The Importance of Empowerment

This year I am honored to announce that I have received, alongside 4 of my wonderful colleagues at Cisco, a YWCA Silicon Valley Tribute to Women Award.

Since 1984, the YWCA Silicon Valley Tribute to Women Awards has honored women in executive level positions and the companies who employ them. This event showcases 34 women in Silicon Valley who exemplify and reflect the innovation, creativity and excellence that the Silicon Valley is known for.

The YWCA Tribute to Women Awards supports the YWCA Silicon Valley’s mission of empowering women and eliminating racism. For more than 110 years, your YWCA Silicon Valley has been provided vital services to women, children and families in our community and proceeds from this year’s event will enable us to continue to provide innovative services that transform lives– including Rape Crisis, Domestic Violence, Counseling, TechGYRLS and Child Care.

This award exemplifies everything that I am passionate about, and I feel very grateful to be a recipient. The YWCA strives to empower women, and in my mind empowerment is such an important aspect of being leader. I want to share with you some of my thoughts around giving empowerment and receiving empowerment:

Empowering others…

When empowering someone, you must believe in the individual, trust their judgement, and have the utmost confidence that they can get the job done.

Being empowered…

Being empowered is exhilarating and requires you to take risks, get out of your comfort zone, and know that you are capable of performing to high standards.

Women can empower one another by…

Encourage each other to put your ideas out there and take risks. We spend so much time trying to say it the perfect way or waiting for it to be 100% buttoned up. You might get recognition for your idea, or you might be asked to go back to the drawing board. Regardless of the outcome, this will foster empowerment for one another.

Everyone has so much to offer. Keep pushing forward and you will achieve your goals!