Women's Executive Leadership Summit Focuses on Women's Success
By Helen Capellaro
Women's rise to leadership positions in business, education and government was explored at the first-ever Women's Executive Leadership Summit this fall. More than 200 participants attended the two-day event at the Fluno Center for Executive Education.
A packed auditorium heard experts speak on topics ranging from ethics, to joining corporate boards, to effective communications during a corporate merger. Executives and authors shared insights, stories and road maps for breaking new ground in their organizations. Many shared how they have incorporated a personal style of leadership and values into their organizations.
More than 200 participants attended the first Women's Executive Leadership Summit.
Sally Helgesen, author of "The Female Advantage," a groundbreaking book that recognized early the potential for women as leaders, was another notable speaker. Based on her years of writing and research, Helgesen offered frank advice on women's strengths and challenges. She identified those strengths as: comfort with direct communication and diversity, ability to focus on relationships, unwillingness to compartmentalize, ability to hold a long-term focus and talent for building webs of relationships. All these, according to Helgesen, are distinct advantages in today's global marketplace. However, she also noted that major challenges to women's leadership include finding ways to balance family and work life, learning to promote oneself without being too modest or too aggressive, and building and leveraging support networks.
Barbara Ley Toffler, author of "Final Accounting: Pride, Ambition, Greed and the Fall of Arthur Andersen," spoke on ethics and women's progress in business and government with Jodie Bernstein, former director of Consumer Protection for the Federal Trade Commission.
Several speakers shared examples of leading their organization through crisis or to greater marketplace success. Katherine M. Hudson, chair and former CEO of The Brady Corporation, Milwaukee, spoke of her efforts serving as CEO from 1994 to April 2003. Barbara Lawton, Wisconsin's first elected female lieutenant governor, discussed efforts to ensure prosperity for Wisconsin's women.
Governor Jim Doyle hosted a reception at the Governor's Mansion for speakers and planners of the Women's Executive Leadership Summit.
The Women's Executive Leadership Summit was created after the business school's Women in Business Council, an advisory board to the dean, determined the time was right for the school to present a high-quality program focused on women's issues.
"This was a unique experience," noted Madeleine Condit, senior client partner at Korn/Ferry International in Chicago, who spoke at the Summit about women's representation on corporate boards. "The Summit offered women a panoramic view of subjects that will enrich their careers."
Major sponsorships of the Women's Executive Leadership Summit were provided by GE Medical Systems and Lands' End. Many individuals contributed to its success, including Women in Business Council consultant Pat Alea, Tammy Thayer-Ali, vice president, Custom Programs and her colleagues in Executive Education; Council Co-chairs Janet Ady and Deb Byars; and Council Member Suzy Shain. For information on the 2004 Women's Executive Leadership Summit go to www.uwexeced.com/womenssummit.
Helen Capellaro is public relations director for the School of Business.