo, and opening remarks from then Deputy to the Provost Dr. Ann Lubrano, Caselli spoke to the audience of approximately 25 women students from a number of leadership organizations on campus. She discussed her own path to success, but offered some sage advice to the attendees.

Regarding working with other women, Caselli noted, “As women you need to be cheerleaders for each other, not support incompetence, but support each other and your accomplishments.”

She also encouraged the audience members to get involved in student organizations, using her own college experience as an example. “I was not involved in student organizations because I was leaving school and working 40 hours per week. I definitely feel as if I missed out on something great.”

Caselli also reminded the women assembled that participation in organizations will prepare them for the future, giving them both the experience and confidence that they will need to succeed in the workforce, and in life. “The leadership roles you experience at CSI are an excellent foundation for preparing you for your career and future leadership endeavors. Insecurity is replaced by confidence when you work very hard, gain experience and growth, and embrace who you are.”

In her post at Con Edison, Caselli is responsible for the company’s customer service programs, and oversees the administration of key energy marketplace initiatives, the operations of the Telecom Applications Management (TeAM) department, and issues related to regulation. Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Caselli served as Vice President of Customer Service for Staten Island. A board member of the College of Staten Island Foundation, Ms. Caselli was named to Craig’s “40 under 40” in 1994 and as the Staten Island Chamber of UNICO’s Woman of the Year in 1999. In 2001 she was recognized by the Women in Business Committee of the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce and received the Woman of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Brooklyn.

This year’s Women’s Leadership Forum was the second such event to date, giving women students the opportunity to gather informally over lunch while listening to a successful woman professional. The last Forum featured Dolores Morris, CSI Foundation Board member and former Vice President of HBO Family Channel, who discussed her distinguished career in television, as well as the obstacles and opportunities that women face in the business.