Ode To The Ladies In My Life

International Women’s Day is here. The theme #EmbraceEquity.

Full disclosure I have been a little confused by this topic. Meanwhile people, not just women, that I deeply respect are all over making waves about it. ?

I decided to do some digging.

#EmbraceEquity - The campaign is designed to drive conversation. Well marketers at IWD, consider me a qualified conversion, ready to sing like a canary on this one!?

Equity is giving everyone the tools they need to be successful, instead of giving everyone the same tools.?

An example on IWD’s website in summary talks about satiating hunger. Two kids, two apples. Each getting an apple is equality. Sally is allergic to apples though, so she goes hungry.

Equity is satiating hunger by giving Sally a banana, and the other kid an apple.

Before I took time to ponder, my instant reaction was:

Well Sally, sell the apple and buy what you want with that money, convince the other kid to denounce apples with you, go on a hunger strike until they serve you pizza! Turn a profit, be an entrepreneur. this is AMERICA!

Which provokes this thought: perspective plays a role into how we view and deliver equity.?Ultimately bringing us full circle, #EmbraceEquity, we have to talk about it.

From multiple perspectives we can say why two apples is equitable, and why it is equal. Neither are truly wrong nor right. Philosophy is hard.

So, if I am to understand correctly, through equitable actions, we can achieve equality. From there we are equally empowered to be successful on an individual level. A group of successful individuals leads to a successful organization, company, economy, country, team.

Okay #EmbraceEquity, interest officially piqued. I will continue to listen and learn. In the meantime, Happy International Women's Day!?

I have a lineup of ladies and organizations in my life to recognize.

Women on the Board

This group of gals have 75+ combined years of experience steering me in the right direction. They are my sounding board. Composed of an eclectic group picked up through the years of activities, school, jobs and chance encounters!

Amy Burford , Beth Sanchez , Lindsey Edwards , Billie Sue Roe , Catherine Cambridge , Brittany Eguia , and The Dawn.

Morehead State University (Delta Gamma, and AGBs)

Check this video out!

The current AGBs rocked UCA College Nationals this year bringing home its 13th national title while advancing what we even knew what was physically possible for the sport in 2 minutes and 30 seconds! ?

Adjusting to life in Morehead, Kentucky with my teammates is one of my fondest experiences. Being a member of Delta Gamma eased this adjustment.

Ladies on my team and in my sorority, Cheers!

To the future of these organizations; thank you for continuing a legacy developing strong characters that aren’t just going to enter the current world post-college, but explode onto the scene and bring value to it!?

The Ladies on Speed Dial

Some of my Whitworth University grad school cohorts doesn't even begin to describe these relationships: Emily Moline Meyer, MBA, CDFA, CPSM , Cola Boyer /Shoshone Bannock/ MBL , Stacee Potts , Terri Crafts, MBL .

Sinéad Voorhees is largely responsible for this group, and one of our biggest supporters. As the assistant dean of graduate studies she has doubled the size of the MBA program making it the fastest growing MBA in the area!

My Lady Verinteers

Teamwork makes the dream work, but this group possess so many qualities that foster an environment of collaboration, organization, and fun!

Christine Malone , Jennifer Poppell , Ivey Gordon , and special shoutout to Megan Brown - she was women in tech, before #womenintech was a thing!

Honorable Mentions

These women are examples of forging the way, thriving in an environment as is, while simultaneously changing it for the better.

I have seen them in action, worked with them, worked for them, moved on and watched them grow their careers from afar. Juggling family, career, philanthropy: Renae Wood , Sara Viola , Sara Wilson , Amanda Gibson Mu?oz, MBA , Jackie Kennedy , Jen Snell , Heather Rutherford, CMP , Ashley Cruz , Siobhan St. John , Alexis James , Katie Zimmerman Marmon , Debbie Cozzetto, MBL , Debbie Weber (to name a few).

The Legacy We Leave, Specifically Marcella Marie

Often referred to as Marnado this whirlwind of a four year old is already doing great things.

Not in a...

My daughter is a gifted genius, look how she arranged the chicken nuggets on her plate

kind of way, but great in the way she grows every day.

I am inspired how she sees the world, how her views are evolving and expanding with time. Excited for the opportunities she (along with my other kids) will have created by the aforementioned and others forging a more equitable world for women.

At the end of the day, IWD can be traced back to 1911, and the mission will continue to breed opportunity for everyone, not just women. Perspective, humility, culture are just a few examples that influence equity.

The point is… Look at us talking about it! #EmbraceEquity

Go Team!?