The Texas Diversity Council http://Texasdiversitycouncil.org presented a Women In Leadership Symposium entitled, Purpose, Passion and Performance - A New Era!
I was honored to be selected as one of 5 guests of Barbara T. Barra, Exec VP US Operations of Lee Hecht Harrison to represent ACTiVATE Texas http://www.txstate.edu/activate at this symposium. Thanks to Charan Sanai, our classmate, for introducing Barbara to ACTiVATE at our recent Networking Evening.
As always when we are around more fabulous and talented women, there was so much wisdom to be garnered! Here are my top 10 takes as I learned and laughed a lot on that Tuesday morning:
The Courage to Lead: Barbara Barra, Lee Hecht Harrison
“Leadership is about your capacity to manage change. Change is inevitable.”
Keeping The Balls In The Air: Work-Life Balance: Monica “Dr. mOe” Anderson DDS
“Living unhappily is a slow death.”
“Avoid spiritual anorexia.”
“Relax, delegate and laugh like you are getting paid to do it!”
A Brand Called “YOU”: Lana Varney, Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP
“It’s a man’s world – INFILTRATE!”
‘How to be HEARD?
1. Prep your team
2. Organize your thoughts in 1,2,3
3. Keep talking-finish your thought.”
Career Management for Women: Yvonne VanDyke, VP of Nursing Practice, Education & Research & Administrator, Seton’s Clinical Education Center at University Medical Center Brackenridge
“Use your spirituality to source your strength.”
“Hand pick your mentors and get them engaged.”
Workplace Taboos for Women: Alicia Bogart, Director-University Programs & Campus Club, UT Austin
“Remember what your mama told you..
1. Never discuss personal issues, religious convictions or politics
2. Don’t tell PI jokes
3. No gossiping
4. Appropriate attire is always correct
5. Don’t take credit for others work
6. Don’t get too emotional
What If You Don’t Play Golf?: Laura O’Hara, Partner, Strasburger&Price, LLP
“Be authentic, just be yourself.”
“Stay connected and be engaged as a valuable member of the team.”
“Learn what your clients and associates like, even if it takes downloading a sports app!”
So there you have my Top 10 (ok, maybe a few more). The final and most memorable thought was from Lana Varney who reminded us to
‘always put a picture of your dog in your power point”
Midge Norris is a serial entrepreneur and President of Marketing2Go, a small business marketing consulting practice in Austin TX.
Much like her pup, Muffie, she is curious, enthusiastic, and optimistic about finding new ways for her clients to deliver their marketing message to increase sales.
Unlike her pup, she doesn’t stay in the office much and you can find her out and about in professional networking circles in Austin and of course, online!
