Women who Inspire Me
A
few years ago, I ran across an article (gotta love Oprah) that reflected on the
search that many women undertake to find their ideal mentor. It discussed how
women often seek a single person that embodies perfection in various aspects of
life...you know, the woman who exhibits perfect work-life balance as she climbs the
corporate ladder, attends her children's school functions, leads a non-profit, and
works out every day? Then frustration mounts as they have a hard time identifying
a person to 'fit the bill' in terms of their guidance. No wonder, considering
they are looking for a super-woman, right?!
The
article goes on to encourage women to look at the relationships they have with
a variety of female mentors, and to cling on to the aspects of each that match their
ideal; building a cadre of supportive women to reach out to for advice,
perspective, etc. I've decided to start a blog series highlighting some of the
women in my life and the mentorship that they offer.
A Woman in Finance
A
few weeks ago I flew to NYC to help a very special friend pick out her wedding
dress. During this trip her fiancé facilitated a meeting between me and his
boss, a female executive at a real estate private equity firm with nearly $3B
in assets. The meeting was incredible! Though an undoubtedly busy principal at
a major PE firm, she was warm, friendly and eager to impart wisdom about her
industry and career path. It was amazing to have a candid and comfortable
conversation with such a successful individual. Not only did we discuss the
company and industry, but also had a fairly frank conversation about 'framing
the discussion' with potential employers regarding career preferences post-MBA.
Our conversation ended with an offer to keep in touch throughout my last year
in the program and the job hunt process.
A
note to MBAs: you've heard it before, but the time actually spent in the MBA
program is one of your greatest assets. Make sure to ask for 'informational
interviews,' as professionals are eager to impart wisdom in a 'low pressure'
situation where they do not feel like you are only there for a job. Make
friends whenever possible and you may be surprised about the connections you
make and the job that may be waiting out there for you!
The Women who Make Me
Sweat
Last
week the Leeds School of Business National Association of Women's MBAs (NAWMBA)
attended an event at Bar Method, a fantastic new workout studio in Boulder that
incorporates principles of ballet, yoga and pilates into each session. The
owner took us though a class then gave an entrepreneurship talk about securing her
venture's funding and how to create a business plan. After working in
publishing for ~15 years, she sought to bring a new fitness option to Boulder
that was built around values of service, community and of course, a great
workout.
I
have been a member at the studio for a few months now and I love what Bar
Method has to offer. Not only is it a great workout, but the owner is always
sharing perspective and happy to do whatever she can to build a strong sense
of community. It's inspiring!
