There were all kinds of sizes, shapes and ages at the Pa. Women’s Conference in October. Close to 4,000 women gathered to listen, compare, critique, and collaborate. It was stimulating.
One well deserved standing ovation went to Gloria Steinem, still beautiful in her 70’s. With hair pulled back and little make-up, she is a great example of how one can age gracefully and still maintain a sense of youth and vitality.
Her message, in a nutshell, was to keep on connecting, keep on meeting together to make the world a better place.
While the internet highway is filled with conversations, there is no replacement for being together, breaking bread together (she was a luncheon keynote speaker) and dancing with ideas in person. Community, as old as tribal meetings, is as vital today as it ever was.
In a gentle yet strong way she led us, once again to the new way of thinking and being that is so ingrained in the female psyche.
Cooperate rather than compete, and don’t give up on finding the way to blend family and work.
What a treat for the women who have been (and there were plenty) standing along with Steinem for decades. These “elders” shook their heads in agreement as the younger women listened intently (and there were thousands) to take the baton and keep running in a race to equality, compassion and dignity for all.
I spoke with many of the attendees after her speech and every one of them knew that we were all in the presence of a pioneer woman who keeps cutting through the tall branches to help lead a movement as vital and creative as it ever was decades ago.
The women I spoke with were not angry at their male counterparts; they were more curious and willing to find the new ground that will be the future of how we work together.
And each of us said a resounding “thank you” to Gloria and the rest of the women who said “It will change with me”.
Sylvia Lafair
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, is President of CEO – Creative Energy Options, Inc., a global consulting company focused on optimizing workplace relationships through her exclusive PatternAware™ Leadership Model. Dr. Lafair is the author of Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success published by Jossey-Bass. As an executive coach and leadership educator, she has more than 30 years of experience with all levels of management from leading corporate officers of global companies to executives of non-profits and owners of leading family-owned businesses. She is now offering GUTSY Women Weekends, giving women the opportunity to dialogue and clarify next steps.
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