Issue 270 — August 19, 2024

You’ve waited a long time to get the full description of the Take The Lead Power Up Concert and Conference program. You know the theme is “Together We Lead.” We’ve shared that it’s Take The Lead’s 10th Anniversary. And you know the significance of the date August 26th: it’s Women’s Equality Day!

But what are you going to get from the concert and conference? So let’s get specific. Let me count 13 ways.

Leadership parity has come a long way thanks to the women’s movement and organizations like Take The Lead, but there is still much work to be done. When it comes to the most urgent challenges humanity faces today, from advancements in health and wellness, to ethics in technology, to financial and economic equality, effective solutions must include gender parity in leadership.

Here are the top 13 takeaways you’ll get when you attend the Power Up Concert and Conference.

1. The Women’s Equality Day Concert:

What a lineup! I promise you’ll dance your way out. 6:30 -8 pm Sunday, August 26, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and available virtually.

2. Awards for people who inspire and lead:

Each year, Take The Lead recognizes leading women, organizations, and at least one man from various categories that align with our mission. Actress and musician Lynda Carter will receive the Leading Woman Award at the Concert.

We’ll honor our own this 10th anniversary.

Almost every panel includes at least one graduate of a Take The Lead leadership development program who will be recognized as Power Tool Champions. Those are noted with *asterisks. 9 of these women will be recognized as exemplars of the 9 Leadership Power Tools . These women form a core part of the proven effective training that has reached over 5,000 women and men during Take The Lead’s 10 years. Julianna Andujo* and Dena Patton* will be recognized at the concert. Marva Bailer* will be recognized at the lunch. Other honorees are noted in the panel descriptions.

3. Panels on the most burning issues women face today

Monday, August 26th, at the National Housing Center and available virtually, from 8:30–4:30, an action packed, value rich conference will keep you engaged. The order of the panels might change.

Our goal is not to delineate the problems–goodness knows we hear enough about those. Each panel is charged with proposing solutions and actionable takeaways participants can use right away.

Panel topics flow from the theme of “Together We Lead.” It was inspired by a deep yearning expressed by women for women to join together to work for equality. This came to fruition during our 10th anniversary kickoff: a digital conversation between Gloria Steinem, Take The Lead Cofounder and President Gloria Feldt, and award winning author Jamia Wilson.

4. Together We Lead: Health

Women constitute half the world’s population, yet their health needs are under researched and underfunded. The panel features health experts who push the importance of investing in women’s health. Specifically, what are new modalities of delivering preventive health, the business, practitioners, and advocates of shaping a healthier future?

Panel speakers will address:

● How to ensure women’s health is prioritized through funding more research, education, and new methods of service delivery,

● Including birth control access, menopause services, pelvic floor health, and heart health.

● Advocating for reproductive healthcare rights, preventative medicine, and health practices.

Panelists: Sophia Yen MD, MPH: Co-Founder of Pandia Health (Honoree: Leading Company Award), DeShawn Taylor*: MD, Founder, and CEO of Health Justice and Desert Star Family Planning, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum: Cardiologist and Founder: Adesso, Heather Florio, CEO: Desert Harvest.

5 .The Alexander Barbanell Leading Man Award, presented by 2022 honoree, Vada Manager

Who could possibly be more in alignment than the nation’s first ever Second Gentleman? Given his historic role as Second Gentleman of the United States and impressive support of Vice President Kamala Harris, we proposed to honor him with our prestigious annual “Alexander Barbanell Leading Man” award. He models every behavior Gloria’s late husband Alex also possessed — being a supportive spouse to an influential professional woman. Since we reached out to him, the world has changed, but we continue to “intention” that he will accept in person.

6. Together We Lead: Impact

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified by the requisite number of states that would, if added, explicitly prohibit discrimination on account of sex. It was written by suffragist leader Alice Paul and first introduced in Congress in December 1923, over 100 years ago. It is still not in the Constitution. This situation is a metaphor for the feeling of helplessness when women attempt to get the public policies they deserve. That’s because many people don’t know how to make an impact on public policy issues.

Panelists will:

● Discuss specific actions and techniques you can take to break the remaining barriers to gender parity in all spheres.

● Share tips on how you can become an effective advocate.

Facilitator: Gloria Feldt, Cofounder and President, Take The Lead

Panelists: Former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Haley Lickstein: Political Consultant and Digital Strategist, Zakiya Thomas: President of ERA Coalition (The ERA Coalition will receive the Leading Advocate Award), Jamia Wilson: Author, Podcaster, and Cochair, ERA Coalition, Carol Jenkins: Former television anchor, Board Chair, ERA Coalition

7. Together We Lead: Thought Leadership

This panel focuses on mission-driven leadership and harnessing the power of your voice to foster change for the better. We are all the media today. It’s a celebration of today’s business, artistic, academic, and civic leaders and their roles in shaping equitable leadership.

Panel Highlights:

● Panelists will share their personal stories and insights as reminders of the impact each one of us can make to lead positive cultural and societal change through thought leadership.

● Dr. Nancy O’Reilly will announce the publication of an exciting new book, Mission Matters: Mission-Based Leaders Share Inspiring Stories on Power and Purpose. Most of the panelists are contributors to the book!

Facilitator: Dr. Nancy O’Reilly: Founder and President of Women Connect 4 Good Foundation

Panelists: Adam Torres: Founder & Host, Mission Matters Tiffany Shlain: Filmmaker, Author, Artist, Dr. Sheila Robinson: Publisher and CEO of Diversity Women, Dr. Nicole Haggard*: Director Mount Saint Mary’s University Center for the Advancement of Women

8. Together We Lead: Wealth

Leadership parity is an economic imperative. The data is clear: companies with more diversity including women in leadership are more profitable and are key drivers in all areas of business, family, and community. So what’s the problem?

Panel Highlights:

● Panelists will address why and how women need to learn to talk about money.

● Why and how women must embrace building wealth in the same way that we help them embrace other aspects of power and have practical tools and connections to do so.

● This is an inspiring panel of accomplished professionals and trailblazers who foster a supportive culture by elevating leadership parity and how to build wealth.

Facilitator: Loretta McCarthy: Co-CEO and Managing Director, Golden Seeds

Panelists: Anu Bhardwaj*: Founder Women Investing in Women, The State of Women, and SheQonomi, Angela Franco: President and CEO, DC Chamber of Commerce, Staria Williams: SVP, Industrial Bank, celebrating its 90th anniversary as the oldest Black-owned bank in DC, Hyacinth Tucker*: owner of The Laundry Basket

9. Together We Lead: Careers

Ignite your leadership journey, learn from people who have made various career choices and pivots, and who make a difference in their career paths.

Panelists will:

● Offer insights, strategies and inspiration for making a bigger purpose part of your career story.

● Share how they have made critical decisions about their career moves at various times.

Facilitator: Emily Dickens: SHRM Chief of Staff and Head of Government Relations

Panelists: Kathleen Turner: Award Winning Actor and Advocate, Sonya Clay: Director, Federal Government Affairs, Novo Nordisk, Angilee Shah*: CEO and Editor in Chief, Charlottesville Tomorrow

10. Together We Lead: Brand Your Brilliance Workshop

With Felicia Davis, Founder and President, The Branding Institute, founder and president of the Black Women’s Collective, and a Take The Lead Leadership Ambassador since 2014

Recognitions: Rosser Goodman*, Marisa Hambleton*

We will all be branded. This workshop will show you how to create the authentic brand you want the world to see in you. This is true whether you are in a corporate role, government, nonprofit position, or have your own business.

Everyone has a unique story to tell, and hiding your light won’t help you make the impact you’re meant to have. You might have attempted to express yourself fully, but something always held you back. You might be frustrated and tired of not living up to your full potential. Felicia will help you dial up your influence and build unshakable confidence so that you never have to compromise your feminine power, sacrifice your wellness power, or diminish your earning power again.

11. Your Commitments:

Participants will be asked to share commitments they are making as a result of what they have learned or had revelations about during the day.

12. Changemaker Award

This award will be presented to Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra, the first sports bar to show only women’s sports. Keisha McKinnor* will also be recognized.

13. We’ll close with a champagne toast to Take The Lead’s 10 years!

But you’ll only benefit from this incredible experience if you’re there!

Have you registered yet? Did I remember to tell you to use code GLORIA10 for a 20% discount on the $497 full price in person ticket or $99 virtual PLUS you’ll get a code to bring a friend for half price.

Everyone who registers for either in person or virtual will be part of a vibrant community where you can connect with the other participants, form interest groups and partnerships for business or friendship.

So don’t wait! Secure your seat before they are all gone.

GLORIA FELDT is the Cofounder and President of Take The Lead, a motivational speaker, a global expert in women’s leadership development and DEI for individuals and companies that want to build gender balance. She is a bestselling author of five books, most recently Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take The Lead for (Everyone’s) Good. Honored as Forbes 50 Over 50, and Former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, she is a frequent media commentator. Learn more at www.gloriafeldt.com and www.taketheleadwomen.com. Find her @GloriaFeldt on all social media.