 JULIE OWEN (Director of Client Services) |
Women, were for many years, denied the opportunity to compete for positions solely based on their gender and many saw it as nothing more than a futile argument. Generally, women were believed to be untrustworthy, capricious, and lacking the drive and stamina that would make a man in a similar position successful. For this reason, there were very few opportunities for women, and most remained homemakers and caregivers. However, today women sit as Directors of Boards of companies worldwide and are seen as valuable leaders and contribute greatly to the operational effectiveness of their organizations. Today, federal and state laws prohibit outright discrimination against women based on their gender. Studies have shown that organizations with diverse leadership compositions that include both men and women, as well as underrepresented minorities, perform better in the market. They represent the culture at large and are more desirable employers for potential employees. In the words of Sheryl Sandberg, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” As a woman in leadership, it is a privilege for me to represent an organization that empowers women and promotes our success at every level. My role as Director is not because I’m a woman, but because I'm good at what I do. I represent an organization that values you for who you are and what you do. We would rather you walk the walk, than look the part. I am calling on you, ladies and gentlemen, our next generation of leaders, to not simply treat this as a profession, but as a vocation. Help bring opportunities to those that might otherwise have been overlooked, help establish homes and families for displaced and immigrant workers, and create opportunities for your fellow humans with compassion, dignity, and service. That is empowerment. TekWissen proudly salutes the women, and their allies, who have fought for a more just and equal society. While we have not yet achieved our end goal, we have made tremendous strides in the face of enormous adversity. Our mothers, sisters, and daughters can dream of huge achievements, and their successes will fall on their shoulders rather than rest on the gender to which they were born. |