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Favorite Insights: Forté 2015 MBA Women’s Leadership Conference

conf-sharingForté’s 2015 MBA Women’s Leadership Conference was jam-packed with insights, so we’ve compiled some favorites—spotted in attendees’ social media posts and shared by our team. Find them below by topic, so you can learn “at-a-glance.”

If you have more, add to the list via Forté social media channels!

Courage

“‘Courage is important because disruption is the norm’ – @cindysolomon #FortePowerUp” –Judi Byers, Forté 2015 conference attendee, ‏via Twitter @Judi_Byers

“…Courage is personal. No one can talk you in or out of your fear. You need to find it for yourself. Great thought @cindysolomon” –Justine Gamez, Forté 2015 conference attendee, via Twitter ‏@JustGamez

Gender Equity

“If the marketplace accepts you, then the guys can’t reject you.” –Jocelyn Cunningham, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Deloitte Senior Partner

Goal Setting

“Write your bio for 5 years in the future to set and see concrete goals – Jane Morris @LetsgoTTM #FortePowerUp @fortefoundation” –Monica, Forté 2015 conference attendee, via Twitter @Avenew

International Exposure

“The experiences I had throughout my career in many countries—and living in different countries—served me very well.” The biggest opportunities can stem from one’s ability to work comfortably cross-culturally. –Jocelyn Cunningham, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Deloitte Senior Partner

“‘All business is a global business. All jobs are global jobs. We’re connected to the rest of the world.’ @TiffanyNorwood #FortePowerUp” Katherine Gerber, Forté 2015 conference attendee, via Twitter @KatherineGerber

Students should consider working internationally at some point in their careers because they will learn a great deal “as we’re becoming more and more one world.” –Gisel Ruiz, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Walmart Executive Vice President

Leadership

“…winning represented an important validation for me, that who I am and how I show up in the world matters. That my version of leadership is something that my community – and hopefully the world – values.” –Nikita Mitchell, Forté 2015 Edie Hunt Award Winner and conference speaker, in her personal blog post about her award acceptance speech at the conference

Power

“‘Know your personal power…when it comes to your life, you are the truth.’ Inspired by stories of women entrepreneurs. #FortePowerUp” Clair Briggs, Forté 2015 conference attendee, via Twitter ‏@clairdbriggs

“You’re learning technical skills…and a baseline for why you should be invited to the dance in the first place….There is a ton of power in competence and knowing what you’re talking about [and admitting mistakes!]….Make sure that ego doesn’t turn power into a negative thing.” –Gisel Ruiz, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Walmart Executive Vice President

“We’re working during an era of inspiration. There are countless female trailblazers showing us how much power we can truly achieve.” –Elissa Sangster, Forté conference welcome speaker and Forté Executive Director

“They know how to use their power for the greater good…to enable others to grow.” Dr. Catherine Tinsley, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote moderator, Professor at Georgetown’s McDonough School, and Director of the Georgetown Women’s Leadership Institute, on the panelists’ shared success factors

Resilience

“Confidence comes really easy when the going is great. When things aren’t, it’s tough to be humble…and to take the fall for yourself and team.” As difficult as it may be to approach a client and admit an issue, doing so gives you more credibility in the end. Jocelyn Cunningham, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Deloitte Senior Partner

“Most challenges are not fatal….how you show up the next day will help build you up. Resilience can be extremely powerful and it will say a lot more about you than any resume.” An employee’s response to challenges and failures tells the organization a great deal about her confidence and capability. –Gisel Ruiz, Forté Dialogue with Leadership keynote panelist and Walmart Executive Vice President

Success

“You have to keep learning, thinking, experimenting, and accepting that some things you try just won’t work. But you’ve got to go big or go home. Think expansively about what’s possible.” –Mary Humphrey, Forté conference closing keynote panelist and CEO of Jane Goodall Institute

“We won’t achieve success unless we bring everyone to the table @NikitaTMitchell #FortePowerUp” Arrion Rathsack, Forté team member, via Twitter ‏@ASRathsack

Talent

“People are the number one variable that can make or break an organization. @HillarySpillary @LUMIjuice #entrepreneur #FortePowerUp” –Mia White, Forté 2015 conference attendee, via Twitter @mianikki

Work-Life “Balance”

“Women ‘should’ all over ourselves, all the time. The whole idea of work-life balance is a myth. Choosing to have one big life gives us the permission to stop ‘shoulding’ ourselves. Use that emotional energy to be in the moment.” –Cindy Solomon, Forté conference opening keynote speaker and Strategic Consultant

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