Emilie Cortes to Deliver GirlVentures Motivational Keynote in San Francisco

Online, August 22, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Call of the Wild Adventures President, Emilie Cortes, will deliver the keynote speech at the GirlVentures EMPOWER! Breakfast Fundraiser on Oct 23, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom in San Francisco.

The EMPOWER! Breakfast Fundraiser is GirlVentures' annual celebration of the GirlVentures alumnae and its supporting community, bringing together more than 300 men and women from the San Francisco Bay Area. Since its founding in 1997, GirlVentures programs have touched the lives of more than 4,000 adolescent girls in the Bay Area.

Ms. Cortes will speak about the personal transformation that climbing the world's tallest mountains had on her personal and professional development in the world of finance and investments before she took over Call of the Wild.

One audience member has expressed that "Emilie's presentation is truly inspirational - looking at the breathtaking pictures of the mountains she climbed and hearing her stories about the hardships she encountered and overcame made me believe that one can achieve anything with determination, hard work and awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses."

Ms. Cortes will also speak first hand to the impact that climbing and physical challenge has on the girls who participate in GirlVentures courses. She served as Course Director, guiding the technical climbing portions, for the GirlVentures Transitions Course. The Transitions Course is a challenging 14-day backpack for girls about to enter high school that includes 30 miles of backpacking at altitude in the Sierras, an ascent of an 11,000 foot mountain called Mt Shinn, a technical canyoneering descent of Helms Creek and three days of rock climbing and rappelling.

During the course, the girls work on the life skills that serve as the base for GirlVentures' curriculum - living healthily, relating wisely and leading confidently. One participant said, "In the future, whenever I feel low about myself, I will look back on the fact that I summited a mountain, and remember that I am brave."

To learn more, purchase a ticket, or sponsor the event, go to http://girlventures.org/our-community/events/empower-breakfast/ or contact GirlVentures at info@girlventures.org and 415-864-0780.

About Emilie Cortes
Emilie Cortes is President of Call of the Wild Adventures, Inc., an all women's adventure travel company. She left a 16-year career in financial services to align her passion and vocation - empowering women through positive experiences in the outdoors. Emilie has climbed on six of the seven continents and leads backpacking, trekking, and snowcamping trips for Call of the Wild and non-profits such as the Sierra Club and GirlVentures.

Emilie holds an MBA in Finance from Berkeley, as well as the CFA and CAIA designations, and graduated first in her class with a BSBA in International Business from American University. She is a member of Financial Women's Association, Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition, and has served on the National Associations of Women MBAs Board. Emilie writes regularly for the Sierra Journal and her blog, and she speaks frequently on outdoor leadership and its relevance to the business world. Learn more at www.emiliecortes.com/speaking.

About Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild Adventures, Inc. is the longest-running provider of world-class women's adventure travel, active vacations and outdoor trips to the most unique destinations on the planet. Since its founding in 1978, Call of the Wild has offered hiking, backpacking, sea kayaking, snowshoeing and multi-sport adventures around the globe. Experts in adventure travel for women, we are driven to exceed our clients' expectations at every turn - resulting in rich travel experiences and life-long memories. Call of the Wild is a proud member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT). More information on upcoming adventures available at www.callwild.com.

About GirlVentures
GirlVentures' mission is to empower adolescent girls to develop and express their strengths. GirlVentures was founded on the belief that every girl has natural strengths that will help her develop into a healthy woman. We invest in girls during the transition from childhood to young adulthood by encouraging them to stretch beyond their comfort zones and explore new physical, social, emotional and creative activities. Nurturing and exercising these strengths in safe and supportive environments makes a lasting impact that helps girls reach their full potential.

Led by highly qualified instructors trained in outdoor education and youth development, girls participate in activities such as rock climbing, backpacking, camping and kayaking, as well as individual and group projects focused on themes including identity, self-expression, collaboration, trust, conflict resolution and diversity. In connecting girls with the outdoors, they learn to make smart decision for healthy living, relate wisely to themselves, others, and the environment, as well as emerge as confident leaders. Girls and parents alike report that the experience gained on GirlVentures' courses is successfully incorporated into girls' daily lives in school, at home, in social settings, and within their communities. www.girlventures.org