Program: Testimonials
Karen Howells shares some of her experiences and successes with past female leadership programs:
Karen Howells
- A leading researcher at a high tech company (a PhD in nanotechnology) wasn’t sure if she was perceived as a leader. A high achiever, she was languishing in an environment where there was limited feedback (common in technology organizations and in industries that are male dominated). As a result of her participation in a leadership program, other women and the facilitator encouraged her to go to a very high level and get specific feedback. The CTO (chief technology officer) and head of research responded to the initiative she took, encouraged her that she was a leader, provided her a male mentor with significant connection and she got on the principal engineer track (the 2nd highest level for technical leaders at this company). In addition to a significant promotion, she was invited to lead a significant innovation project.
- As a result of an all female leadership program, doctors in a health care organization took on new projects, inserted themselves in more strategic leadership venues and supported each other instead of competing with one another in an unhealthy manner. Out of the 16 women in this year long program, over 50% were promoted to new roles with greater leadership impact. One actually moved on to another organization as she was recruited to be their new CEO. She cited the program as key to her increased confidence to snag this new role.
- Two women who were tasked with negotiating international contracts faced difficult challenges in various cultures as women with responsible leadership roles. As a result of their participation in an all women leadership program, they brought their specific challenge in the form of a case study to the group. Significant coaching and encouragement took place with their female colleagues and the facilitators/speakers. As a result, both women (one responsible for Latin American countries and one responsible for Asia) broke through sexism, their own fear and negotiated successful contracts for their company and for themselves.
- A female leader in fine arts faced a huge fundraising goal for her organization. A new leader, she doubted her ability to lead her organization to meet this goal. Her community in the leadership program coached and encouraged her that she could leverage her passion towards a creative donor program and she helped raise $350K at one event, exceeding the goal by 50%!
The 2012-13 Forum brochure will be available in March, 2012.