The speeches by Kallman and Lisa DeSisto, vice president and general manager of Boston.com, highlighted alternatives to the world of finance and banking promoted by the recruiters beforehand.
Representatives from Goldman Sachs, UBS Warburg and other financial firms provided brochures and gave away breath mints, hats and other items emblazoned with their monikers.
Merril Lynch offered magnetic poetry kits featuring terms such as “savvy,” “IPO,” and “profit.”
Both speakers last night said they are confident that women can succeed in today’s job climate, even as unemployment numbers remain high.
As evidence of her success, Kallman provided free bottles of her Edison beer at the conference.
But bartender Maureen Medeiros said that most attendees did not partake.
“You don’t want to seem too intoxicated while talking to an employer,” she said.