Continuing education path to empowerment

In this rapidly changing world with a roller-coaster economy, the need and popularity of conferences for women have skyrocketed. Earlier this month, more than 10,000 women gathered at the Convention Center in Boston for the Massachusetts Conference for Women, where they learned new information and skills that will enable them to advance their careers and improve their lives. I have attended this conference for a few years, and witnessed its rapid growth.
Women’s lives have become more complicated. We continue to strive for balance between work and family, yet an aging population, shrinking workforce and economic challenges combine to increase the pressures and demands we face. Such conferences, including Providence Business News’ Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship summit, are resources for developing skills that women can put to work right away to empower themselves, advance their careers and enhance their quality of life.
With 57.2 percent of working-age women in the workforce, the need for such continuing education conferences is greater every year. According to a 2013 Pew Research Study, 40 percent of mothers with children under 18 are their families’ breadwinners. Quality continuing education programs help women so that they can better provide for their families, a role I have seen women in my own family take on. Their willingness to use education to improve the lives of their families is inspiring.
The Women’s Summit reflects Bryant University’s ongoing commitment to the advancement of women and provides a powerful network for women in the region, as well as access to inspirational speakers. Drawing more than 1,000 women from all walks of life from throughout the region and even some men, the Women’s Summit promotes professional, personal and economic empowerment through education. Education must be a lifelong process. We find ourselves facing different situations, as changing circumstances and rules require us to adapt and reassess our career direction. Technology changes in a blink. We must keep up and constantly learn new skills. Continuing education, conferences and advanced-education programs help us meet the changing landscape of the work world. They also satisfy the desire to improve our lives and advance professionally.
At the PBN Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship summit, the panelists were accomplished and articulate women. Those on the leadership panel agreed that shared leadership between women and men creates better results for organizations on all levels.
Internal entrepreneurship, or “intrapreneurship,” which results in positive change within organizations, is in short supply, noted Susan Foley, managing partner of Corporate Entrepreneurs LLC. She stated that only 4 percent of individuals within an organization are entrepreneurial. Men and women have equal ability to be entrepreneurial, a mindset that distinguishes workers.
Cheryl Merchant, president and CEO of Hope Global, urged participants to strive to be the kind of leader that they would like to work for. She advocated teamwork that allows employees to take ownership of their work.
Pay equity is possible when it’s a priority from the top of a company, noted Deborah Thomas, executive vice president and chief finance officer of Hasbro Inc. Her company analyzes every job and compares it to gender-blind market data.
As work hours for residents have been restricted to 80 hours a week, more women are able to find some work/life balance as doctors, said Dr. Latha Sivasprasad, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She noted that in 1982, 30 percent of medical students were female. In 2014, women account for 50 percent of medical students. During the entrepreneurship panel discussion, Robyn Smalletz, co-owner, president, and CEO of Gloria Duchin Inc., spoke about the evolution of the company founded by her mother. With many niche markets opening at various retailers and e-commerce sites, the domestic designer and manufacturer of metal Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and gifts established an online brand to compete with China in today’s economy.
Even while we struggle to balance the demands of work and family, and confront unfair wage disparity, women are starting businesses at double the rate of just three years ago, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the Massachusetts Conference for Women. The number of women-owned businesses in the United States is 9.1 million, and 28,200 of those are located in Rhode Island. “When women and girls participate in businesses,” Clinton said, “economies grow and nations prosper.”
How fortunate we are to live in this country where education for all is valued. So many women around the world are denied the opportunity to learn and to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
Continuing education conferences empower women professionally, personally and financially. Education, mentoring, speaking up for and supporting women by those at the top of organizations and businesses are critical to the well-being of our families and to our nation’s economy. •


Kati C. Machtley is the director of the Women’s Summit at Bryant University, which will be held on March 13, 2015. She was recognized as the 2013 Mentor of the Year at the Providence Business News Business Women Awards.

No posts to display