By: Carolina Souto/Contributing Writer
Almost 100 years have passed since women were given the right to vote, and though we have risen above the anchoring images of a housewife and stay-at-home mother, the glass ceiling hovering above the workplace has yet to disappear.
Luckily, cracks are beginning to appear, and the Women Who Lead conference is back at the University, ready to hammer away old notions of success. The purpose of the conference is to enhance the development of leadership for women and to connect students with women who are leaders.
Events are being held at the Biscayne Bay Campus on March 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in WUC 221, and at the Modesto Maidique Campus on March 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the GC ballrooms.
“One of our goals for this conference is to show women—and men—that women have so many choices in the way they create their career path and leadership path,” said Bronwen Bares, associate director of the University’s Women’s Center.
Miss Holly, two-time winner of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” will be a keynote speaker.
“We really try to use this event to connect our female students with role models,” said Bares.
Conference participants will have the opportunity to mingle with women who are leaders in networking events, followed by guest speakers Dionne Stephens and Paige Telan.
“I’ve been in the shoes of our students who are trying to navigate between who they are, what they want to become, and how to get there,” said Monique Catoggio, director of Advancement, Alumni and Corporate Relations for the College of Business Administration.
“Being a student and young professional today can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. As such, I hope to impart upon all present my personal philosophy on leadership—defining what it is, defining who we are as individuals, women, and leaders in our own right, and share a holistic leadership model that I feel speaks to everyone,” said Catoggio, also a keynote speaker.
While the conference is centered on women and leadership, there is also much to be gained in practical areas. At the MMC event, there will be two concurrent panel discussions both women and men can learn from by attending.
One will focus on competing in a tough economy, which will be hosted by Shawna McNair, associate director for University Career Services.
Another, hosted by Heidi Von Harscher, director of the College of Medicine, will focus on creating balance.
A third panel discussion will focus on how to diversify investments, which will be hosted by Carolyn Runowicz, executive associate dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Medicine.
“I was inspired by many testimonies, and felt motivated to continue pursuing my dreams without giving up,” said Cinthya Salazar, a graduate assistant at the Women’s Center who attended the conference for the first time last year. “I also realized that I may have more things in common with other women than I ever thought of, and that support is always available.”
Registration is required, but it is free for students and available throughout February. If you would like to attend both days of the conference, you must register for each separately.
For registration, and more information on the WWL conference, visit the site http://women.fiu.edu, or call 305-348-1506.
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