Professional Women's Club of Chicago upcoming events

Young Professionals SIG: The Cost of Ambition: Navigating Career & Caregiving Without Apology (06/02/2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Many of us are having a quiet conversation with ourselves about timing, ambition, and whether building a career and a family at the same time is actually possible.

Helena Gonzalez, JD, certified executive coach, is bringing that conversation into the room.

The Cost of Ambition: Navigating Career & Caregiving Without Apology is a strategy session for women professionals who are planning ahead, in the middle of it, or figuring out what comes next. Expect real talk and practical tools on:

• The career and fertility timing collision

• The ambition penalty — what happens to perception at work when women become mothers

• How opportunities may quietly disappear, and how to reclaim them

• Navigating leave and caregiving on your own terms

Helena coaches high-performing leaders to think in "both/and" terms and lead with full authenticity. This session reflects exactly that.

Come as you are. Leave with a plan.

Speaker Bio:

Helena Gonzalez, JD, is a Certified Executive Coach whose career has been defined by one throughline: helping high-performing professionals own their success at every stage and in every season of life.

A former litigation associate turned talent strategist, Helena has spent her career inside the highest-pressure environments — law firms, global organizations, and executive leadership teams — coaching and developing the people who keep them running. Her experience working with lawyers has given her an unusually precise understanding of what it means to operate at the top of demanding professions across industries.

Certified through the Center for Executive Coaching and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Helena works with ambitious professionals who are navigating the intersection of career and caregiving — and refuse to treat one as a concession to the other. Her coaching philosophy is rooted in "both/and" thinking: the belief that authenticity and ambition, leadership and family, excellence and wholeness are not in conflict. They are the whole point.

As a special bonus, attendees will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to receive a complimentary 1:1 coaching session with Helena.

Book Club SIG: Summer Send-off Book Swap (06/03/2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join the PWCC Book Club for a summer send-off book swap. Bring 1–2 books you’ve loved (or are ready to pass on) and discover something new for your warm-weather reading list. Swap stories, share recommendations, and leave with fresh reads perfect for sunny days ahead. Fiction and nonfiction are welcome!

Fifty+ Collective SIG: Paint & Sip (06/03/2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

The Fifty+ Collective is pleased to invite you to Paint n’ Sip, a relaxed and creative evening designed to help you unwind, socialize, and explore your artistic side. Join us at the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) Gallery in Bridgeport for an enjoyable night of conversation, creativity, and connection.

While sipping your favorite beverages and enjoying light snacks, participants will be guided step‑by‑step through an acrylic painting by CAPE teaching artist Jessica Mueller. No prior painting experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and willingness to have fun. This welcoming event blends creativity with community, making it a perfect opportunity to de‑stress, connect with others, and leave with your own finished artwork.

Come ready to relax, connect, and create—paint, sip, and enjoy an evening designed just for you!

5:30 PM – Networking, beverages, and snacks
6:00 PM – Guided painting begins

Cost includes teaching artist instruction; all art supplies (each participant will paint on a 12” x 9” canvas); wine, beer, seltzer, and snacks

Parking: Available in the lot adjacent to the building or on surrounding streets.

Registration limited to 30.

Summer Connections: A Progressive Luncheon Event (06/10/2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Wrap up the PWCC season with our Summer Progressive! This event features a "progressive luncheon" format, during which attendees switch tables at each course to optimize networking.

Bring at least 30 business cards with you.

This luncheon is sure to sell out so, reserve your spot now! Because of the logistics of this event, we cannot accept walk-in registrations. You must register no later than Monday, June 8th to guarantee your spot.

Please be on time - we will begin this luncheon promptly at 11:30 a.m.!

Agenda

11:00am-11:30am PWCC Meet & Greet (Optional: first-time guests encouraged to attend!)

11:40am - 11:45am Announcements & Intro

11:45am - 12:15pm Salad course networking

12:20pm - 12:50pm Entree course networking

12:55pm - 1:25pm Dessert networking

1:25pm - 1:30pm Closing Remarks

Menu

Standard Option: BBQ Plate, including Twelve Hours Smoked Beef Brisket, BBQ Beet Short Rib, Burnt Beef Tip with Cast Iron Cornbread, Kale Greens, House BBQ Sauce

Vegetarian Option: Mushroom Terrine, Braised Daikon, BBQ Sweet Potato with Cast Iron Cornbread, Kale Greens, House BBQ Sauce

Dessert: Mango Cheesecake w/ Passion Fruit Chantilly (nut-free)

These Entrees do not contain Pork, Nuts or Shellfish

This menu does contain Dairy

Tech Connect SIG: Set Up Your Own AI Agent (06/16/2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

You have a folder of half-finished notes. A shoebox of receipts. An inbox you're behind on. What if you could just hand all of that to an assistant?

In this hands-on online session, Maya runs a step-by-step tutorial on setting up your own AI agent using Claude. No coding, no technical background needed.

You'll create an agent that will do:

1. Presentations

2. Expense Reports

3. Summarize Your Daily Emails

60 minutes of tutorial, 30 minutes of live Q&A. Bring your questions.

To follow along, download the Claude desktop app (claude.com/download) ahead of time, then upgrade to a paid plan before the session (Pro starts at $20/month). We'll send full setup details when you register.

Important: Many work laptops block software installs like this. Please plan to use a personal laptop or computer for the session.

The link to join the online meeting will be sent after you register.

Save your spot.

Attorney SIG: BYO Networking Lunch (06/16/2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Are you eager to broaden your professional connections within the Chicagoland legal community? Look no further!

Join us for our monthly Attorney SIG Networking Lunch, where attorneys come together to connect, collaborate, and foster meaningful relationships. Whether you're on the hunt for career opportunities, exploring potential partnerships, seeking referral connections, or simply looking to share insights with fellow legal professionals, this casual networking lunch is the perfect opportunity for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to grow your network in a welcoming environment!

Members: free / Non-Members: $15

Bring your own lunch.

Fifty+ Collective SIG: Tipsy Tea Party (06/27/2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 17:30:00 GMT

To celebrate Spring and all that blooms, join us for an elegant and lively twist on traditional high tea at the “Tipsy Tea” party event – held at Private Affairs (a private room), located on the 5th floor of the Gwen Hotel.

Date: Saturday June 27^th at 12:30 pm.

Place: 521 North Rush St. 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611

The price to reserve a spot includes ONLY the rotating Tea Tower of delicately crafted bites – savory and sweet.

All beverages are a la carte – your choice – and you pay for these on site. Please bring cash to facilitate settling the drink bill.

Beverages range from fragrant botanical Rishi teas, artfully mixed tea-infused cocktails (hence the name: Tipsy Tea), various Mimosas, many varieties of wines, and spirit-free sips.

Perhaps you will delight in “Tipsy Teas” like: Ladybug Lemonade, Spritz in the Garden, Daisies and Butterflies, and others?

Registration limited to 12 persons.

Arts & Culture SIG: Music in the Park (07/21/2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Picnic, Broadway, and Convo in Millennium Park!

Join the Art and Culture SIG as we enjoy the Grant Park Orchestra, Chorus and Broadway stars perform songs from Tony award winning shows.

We will meet an hour before to concert starts to grab a space on the lawn where we can watch the show. Starter snacks and wine provided. Please bring something to share and sit on!

Date: July 21st, 2026

Time: 5:30pm meet in Millennium Park on front area of lawn near the seats

Starter snacks and wine provided.

We suggest that you bring a beverage or snack to share and a blanket to sit on.

Note: if rain is predicted, the event will be cancelled

See you there!

Young Professionals SIG: Fore the Ladies Golf Clinic (08/30/2026)

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join The Professional Women's Club of Chicago for an afternoon of learning the game and working on our golf skills in a fun and non-intimidating atmosphere!

NOTE: This event requires external registration. We appreciate you registering here so we can contact you with updates about the event, but your registration is not final until you purchase your ticket here. (Ticket price: $45)

PWCC is teaming up with Fore the Ladies, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, for an introduction-to-golf event! If you've never picked up a golf club or have recently picked up the game (within the last 2-3 years) - this event at The Glen Club is for you! Fore the Ladies, Inc., is a female-based community and non-profit organization on a mission to introduce more women to the game and bring them together to play, watch, and participate in everything golf has to offer. They hope to make golf more accessible and approachable, while removing the expected barriers such as cost, equipment, golf course access and intimidation.

Golf instructors will teach you the basics of the game and more so you're ready to take your next step in golf - whether that be lessons, the driving range or hitting the course. Ask all of your burning questions about the game, meet other golfers and have a fun afternoon with us at the golf club! Participants will rotate through 30-minute stations to learn fundamentals of putting, chipping and full swing shots.

Don’t have golf clubs? No problem, we’ll have sets on hand for you to try. For more info on Fore the Ladies and to see photos from our past events, check out our past events here.

Who is this event for?

Those who have never played golf or have minimal experience with the game
Those who have been playing for a few years but would like some tips and instruction
Those who love golf and want to hang with others/find a new playing partner and golf friends!
Those who want to give golf a try with an open mind in a social atmosphere
Please note, all sales are final, and the Fore the Ladies does not offer any money-back guarantees. We will use a waitlist in the event we can fill a spot.