REFLECTIONS AS THE HBA 2012 WOMAN OF THE YEAR

As I get ready for the HBA WOTY “busy season” with the HBA European and National Leadership Conferences in Basel and Orlando in October and November, I have been reflecting on the key messages from my remarks at the Woman of the Year award ceremony in May (see previous blog for full transcript). Since then I have been asked by many of you to explain “What did you mean by…”, or “Could you tell us more about your thoughts on…”

To that end, I thought I would expand on some of the key messages and themes that I highlighted during my speech in May. For the next seven weeks, I will excerpt some video clips from the speech and share some more thoughts on the specific topic. I welcome your replies and observations to these issues that we have all had to tangle with as professional women.

Topic # 1 - - Inspirational Role Models

Role models are critical for women and historically under-represented groups. You can’t be what you can’t see.

It is not that women lack imagination or dreams of what could be. Rather they unconsciously (or consciously) calculate the odds of success which influences their actions. They are also swimming upstream against the unconscious bias that BOTH men and women have - - that men are better leaders. And by not being as tuned into the internal networks and unwritten rules of the “majority”, it is harder for women to understand how to navigate the labyrinth of success. My Mom was a pioneer - - a courageous leader who was driven by her passion for justice for the under-served. She was always willing to be out of her comfort zone in order to help others get back into their comfort zone on the basics like shelter, education, economic security and safety. At 84 - - she is still fighting the good fight!