Issue 262 — June 16, 2024
There’s a common struggle that many women face: the feeling of being stuck in their careers, and that despite putting in their best efforts, they’re running in place.
It’s a frustrating and disheartening experience, one that can leave any woman questioning her ability and worth.
Read MoreFifty and 10.
Celebrating 50 years in the music industry, the eight-member mostly all female group (seven of the eight identify as women), Grammy-nominated ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock honors the joy of creativity and commitment to inclusion with their performance at the Power Up Concert 2024.
The concert and conference herald Take the Lead’s 10 years of effort to engage, support, train and uplift women and men with the goal of parity in leadership across all sectors.
Read MoreIssue 261— June 10, 2024
I have exciting news today. Have you been inspired as I have been by the Wonder Woman character?
Then you will be thrilled to know that Lynda Carter, whose iconic role as Wonder Woman exemplifies female strength and the use of power for good will receive the Leading Woman Award at Take The Lead’s annual Power Up Concert and Conference.
Read MoreI had the opportunity to join Dr. Stephanie Duguid, owner of Do Good Leadership, on her podcast “Empowering Women in Educational Leadership” in a compelling discussion on women in leadership. We delved into the critical disparities between men and women in leadership roles with a mission dedicated to propelling women into their rightful leadership positions across all sectors by 2025.
Read MoreJust out of college, early in your career or mid-career, it is not likely you are able to easily join corporate boards or enter into the world of philanthropy with substantial donations. But you can still make an enormous impact volunteering your time and skills for missions and causes that you care about deeply.
And the experience will help you tremendously in your growth as a leader.
Since the pandemic, the volunteering landscape has shifted, and there is a gendered and generational element.
Read MoreAnyone who watches the ABC-TV show, “Shark Tank,” can witness in just a few minutes how a great idea that someone believes in unequivocally can either get supported to the next level or attacked with keen criticism. They either leave elated or deflated, sent back to develop their business further.
So what is the best advice for women entrepreneurs? What strategies can you put into practice to see your side hustle or your business dream launch into reality?
Take The Lead’s Power Up Conference, “Together We Lead,” on Women’s Equality Day in Washington , D.C. August 26, features a roster of speakers including Daisy Auger-Dominguez, author of Inclusion Revolution, and artist and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, who excel as founders and entrepreneurs. There are also multiple networking opportunities at the conference to learn, connect and share your big ideas.
Read MoreIssue 260— May 27, 2024
The weather app said rain would start at 3pm. I met Camille Jalandoni and Justyna Kedra, founders of WeRule for a walk in Central Park at 12:30 thinking I’d be home well before the downpour. I’m a big fan of walking meetings, and we had a purpose for this one: to talk about partnering to make the new WeRule mentoring app available to Take The Lead participants.
Read MoreHistory is personal.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer-Prize winning presidential historian and author of six other biographies, knows that well. She turns the spotlight on her own life, in her latest book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, underscoring the need for everyone to know and share their history.
“The power of that decade was that people were filled with the idea that they could make a difference,” says the 81-year-old at a recent Chicago Humanities Festival event. That sentiment echoes again today.
Read MoreIt may be way easier to stay home and stay quiet. But it is not in your best interest—not for your professional advancement or for your well-being.
Particularly in 2024, as post-pandemic realities set in at many organizations, staying lean and looking to retain and onboard top talent, and as many women entrepreneurs launch their drwam businesses, it is urgent to take advantage of conferences to learn and launch your best ideas.
With Take The Lead’s annual Power Up Conference on Women’s Equality Day on the calendar for August 25-26 in Washington, D.C., this year’s theme, “Together We Lead” addresses the importance of learning, networking and sharing experiences with others in-person as well as virtually.
Read MoreIssue 259— May 20, 2024
It’s challenging to think of an original idea when called upon to give a commencement speech, but my friend and International Women’s Forum colleague Dede Thompson Bartlett gave an outstanding address to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering class of 2024 on May 16, 2024.
Read MoreRenee Fleming hits all the right notes. The globally acclaimed opera singer, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, several Grammy Awards and honors from the Kennedy Center, was giving a piece of her mind to an eager audience recently at the Chicago Humanities Festival.
In a discussion on stage with Kelly Leonard, vice president of creative strategy for Second City, Fleming explains the mission of her latest book, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health And Wellness, as a deep dive into the impact of creativity and music on the physical brain.
Read MorePower was on the menu for the 23rd Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch in Chicago with national leaders encouraging the 1,200 attendees to use their power to act for change—particularly in the voting booth.
“If I have one goal it is you leave here feeling optimistic about the margin of effort, not the margin of error,” Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois said.
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