Happy New Year: The Power To Lead Is Yours in 2019
Looking ahead to 2019, we take a peak at the past.
You may be up to your eyebrows in year-end reviews, but it was a good year—OK, it was a mixed year—for women in leadership. Hopefully a good one for you.
A record number of additional women—118—were voted into Congressional office in the midterms this year.
For the first time in its history, in one state alone, women in Nevada will hold a majority of the seats in the Nevada Assembly as well as four of the seven seats on the Nevada Supreme Court.
Serena Williams won the catsuit fight ultimately, and women proved their power at the box office.
At Take The Lead, it was a significant year with the launch of 50 Women Can Change The World in Media & Entertainment, as well as 50 Women Can programs in Finance,Healthcare, Nonprofit, and upcoming this month for Journalism and later in 2019 for Human Resources.
“It was a good year—OK, it was a mixed year—for #WomenInLeadership. Hopefully a good one for you. What’s your #HighlightOf2018?”
Take The Lead had a remarkable 2018 with 50/50 Day, and a monumental success with its December event for “Gloria: A Life,” bringing together hundreds of supporters, girls and women for the live performance and an engaging discussion with Gloria Steinem and Gloria Feldt.
The event was possible due to the generosity of Nancy D. O’Reilly, Take The Lead Board Chair, who on January 1 releases her latest book, In This Together. (You can download your free excerpt here.)
Her new book is a collection of thoughts, advice and stories from 40 successful women across a variety of careers—from authors to actresses, CEOs and professors—encouraging women to support each other in the workplace and in life—along with action plans on how all women can work together to break free from the binds of gender inequality.
2018 was a big year. As we prepare for 2019 to be the year when all of us can enlist and access our own power to change our lives, careers and the world around us, here is a look back at our favorite stories and highlights of each month in Take The Lead.
January: Kelly Rittenberry Culhane, co-founder and managing partner of Culhane Meadows, the largest national full-service woman-owned law firm in the country, is out to ensure parity in law firm leadership in this country.
February: As “Black Panther” took the global box office by storm, we took note that Wakanda was utopia for women of all ages in leadership.
March: Crytpocurrency and blockchain are emerging as financial forces, and women in fintech are rising to the top in leadership of this new financial niche.
April: Super powerful moms demonstrated that balance is an art form as Beyonce delivered a record breaking performance at Coachella, Amal Clooney continued her human rights work after twins, Sen. Tammy Duckworth breastfed on the Senate floor and two new mothers took home the Pulitzer Prize.
May: As if SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg needed any more of our respect, we took in the lessons of leadership from the documentary “RBG,” that showed us even before her health challenges of this year, exactly what she is made of.
June: Journalist and author Allison Yarrow shed light on crucial lessons from the 90s and the “bitchification” of women.
July: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, arriving months after all women salute Equal Pay Day, is an annual reminder of the gender and race pay gap persistent in this country.
August: Checking in on the growth of #MeToo, a double standard of believing women’s stories emerges.
September: Olympian Aly Raisman addresses the need for women to speak up and tell the truth about any form of assault.
October: A panel of young feminist activists take the stage in Chicago and discuss their actions for gender equity across the country.
November: We wanted to be sure you knew how and why to ask for raise in 2018. Because you are worth it.
December: The highlight of this month and the year was the “Gloria” A Life” Take The Lead fundraiser that brought together hundreds to learn history and shape the future.
“In the coming months in 2019, @TakeLeadWomen will continue to bring you content that you can use on your professional path to create the life and career you imagine. What are your #2019Goals?”
In the coming months in 2019, we will continue to bring you content that you can use on your professional path to create the life and career you imagine. We have much to look forward to in 2019 with new offerings from Take The Lead in 50 Women Can Change The World programs in nonprofit, journalism, finance, healthcare and human resources.
Happy 2019!
About the Author
Michele Weldon is editorial director of Take The Lead, an award-winning author, journalist, emerita faculty in journalism at Northwestern University and a senior leader with The OpEd Project. @micheleweldon www.micheleweldon.com