May 2022 “Hit Your Bullseye” Event Recap June 2, 2022Empowerment Events, Events, Featured, Hot TopicsOff

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If you think this is the Great Resignation, think again said Morgan Stanley Senior Client Advisor, Carla Harris. “It’s the Great Contemplation. For two years, people sat at home asking themselves, ‘Do I love my job? My boss? How have I been treated.’”

The time is ripe for conversation around what it takes to keep and advance women. The reason? Between April 2020 and this February, women lost more than 12 million jobs according to the National women’s Law Center, “reversing an entire decade of job gains since the end of the Great Recession.” And now with the war for talent, companies are looking to get them back. 

Today with women continuing to leave the workforce as they reevaluate priorities, and new pressure on organizations to move women and minorities into leadership roles, the timing is ripe for women to push for what they want. PINK’s Spring Empowerment Event slammed home the idea with a Hit Your Bullseye theme and axe throwing in front of the Atlanta venue. Said PINK CEO Cynthia Good, “We have this historic window of opportunity to reestablish what women want to do with their ‘one wild and precious life,’ as poet Mary Oliver called it. It’s time to identify the target and hit your bullseye.”

Some of America’s top women business leaders flew into Atlanta to speak on the panel and help by sharing their wisdom and experience. Chief Marketing & Analytics Officer for Invesco, Americas Emily Pachuta, said, “Women shouldn’t have patience for organizations that are not adaptive.”

About 200 women (and a handful of evolved men) showed up in person in, and more than 500 signed up to watch the live-streamed event sponsored by Southern Company, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, Invesco and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine.

The leaders featured aren’t shy about being in their high-level roles. “I’m a leader, an athlete, an adrenaline junkie,” admitted Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Chief Administrative Officer, Linda Matzigkeit. They talked about finding balance with their many responsibilities. Moderator and veteran journalist Monica Kaufman Pearson asked The Coca-Cola Company’s new Foundation President, Saadia Madsbjerg, “Who are you when you’re not at Coca-Cola?” Her answer? “It depends on what time of day you ask.”

The bottom-line? “Don’t let anybody count you out,” said Carla, especially when you’re applying for a job. “You always have an advantage in a job interview. The interviewer has to do their job and come back with a great candidate.” 

So, what differentiates the women leaders on this panel from others? They ask for assignments they want, and if there’s something great they’re offered, they don’t turn it down—even if they don’t have the experience they think they’ll need. “I am always open to opportunities,” said Emily. She told the crowd she never says no to a something she wants. She realizes this isn’t typical. “I know a lot of people are afraid.”

Companies that create real change in gender equality benefit from advancing women. According to a recent IBM study, organizations that made advancing women a top business priority enjoyed a 61% higher rate of revenue growth; more proof gender inclusivity is a driver of financial performance, among other benefits. When there’s a woman at the top, the talent pipeline is filled with 23% more women than other organizations. 

Pink has long advocated for women to more easily move into leadership roles with equality in terms of opportunity and pay, with the support and flexibility needed to balance women’s many responsibilities. The IBM study also referenced the importance of organizations finally moving from advocacy to action.

The speakers were very clear, women need to do their part.

“A new leader needs to understand what your deliverable is, what does success look like for your boss. Ask that question,” advised Carla. “And ask yourself, ‘How do you want people you report to, to consume you?’”

“Leadership is about your ability to be relevant, to look around corners,” said Emily. Then she asked the nearly 700 watching, “How are your influencing skills going?” The PINK event conversation was aimed at improving those skills. “I now have tools to walk in that door with confidence and accomplish whatever I want,” said Pink event attendee Maria Guarisco.

Note: PINK would like to thank the event sponsors committed to diversity and social responsibility. We hope you support these organizations:

Southern Company, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company as well as The Home Depot, Invesco and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine.

Also, thanks to the exhibitors:

American Axes, Blo Blow Dry Bar, Maune Contemporary Gallery, RockBox fitness, and Pink CEO Cynthia Good who gave us the chance to order her first collection of poems. 

Don’t miss the next PINK Power Alliance Zoominar on The Imposter Syndrome! Coming up on June 16th at 12:00 PM EST. Click HERE to sign up today!

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