Where Do Women Stand breakfast

Bisnow presented a “Where Do Women Stand?” breakfast Wednesday morning with a panel of powerful women in D.C. business including Kathleen Walsh Carr, president of Cardinal Bank, Beth Brooks of Ernst and Young, Kathleen Matthews, executive vice president of global communications and public affairs for Marriott, Linda Rabbitt, chairman and CEO of Rand Construction and Marie Wilson, president and founder of The White House Project.

The venue, originally at BLT Steak on I Street, was moved last-minute to Sequoia in Georgetown to accommodate the large amount of interested women. The panelists spoke about overcoming obstacles to become successful women in the business field.

“I’m the oldest of five and it was always so important to have people around who support you,” said Matthews, who is married to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. “My husband is always pushing me in the right direction.”

Guests dined on bagels, fruit and pastries while the panelists spoke for an hour.

— Report and photographs by Kate Oczypok

Kelly Batalle and Sheila Blackwell of SRA

Kathleen Matthews

Kiyo Oden, Esq. of Oden and Dillard and Rori Malech, moderator of the panel and an employee at Katten Muchin Rosenbaum

Michelle Lang, Katten Muchin Rosenbaum, Brad White of Bisnow and Margot Bisnow, wife of Mark Bisnow, owner of Bisnow.com

Angela Gordon of Safe Web and Linda Rabbitt

Whitney Gaman, Ridgewell’s and Melissa Taliaferro, Infinitive

Debbie Kaplan of Urbanigloo.com and Mary MacPherson of Vital Voices

Beth Brooks of Ernst and Young