Wisconsin WOMEN Reception

media release: Business leader, former arts producer and advocate Joanna Burish will speak Thursday, Oct. 3 at the annual W•O•M•E•N reception in Madison.

Burish will talk about her background – from emigrating from Israel to the United States at the age of seven, to being a producer in Hollywood, New York and the Cannes Film Festival, and her most recent experiences in the finance world – during an early evening conversation at J.H. Findorff & Son headquarters, 300 S. Bedford St. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Burish joined Custer Burish Financial Services in 2022 as a managing partner and is the named successor of the firm. Among her proudest endeavors is founding The Brauds Network in 2011 with the mission of women empowering women.

She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting with a focus on finance and real estate, as well as her master’s degree in executive management, from UW-Madison. Burish has been the CEO and vice president of $130-million and $450-millon real-estate companies, respectively, and directly involved in financial planning for eight years.

Over time, the annual reception has featured speakers such as Sue Marks, Eve Hall, Toni Sikes, Demetria Menard, Darcy Luoma, Dr. Susan Turney, Cindy Alvarez, Kelli Thompson and a panel of women early stage investors. Tech Council President Tom Still will moderate.

The W•O•M•E•N (Women, Opportunities, Mentors, Entrepreneurs and Networking) reception has been held in each of the last nine years. Open to attendance by men and women, the cost is $25 for Tech Council members, $10 for students and returning veterans, and $50 for general admission. Sponsors of this year’s W•O•M•E•N reception are Findorff and Promega.

“We’re excited to highlight Joanna Burish and her diverse yet instructive story,” Still said. “Her passion for helping other women succeed is infectious.” 

The Wisconsin Technology Council is the independent, non-profit science and tech adviser to the governor and Legislature, with events, publications and outreach that contribute to Wisconsin’s tech-based economy. Join at www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com or 608-442-7557.