Strength in Sisterhood

What does "strength in sisterhood" mean to you? This was the question I was asked to answer for the Dallas Mavericks Women's Symposium in celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

My answer:

Strength in Sisterhood can be summarized as "We > me." When women band together, they are far more powerful. Together you have multiple viewpoints which provides a stronger base for ideas and a stronger network to help solve problems. I’ve been lucky to be a part of several sisterhoods in my life—from my actual sister and extended family (cousins/aunts/sister-in-law) to my sisterhood at summer camp. From my childhood friends to my college sorority or business school cohorts. From my colleagues in various jobs and nonprofit boards to my “mom” friends across our children’s different stages. Each band of powerful women has lifted me up and been there for me through both the lowest of lows to the highest of highs.?

As the audience shared their answers to the same prompt, I particularly loved this one from Cheryl Polote Williamson :

"Strength in sisterhood means my secrets are safe, my success is celebrated, and I am seen as a collaborator because my sister recognizes that we can go farther together." - Cheryl Polote Wiliamson

Life is short. Relationships matter.

"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” -Burkina Faso

It's been said that "it takes a village to raise a child". The villages below represent many of those who raised me and continue to uplift, course correct and nurture me as an adult. Thank you to my special sisters from Camp Mystic Highland Park UMC Highland Park High School Frito-Lay 百事 Communities Foundation of Texas Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church The Hockaday School St. Mark's School of Texas Alcuin School The Episcopal School of Dallas Kappa Kappa Gamma Washington and Lee University United to Learn Big Thought Texas McCombs School of Business The University of Texas at Dallas Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Catch Up & Read Stagen Leadership Academy Dallas Regional Chamber Leadership Dallas Leadership ISD and many more who've provided love and care.

I'll sign off with a nod to my current sisters (and brothers) whom I'm working alongside in the world of education and community-building:

"Far and away, the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." -Theodore Roosevelt

And working together with your sisters is a lot more fun than working alone.

Let's do this!

Here's to sisterhood!