#CelebratingWomen
Growing up, my mother, Harriet Tubman, Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi were my heroes. Three of those were well-known personalities who all followed their hearts, their dreams and their steadfast resolve to make a difference in the world. It is my mother who, while not well-known, always encouraged me to dream big, be honest about your intentions and never ever forget to support everyone — no matter a stranger or a friend.
Today, I am a career veteran who has found myself wondering what I have done to make a difference in this world. That is why, on #InternationalWomensDay and during #WomensHistoryMonth I chose to publish my first Medium post. Seems fitting as I had female heroes, role models, family and friends always pushing me forward, encouraging me to follow my heart. And my heart told me (and does to this day) that my difference in this world is to help those women before me and after me. Help in ways that support, nurture, coach, mentor and cheerlead to ensure they know they have a sounding board.
It is ironic that in the last two years, with the help of a female friend and mentor, Linda Ritchie, I’ve been able to find career purpose and a creative outlet working as a consultant for Sounding Board, Inc., the fast-growing scalable leadership development platform, combining technology and coaches to drive business impact for global enterprises. Co-founded by two women of two different generations, Christine Tao, CEO and Lori Mazan, President and Chief Coaching Officer, the company, its leaders, coaches and team members all epitomize what the celebration of women looks like every day.
Tao, who was rapidly rising in her career, met Mazan, who became her 1:1 leadership coach. As fate would have it, they soon realized that together, they could break through as women entrepreneurs and leaders, democratizing a way to bring leadership development to employees at every level, and virtually (even before the pandemic!). From day one, through the dramatic growth brought on by COVID-19, these female entrepreneurs are helping grow future leaders that will shape the world for years to come.
I am lucky because not many get to celebrate International Women’s Day working with a female-founded, female-led and female-supported company (the majority of their investors and angels are women) that also is part of the <3% sole female founded startups to receive venture funding. Not only is a company like this thriving, but they are doing so by supporting every employee, coach, client, stakeholder and vendor along the way.
So for my first Medium post, where in my profile I exist to tell stories about the smallest of ideas and support the work of others, I dedicate this tome to all those who support women, not because of gender, but because all women deserve an equal chance, a sounding board of supporters and a future full of dreams realized.
