Imagine! Leadership Development Group Update

Imagine! Leadership Development Group Update 

Submitted by Britt McWilliams

Recently, Imagine!’s LDG members had the opportunity to attend the WILD Summit, along with the Human Resources Department and a few other Imagine! employees. Here, we heard from several keynote speakers and panelists about how women can break through (two words) barriers and perceptions that prevent them from moving into leadership roles in organizations.

Among the afternoon speakers was Vernice “Flygirl” Armour; America’s First African American Female Combat Pilot. Vernice’s inspiring and action packed speech emboldened her audience to reframe our thoughts about obstacles in our personal and professional lives. She noted that when she asks elementary-school-aged children if they thought they could perform a task well, nearly all hands would shoot up. This is not the case with adults that she presents to. She then asked the audience, “When did not knowing how become a game stopper?”

Elaborating on earlier presenters’ key points, Vernice declared that everything we’ve experienced in the past has an application in the present. “The detour is the path”. Obstacles are going to happen. It’s how we navigate them that matters.

Vernice encouraged her audience to stop asking ourselves “what if?” and instead “get gutsy” by making bold moves outside of our comfort zones. She later tested whether we were listening by offering up one copy of her book, From Zero to Breakthrough. When asked if we wanted a copy, nearly everyone in the audience raised their hands. Some people even stood up out of their chairs, but the one person who walked up to the stage and grabbed the book was the grand prize winner.

So, ask yourselves what Vernice asked her audience. What is your why? Why are you here? What is your personal incentive, your “million dollars”? What gutsy moves can you make in order to overcome your own obstacles?

Imagine! employees getting gutsy with Vernice “Flygirl” Armour

Food for thought: 

• Women in the United States earn almost 60% of undergraduate degrees and 60% of Master’s degrees. 
• Women earn 38% of MBAs and 48% of specialized Master’s degrees 
• Women account for 47% of the U.S. labor force and 49% of the college-educated workforce
• Women hold almost 52% of professional level jobs 

Yet, despite these numbers: 

• Women make up only 25% of executive level and senior-level officials and managers, hold only 20% of board seats, and are less than 6% of CEOs.