On March 12, I attended a panel discussion with an amazing group of women. Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti was launching her book and had four panelists whom she had interviewed for information for the book:
- Cathie Black (former Chairman of Hearst Magazines and current angel investor)
- Erica Frontiero (Senior Vice President at GE Capital)
- Ripa Rashid (Vice President of Global Workforce Diversity and Inclusion at Time Warner)
- Kate White (former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan and current author)
Below are just a few of the many pieces of advice from these successful women:
In General:
- You should ask yourself – “what risk have I taken today”. You should always take a risk as it almost always pays off.
- If you do fail, gather as much info as you can. Information is power.
- Always take a recruiter’s call!
On Role Models:
Assemble your own board of directors for your life. They should have the characteristics that you want to emulate, and they should keep you accountable. And change those people over time as you grow and develop.
On Having a Family and a Career:
- There is no balance – only juggling.
- If you are on a fast track, it takes a village to raise your children.
- Providing for your children doesn’t mean that you have to stay home. For example, by working, you can put them in good schools.
- The guilt that we have about not being at home with your kids is misplaced. Most kids are fine with parents being busy and working. Adult kids usually say that they liked that their parents worked and that it provided a good example to them.
- You need to practice your time management skills at home as well as the office.
At the end of the discussion, they provided a Leadership Checklist:
- External Focus – Do you know what’s going on around you?
- Imagination and Courage
- Clear Thinker – Concise and meaningful
- Expertise – Are you striving to gain it?
- Listen – Are you a good listener?
It was a truly inspirational discussion, and I am so thankful that these five ladies took time out of their busy lives to speak with us.
