On the 5th and 8th of March (International Women’s Day), 10 remarkable female Elliott School Alumnae took part in two conversations about “Pathways to Success: Women’s Career Accomplishments,” moderated by GEIA Director Dr. Shirley Graham.
Click Here to view the line-up of panelists.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was #PressforProgress. Data shows that when women are more present and participating in leadership roles, more women are hired right across the board at all levels. Panelists urged students not to let self-doubt get in the way of applying for jobs, promotions, asking for a pay raise, or taking a leap into a new field, as few people feel 100% ready for their next move.
Panelists also shared their experiences and responses to the #MeToo movement and sex discrimination in the workplace more broadly. For example, panelist Jenna Ben-Yehuda created the Women’s Foreign Policy Network and co-authored the #MeTooNatSec (national security) letter. The authors of the letter are pushing for a conversational shift towards prevention and constructive solutions such as multiple channels for women to report incidences without retribution, mandatory exit interviews for all women leaving federal service, and a clear message from leadership that these behaviors won’t be tolerated.
“Success is in the detail and this means doing focused work, providing specific information, and strategizing to achieve your goals. It is through hard work and a belief in the value of what you do that will get you to the top” said panelist Maura Leary of The World Bank. The International Women’s Day seminars were hosted by the Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs (GEIA) and co-sponsored by The Elliott School, GSS, LEAP, and the GWI.
