Liberty Interactive Kicks-Off Sixth Annual WeCN Program (Women's Mentorship Initiative)

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  • Leading Women Executives Guide eCommerce, Media and Technology Entrepreneurs towards Critical Business Objectives, Milestones
  • 2016-2017 Class Convenes at San Francisco Opening Summit

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Liberty Interactive Corporation ("Liberty Interactive") (Nasdaq: QVCA, QVCB, LVNTA, LVNTB) today announced the start of the 2016-2017 WeCN program, a unique mentorship opportunity that pairs established women business leaders and executives (the Council) with early stage eCommerce, media and technology entrepreneurs (the Class) for a six-month mentorship period.

The 2016-2017 program commences with an Opening Summit in San Francisco, where each Class member is paired with two Council members who will guide her through a targeted, business-enhancing project. The six-month mentorship period culminates in April with a Closing Summit hosted by Liberty Interactive.

WeCN provides exposure to best practices and emerging trends, as well as networking opportunities with the broader Council through the Summits and an established Alumnae network. The objective of WeCN is to establish business relationships that will increase the likelihood of long-term business success and create a supportive foundation for the next generation of women business leaders and executives.

“Liberty is proud to champion female leaders by supporting WeCN,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Interactive President and CEO. “Now in its sixth year, WeCN has successfully grown to reach over 100 women, including prominent established Council members and the leaders of tomorrow represented in each Class.”

The 2016-2017 WeCN Council is comprised of distinguished business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors from leading brands and companies. Many have served as mentors since the beginning, and we are excited to welcome two new members to this highly talented pool of women. This year’s Council members are:

  • Susan Feldman, Co-Founder, One Kings Lane (joined 2011)
  • Dayna Grayson, Partner, NEA (joined 2014)
  • Divya Gugnani, Co-Founder, Wander Beauty; Founding Partner, Concept to Co. (joined 2012)
  • Eurie Kim, Principal, Forerunner Ventures (joined 2014)
  • Katrina Lake, Founder & CEO, Stitch Fix (joined 2015)
  • Jill Layfield, CEO, Tamara Mellon (joined 2011)
  • Dawn Lepore, Former CEO, Drugstore.com (joined 2011)
  • Barbara Messing, Chief Marketing Officer, TripAdvisor (joined 2011)
  • Maureen Sullivan, President, Rent the Runway (joined 2016)
  • Jana Rich, Founder, Rich Talent Group (joined 2013)
  • Lori Twomey, Chief Merchant, zulily (joined 2016)

Joining the 2016-2017 WeCN Class are entrepreneurs of early-stage eCommerce, media and technology companies. Class members include:

  • Shirley Chen, Founder & CEO, BAM
  • Stacey Ferreira, Co-Founder & CEO, Forge
  • Kelly Peeler, Founder & CEO, NextGenVest
  • Jacqueline Ros, Co-Founder & CEO, Revolar
  • Julia Straus, CEO & Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, Co-Founder, TULA

Overseeing year six of the program are executives from Liberty Interactive, including Andrea Wong, Liberty Board Member and President of International Production for Sony Pictures Entertainment; Courtnee Chun, SVP, Liberty Interactive and Robin Hickenlooper, VP, Liberty Interactive.

Andrea Wong commented, “Over the past six years, the WeCN program has really distinguished itself as a differentiated and highly effective female mentorship program. The intimate exposure between class members and dedicated mentors has enabled tangible results for our class members and has facilitated relationships that last far beyond the program’s formal duration.”

The sixth WeCN Opening Summit will take place on October 13, 2016 in San Francisco. The agenda includes roundtable discussions and panels on relevant themes such as building a strong team, early-stage employee compensation and fundraising.

About Liberty Interactive Corporation

Liberty Interactive Corporation operates and owns interests in a broad range of digital commerce businesses. Those businesses are currently attributed to two tracking stock groups: the QVC Group and the Liberty Ventures Group. The businesses and assets attributed to the QVC Group (Nasdaq: QVCA, QVCB) consist of Liberty Interactive Corporation's subsidiaries, QVC, Inc. and zulily, llc, and its interest in HSN, Inc., and the businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty Ventures Group (Nasdaq: LVNTA, LVNTB) consist of all of Liberty Interactive Corporation's businesses and assets other than those attributed to the QVC Group, including its interests in Expedia, Liberty Broadband Corporation and FTD, its subsidiaries Bodybuilding.com and Evite, and minority interests in Interval Leisure Group, Time Warner, Lending Tree and Charter.

Liberty Interactive Corporation
Courtnee Chun, 720-875-5420

Source: Liberty Interactive Corporation

Released October 6, 2016