It was an amazing discussion. It was energetic. It was exciting. It was family-like. It was emotional. Everyone was engaged for four hours, and it was very interesting.
We host these annual Leaders & Daughters gatherings...because if we are to make further progress in increasing the number of women in the executive suite and the boardroom, we must see equality as the personal issue that it is...An honest dialogue involving men and women representing a range of industries and perspectives can set in motion new ideas that can grow to have a significant impact on this important issue.
The energy of the young women in the room and their desire to make a difference was very heartening to see...nothing can get in the way of advancement of these young women.
The conversation was wide-ranging, engaging and informative, underpinned by a collective enthusiasm and determination to support women advancing into senior leadership positions.
The leaders strongly encouraged their daughters to develop a sense of independence as well as perseverance...The lesson to the next generation is still to aim high, not to give up too easily or quickly, and persist through their challenges to fulfill their aspirations for success.
Bringing Leaders and Daughters together is a rich and welcoming experience. The level of discussion was very open, trusting and, at times, touching.
We saw a high level of ambition and entrepreneurship in the new generation. The daughters gave us a perspective on leadership less connected to corporate life and more focused on creating something satisfying.
Our panelists were all provocateurs who agreed no one wants hand-outs for women…the prevailing sentiment being that more young women are choosing to follow their passions instead of pre-programmed career paths of yore, and they will find a new way to create opportunities and achieve success on their own terms.
Our leaders highlighted the importance of mindfulness for the younger generation. Passion is crucial, but it is often best tempered by an ability to sit back and observe, a sense of 'spaciousness' before acting or speaking.
