On April 30, I, along with 180 other people, mostly women but also some men, attended the first annual Santa Clara University Own It Summit. Dozens of powerful, influential women shared their experiences throughout the day and offered advice to the audience members, many of whom were young women on the cusp of entering the “real world”. The Summit was refreshing, very real, and inspirational for all who were in attendance. From Oscar award winning producers to entrepreneurs to police chiefs, women of all backgrounds gathered at SCU to inspire and shape a new generation of powerful female leaders and male allies. So many tidbits of wisdom were shared that they could be used to compile a short novel and the Sunday we spent surrounding ourselves with Girl Power is one that we will not soon forget. Here are some of the most powerful pieces of advice I took away from the Summit:
Follow your gut
Broaden your horizons
Pick a starting place and just go
Ask the right questions
Have a goal in mind
Hustle!
Be resolute and flexible
Don’t neglect the important stuff (friends, family, health)
Become resilient
Don’t give in to autopilot. It’s a gateway problem to everything else
Practice thinking patterns that support brain health
Give yourself affirmations-- identify which one you need to hear and then tell it to yourself
Be happy. The world needs you to be happy
Pay attention to what gives your life meaning
Set goals-- What do I want? What do I need? What do I want my life to be about?
Focus!
Live “on purpose”
Practice self-compassion
Acknowledge the scale of what you’re trying to do
Recognize the roles of others in your life
Don’t tear yourself down
Accept that you are not entirely in control and that some things happen out of pure luck
Practice mindful meditation
Get rid of your expectations for a little while
Acknowledge your achievements
Exercise
Stand in superhero pose-- you'll feel strong and powerful
Practice gratitude
Know that you are in charge of your own well-being
Be prepared
Don't be afraid to tell people how you're feeling
Look for transparency
Ask, negotiate, read clues
Demand assignments that are impactful
Don't always volunteer "for the good of the team"
Try to avoid always gravitating towards people that think like you
Use your resources-- don't build things from scratch
Evolve faster and smarter than anything holding you back
When it's time to go home, go home
Understand people's motives so you don't get sucked in
Engage in dialogue
Demand qualification but support one another
Stand out, be personable (handwritten thank you cards are always the best)
Be courageous
Pursue your dreams despite the hurdles
Have the confidence to sit at the table. If there's no room at the table, make room
Be flexible with your plan. You'll get there
Ask for exactly what you want
Make connections
Find a mentor. Be a mentor
Set yourself at a higher standard. Do just one more thing than everyone else
If you don't love it, don't do it
Don't be afraid
Keep yourself current by continuing to educate yourself
Be optimistic
Be motivated by others telling you no
Fears and failures don't define you
Embrace the power of silence
Acknowledge etiquette and social norms
Be you, do you, OWN IT!
Here's to strong women: May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them
