Celebrating Female Leaders
“When you lift up women, you lift up families, you lift up communities, you lift up economies – and you lift up America.” – Kamala Harris
As we wrap up Women’s History Month 2024, we’re reflecting on the powerful stories we’ve shared, the history we’ve rediscovered, and the strong, inspiring female leaders all around us. As far as we’ve come, as much as we’ve accomplished, we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in celebrating the important contributions of women and elevating them to a position of full equity and equality in the workplace and in the society at large.
In last month’s newsletter we celebrated Black History Month with a spotlight on FocusWorks Founder Roberta Pettis, highlighting her achievements and the inspiration she provides all of us as a proud, black, female business owner and leader. Roberta recently traveled to Washington DC to commemorate International Women’s Day, participating in a full slate of programming focused on promoting women’s leadership and exploring topics such as AI and technology, women on boards, elevating women of color into leadership roles, and women in the workforce.
There are so many inspirational female leaders (aka “sheroes”) all around us, each making significant contributions in their chosen field.
- Sharon Reynolds established her company, DevMar Products, LLC, in 2007 on a mission to distribute environmentally friendly products including green cleaning solutions and office products. DevMar supplies hospitals and Integrated Delivery Network systems across the U.S., serving restaurants, retailers, federal government facilities, gas and oil industries, transportation, hospitality, gaming, construction, and others. The winner of countless business leadership awards, Sharon is an innovative leader whose initiatives help sustain our planet.
- As the first female President of Tennessee State University in Nashville, Glenda Baskin Glover oversaw a significant increase in enrollment, alumni fundraising, research dollars, and academic offerings. Dr. Glover is a certified public accountant and an attorney. She is one of two African American women in the country to hold the Ph.D-CPA-JD, and she provides a shining example of what a truly inspirational leader looks like. Dr. Glover also served as the 30th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated which is the first black sorority that was founded in 1908.
- Currently serving as Chairman of Board of Women Business Collaborative (WBC), a non-profit to accelerate Equal Position Pay and power for all businesswomen, Edie Fraser has made phenomenal contributions to Women in Leadership over the course of her multiple-award-winning career. As a consummate entrepreneur, Edie built three companies and several movements. Her books include “Do your Giving While You’re Living” and “Women’s Entrepreneurship in America.” Edie is an inspiring leader and a shining example for female entrepreneurs everywhere.
Women Excel in Life and Leadership
To further support and celebrate women in leadership, FocusWorks is launching Women Excel at Life and Leadership. Research has shown that when women are well-supported through leadership development programs, organizations thrive, innovation flourishes, and workplaces become more diverse, inclusive, and prosperous. With our WELL Program (Women Excel in Life and Leadership), FocusWorks is helping a robust community of women leaders build meaningful connections and sharpen skills that enable them to successfully navigate the unique challenges stemming from systemic biases and societal pressures. Our team of consultants is passionate about equipping women with the tools they need to excel in today’s competitive environment, and they bring an unparalleled level of experience, expertise, and dedication to the task. Click here to learn more about the program.