The greatest opportunity one can receive is being given the honor of service to your community. I am proud to be in the role of Chief Executive Officer of the National Women’s Council (NWC), a non-profit organization, dedicated to developing and empowering women of all backgrounds, classes, and ages. The NWC was founded with a vision to be the premier organization for women’s equality. It is my goal to promote economic, political, and workplace equality. The NWC serves to advocate, empower and educate with an eye towards future viability. The workplace environment today is constantly changing.
Goldberg, 47, died unexpectedly, after sustaining severe head injuries after falling off a treadmill, while on vacation with his family in Mexico. As tributes poured in from Silicon Valley for the accomplished executive, he was remembered fondly not just for his work and humility but also for his unstinting love and support for his wife, Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg.
The move to improve gender diversity on corporate boards is growing. One of the major reasons for this trend is that a growing body of research has demonstrated a positive link between a company’s performance and the proportion of women serving on its governing body.
This month’s theme inspired me on so many levels. The Oxford Dictionary description of Thrive: (of a child, animal, or plant) is to grow or develop well or vigorously. So, to thrive is in a way to be renewed and grow. Isn’t this true for us at any transition point in our lives whether subtle or abrupt? Think of how our cells regenerate in our body and depending on the type of cell, can take anywhere from 10 hours to 2 years or more to do so. Imagine the possibilities in our personal lives if even our bodies are constantly regenerating. We are presented with endless new options, new life and regeneration. If your body regenerates every few years or so, what kind of regeneration can you do with your thoughts, opportunities and path before you? Remember this the next time you feel stuck.
Much has been written recently about the gender gap in the workplace - both in numbers, particularly at the senior most levels and in wages. The good news is that our research shows that companies that take on the challenge of addressing this gap can drive real improvements over time. We believe there are five areas of focus.
June 2, 2015 Pittsburgh Women in Leadership Symposium
June 2, 2015 Washington Women in Leadership Symposium (Seattle, WA)
June 3, 2015 Philadelphia Women in Leadership Symposium
June 4, 2015 Southern California Diversity & Leadership Conference: Most Powerful and Influential Women Breakfast (Irvine, CA)
June 4, 2015 Tennessee Women in Leadership Symposium (Memphis, Tennessee)
June 25, 2015 Colorado Most Powerful and Influential Women Breakfast
September 10, 2015 Dallas Women's Conference
October 7, 2015 Southern California Most Powerful and Influential Women in Technology Dinner
October 8, 2015 Colorado Women in Leadership Symposium
October 8, 2015 Seattle Women's Conference
November 12, 2015 Houston Women's Conference
November 13, 2015 Florida Women's Conference
I have invested much of my life encouraging women to lead, to invest, to create companies, to contribute to the health of our economy and society. I have invested at least as much time teaching those in positions of power that empowering women makes economic, business, financial and social sense. At times it has felt like working against a strong undercurrent, but lately I feel the tides shifting. Women are leaning in and seeking positions of power with more force than ever before and a growing number of high profile leaders are also leaning into the global dialogue on closing the gender gap. Some are making a sincere effort and taking concrete steps to release the value of women at work. The growing momentum around women’s empowerment is encouraging, but the dearth of women at the upper echelons of the corporate world speaks volumes about the challenges that remain.
On March 18, 2015, the United States Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled that ExxonMobil must include in the company’s proxy statement my shareholder proposal for an annual report on gender pay equity. The shareholder-voting on the proposal won’t be finalized until the ExxonMobil annual meeting of shareholders in Dallas in late May. Whether or not my proposal secures a majority of the vote on the first try, it is time to encourage multiple people to duplicate my approach to push for greater transparency on women’s compensation relative to men’s at different levels of compensation.
For most of us, life can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster going at full speed. Finding balance can seem like a utopian concept. How does anyone find time to be productive at work, while maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, tending to all their household chores and family responsibilities while still managing to keep up some semblance of a social life (even if it’s just on Facebook) AND still get some quality shut eye?
Thriving requires acceptance of what is, not what we wish. That may mean facing some bitter realities, but living a vibrant, non-fiction life has benefits. How is that accomplished? If we say that thriving requires a recipe what would the list of ingredients read?
