"America's Future: Fast Tracking Issues Affecting Women" Event Recap

After the outcome of this election, I frankly couldn’t wait to hear about other women’s perspectives. What does this mean for women? And most importantly, can we start a conversation, albeit an honest, tough one, about we can and should be doing from this point forward? In the midst of all this confusion, where do women really stand?

So last night, I had the pleasure of virtually attending the “America’s Future: Fast-tracking issues affecting women” event sponsored by the Ellevate Network organization. The event was aimed at discussing the new, post-election leadership’s impact on the future for women and gender equality, with extraordinary panelists Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevate Network‘s Chair; Jamia Wilson, activist, feminist, storyteller and Executive Director of the Programs at the Women’s Media Center; and Lauren Leader-Chivee, co-founder and CEO of non-partisan campaign to empower women All In Together. Here are some of the most significant moments for me…

The event was opened by Jordan Brooks of the White House Council on Women and Girls. After praising Ellevate Network for their work to incentivize companies to consider and act upon the issues affecting women, she spoke about her own work on behalf of the Council on Women and Girls to end the violence against girls, and expand entrepreneurial opportunities for women, among other initiatives. She also mentioned the “Advancing Equity Project for Women and Girls of Color” conducted by the White House, which gives young women of color the opportunity to positively effect policy change. Her opening words made me realize how much positive work is being done on behalf of women and girls, and how this ought to inspire us to do even more.

But it was the introductory words of Mark Lipton, the event moderator and Professor of Management at The New School, that tugged at every fiber of my feminine consciousness. “Hillary, CEO“: such was the headline of the post he had pre-written even before the elections results came out. When he spoke about waking up on that fateful Wednesday morning (kudos for being able to sleep at all, Mr. Lipton) to realize he wouldn’t, after all, publish the post, he embodied mine and the disillusionment of so many women…

Until panelist Jamia Wilson proudly announced that despite her shared disappointment, she would be running for office (which was welcome by a thunder of applause by the audience). Jamia’s self-described passion to fight for women, gender non-conforming and people of color, especially in the media, had me beaming with pride at the prospect of how much we can do as women to create change! Her desire to run for office was also echoed by All In Together CEO Lauren Leader-Chivee, whose book “Crossing the thinnest line” emphasizes the importance of diversity in the future of our country.

My biggest AHA moment of the night happened when Sallie Krawcheck, Ellevate Network’s chair, spoke about the concept of “empowering women”. Empowering, according to the definition of the word, means ” to be given power”.

But why would we need to empower women, when women already have the power?

As Sallie Krawcheck reminded the audience (and enlightened me in the process), women control over 80% of consumer spending and constitute more than half of the workforce. Not to mention that if as women we’re not satisfied with how companies are treating us, we can always create our own businesses.

Truth is, the business world needs women more than women need the business world. And as all the advice for women to act more like men to succeed, Sallie’s advice is actually to act more like ourselves! Which also means buying more from women-owned businesses, and investing in companies that promote women, not as a way to bash men, but rather to use the power we already have to effect real change!

And this real change can only happen if, ass Lauren Leader-Chivee said so well, we don’t forget about women’s political power. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for women to be engaged politically. It could be as easy as just sending a letter to your representatives, or running for local office, if only in a a part-time capacity…

Beyond our business and political involvement, activist Jamia Wilson kept it real by talking about the hard conversations we need to have as women. As she mentioned, 94% of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton, as compared to lower percentages among other groups of women. Which may mean a conversation needs to be had about race, identity, and where we stand as women.

This point was echoed by Sallie Krawcheck, who spoke of this election as a “wake-up call”; while Lauren Leader-Chivee urged us to consider the issue of women not agreeing with each other and needing to have these difficult conversations.

It was sobering to hear from Sallie Krawcheck that “research shows that when women are perceived to be seeking attention or power, they evoke feelings of outrage and disgust in both men and women”. Which also explains why it’s been more challenging over time for women to help other women rise in the business and professional worlds.This argument was further explored by Jamia Wilson, who spoke about the myth of meritocracy or how we as women assume that the more we work, the more we should be rewarded for it. In other words, how we fight to be recognized for merit, most times to no avail.

As Jamia recounted her own experience in private and boarding school, during which many parents and fellow students believed she got there because of scholarships, I could deeply empathize with her, being a Black woman who’s found myself in many environments where there were very few minorities, if any. But what really struck me is when she cited iconic feminist Gloria Steinem’s compelling argument around the need to have a sisterhood to support each other as women.

Ultimately, it was the questions asked by members of the audience that really gave a pulse to the issues affecting women after this election. The question that most struck me came from an African-American woman working in the financial services industry, who admitted to facing discrimination in the workplace and being unsure of what to do.

Activist Jamia Wilson’s answer to this was remarkable, as she urged her to actually seek support from people and groups at her place of work. “Get people to advocate for you!”, she said. Or even better, “roll deep, as they say in hip-hop”. She gave the example of Refinery 29, a largely millennial company, that rallied around its employees of color after disturbing events such as the death of Philando Castile; and turned a traumatic event into a community healing, as well as just good business practice.

Another question from the audience was around the issue of how some women can be other women’s biggest critics. To which Sallie Krawcheck reminded us that when men advocate for women and other people of color, they’re well-received. However, quite the opposite happens when women advocate in the same way, which explains why it happens so much less.

A very important question was also brought up around how women can be more active to fight political change. Lauren Leader-Chivee announced an upcoming partnership between her organization, All In Together, and Ellevate Network, to help women advocate and lobby for causes that matter to them. I personally can’t wait for it!

Another very pertinent question was around the role of men in this conversation. As Sallie Krawcheck so realistically explained, “We haven’t figured out the right way to bring men in the conversation”. Yet, as Jamia Wilson put it so well, we need to lean in TOGETHER.

So many other great questions came from the audience. As the event concluded, this phrase from Jamia Wilson remains in my mind and spirit as I go on today to fight my own battles in the world: “Take care of each other!”

Let’s take care of each other as we face the issues of this world, and create change for generations to come!