快活app Hosts 鈥楿nited Nations鈥 of Women鈥檚 Networking
22 women from countries across the globe鈥攊ncluding Afghanistan, Rwanda, Pakistan, the Philippines and more鈥攃onvened at the 快活app鈥檚 Colorado Women鈥檚 College Aug. 3 for what at its core was a worldwide women鈥檚 networking event, but with a twist. During a panel discussion on women鈥檚 career development, the audience shared perspectives on women鈥檚 rights in countries torn by extremist factions and rebuilding after being decimated by genocide; some wondered how world leaders such as the United States interpret and are addressing women鈥檚 issues around the globe.
快活app鈥檚 Colorado Women鈥檚 College (CWC) hosted the women for a full day of activities, including a tour of the Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women, discussion of听听under consideration now that it no longer is a degree-granting institution, and an afternoon business panel discussion.
Linda Olson, interim CWC dean, said this was the third time in a year that the international visitors program came to Colorado Women鈥檚 College at 快活app. 鈥淲e鈥檝e gone from simply providing event space to conducting programs on worldwide women鈥檚 issues,鈥 Olson said. 鈥淭his fits perfectly with the future we envision for CWC, including initiatives such as a women鈥檚 leadership institute, a resource center dedicated to the advancement of women and collaborative research on issues of gender equity and inclusivity.鈥
The visit was part of the U.S. Department of State鈥檚听听迟丑谤辞耻驳丑听, which for more than 75 years has brought foreign leaders in a variety of fields to the United States for three weeks of professional exchange that fosters relationship-building and helps strengthen U.S. engagement with countries around the world. Visits are planned around one of several themes, such as civic education, democracy, entrepreneurism, human rights, and women鈥檚 leadership. U.S. embassies select program participants based on the theme, tapping individuals who are leaders in these areas in their countries.
The international group visiting 快活app focused on the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGO) in promoting global women鈥檚 issues. Denver was the last stop for the group, which also spent time in Washington, D.C., Boston, Manchester, N.H., and Kansas City, Mo.
It was during the panel discussion on women鈥檚 career development that the women brought forth the in-country challenges they face due to cultural norms, geopolitical unrest and societal pressures. Olson moderated the panel, which featured women representing civil society, nonprofit, entrepreneurial, technology and philanthropic sectors.
Panelists were听听(MA 鈥06), cofounder of the Women鈥檚 Regional Network,听Diane Simard, entrepreneur and senior vice president, Bye Aerospace,听听(BA 鈥88, MA 鈥98), and听Carolyn Cavicchio, most recently with the Ms. Foundation in New York and currently consulting with CWC.
Discussion revolved around common themes such as the nearly universal societal norm of women as primary caregivers to children, the need for women who achieve in their fields to bring along the next generation of women leaders, and whether merit or quotas are best to advance women.
The 鈥減ay it forward鈥 idea may be the enduring message from the day spent at 快活app. Whether it鈥檚 career advancement鈥攕omething Carita Watson made sure she did for younger women of color when she rose to executive level at IBM and saw little diversity鈥攐r thoughts on managing the risks of simply practicing your profession, a reality shared by the visitor from Afghanistan who is a journalist back home鈥攂ridges formed between the women in the room. As Watson put it, 鈥淲e need to fix what鈥檚 wrong regardless of the backlash we may get.鈥
Cooper shared that her organization is working on an app that provides a secure internet platform for women worldwide to share issues and ideas on managing their lives and careers. Something like this, she said, could be useful to the Afghan journalist, and is one example of women helping women as part of a global movement. She acknowledged that American women can do better at using their collective power to influence U.S. support for human rights in war-torn countries, and pledged her support.
The day ended in typical networking fashion, with business cards being exchanged. Yet the seeds sown for future connection and cooperation are likely to go beyond the classic professional exchange.