This week I attended the Women in Leadership Conference hosted by the OCU Meinders School of Business (thanks to my amazing supportive company – BIGWING!) Going into it I was sure I’d like the conference, but didn’t know how amazing, inspired, and powerful I would feel leaving it.
One thing I wanted to note about this conference is that it was in no way created to put men down (we love our men!), but to lift women up. I hardly every admit or like to talk about this issue because I don’t believe it, yet many women face sexism today. Sometimes you must admit a problem exists to overcome it, whether you want to or not.
Growing up, I was very lucky to be led by both a strong mother and father. I never felt weak, or less powerful than a man. Confidence was instilled in me at an early age and I have carried it like a shield growing up.
I haven’t felt the brunt of sexism often in my life. Both companies I have worked for have been led by strong women, I have a very supportive husband and father, and I haven’t felt my sex hold me back in terms of job growth or positions available to me. However, sexism is still there and I can’t just wish it away. We need to recognize it, and actively address it when we see it! Unfortunately this is not an easy problem to fix. [Read more…]