Are you celebrating your accomplishments?

PHD_IWF Conference

Q. Its not a promotion, yet, so I don’t want to make a big deal over the fact that I am youngest person to step into this role. Should I stay modestly quiet about my achievements?

A.  Many of my clients feel the same way.  They move on to the next task without fanfare and their accomplishment is relegated to “no big deal.”  When you hit a milestone, are recognized for your contribution or accomplish something BIG, get ready: craft your elevator speech, create a special occasion and celebrate! I will walk the talk and share my latest accomplishment:

First my elevator speech:  I co-chaired the first International Women’s Forum World Leadership Conference to break the record for attendance:  832 global leaders.

Now the details:

I have been a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) for over 20 years and attended IWF conferences in Buenos Aires, Jamaica, Morocco, and Berlin and in Chicago, DC and Atlanta.  The conferences bring together women leaders representing over 600 chapters from more than 30 countries.  So, given my pride in the organization, I could only say “yes” when asked to co-chair the Boston conference with newly minted Massachusetts Women’s Forum (MWF) member former Brigadier General Dana Born.  IWF Conference

Our theme was “Transforming Tomorrow Today,” highlighting innovation and research.  The Conference sold-out in August and almost 1400 attended the gala.  In addition, to co-chairing the overall Conference I took on the specific task of identifying and organizing VIP Behind the Scenes programs at 11 of Boston’s cultural gems:  Gardner Museum, Children’s Hospital, Dana Farber Institute, JFK Library, Massachusetts State House, Massachusetts African American History Museum, Harvard Business School, Harvard Art Museum, MIT Computer Science and Applied Intelligence (CSAIL), and I am proud to say that I led the Behind the Scenes effort with a close MWF colleague

The Hall of Fame Gala was absolutely over the top.  Former Chief Justice Margaret PHD_Chief_Susie 10_30Marshall—you can thank her for her courageous legal decision that resulted in marriage equality—and MIT President emeritus Susan Hockfield served as honorary chairs for the evening.  Our own Dr. Paula Johnson was inducted into the IWF Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maya Angelou  and  Rosa Parks.  The entertainment was outstanding:  My friend Tema Blackstone (a concert pianist and teacher) invited her phenomenal student Niu Niu to perform, along with the Boston College Jazz Ensemble and the most extraordinary Broadway vocalist N’Kenge.IMG_1640

And the best thing that happened is that I invited my family and friends to share my accomplishment.  I got their attention with my elevator speech:  I co-chaired a record-breaking Conference that 832 global leaders attended.

 

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