Sharing Inspiration for Success: NAFE’s 2009 Women of Excellence

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

On Friday, December 4, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) honored its 2009 Women of Excellence. NAFE is the largest professional association of women. The awards celebrated successful female business leaders dedicated to making a difference in their workplace, the larger community, and the world.

Keynote speakers and Pulitzer-prize-winning writers Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn opened the event with a call to make a difference in women’s lives around the globe, as detailed in their book Half the Sky.

They stressed the importance of addressing women’s issues around the world, not only because it’s simply the right thing to do, but because meeting women’s economic needs can help overcome poverty and violence. As Kristoff explained, “the paramount moral challenge of the 21st century is the brutality inflicted on women and girls around the globe.”

He explained his and WuDunn’s belief that investing in girls’ education in impoverished areas creates a “virtuous cycle,” as those girls who receive good educations grow to be successful in business, and ultimately will reinvest in their communities, helping to provide education, work training, and other opportunities to the next generation.

WuDunn stressed how microlending can help women overcome challenges. “Economic empowerment can be powerful for women who are not well educated,” she explained. Addressing critics of microlending and foreign aid, she said, “helping people is hard… we need to learn from our mistakes and make incremental improvements” in how aid is distributed.

In closing, she stressed, “there are very few things in life that really elevate your level of happiness” more than helping others. “One thing Nick and I want to leave you with is we hope you’ll join our movement, feel happier, and help save the world.”

The Award-Winning Women

Moving onto the awards presentation, NAFE President Betty Spence explained that the awards honored women who had shown courage and compassion, overcome obstacles to achieve success, and given back to others. Each winner had the opportunity to share some inspiration with the audience.

Darline Jean, CFO and SVPO, Emerging Platforms at About.com, and winner of the Rising Star award for the U.S., explained the three simple rules by which she lives her life. “First, identify your goal, whatever it may be” and focus on achieving it, rather than focusing on your obstacles, she said. Second, “never forget your family. They are your backbone.” And third, “trust and loyalty.”

International Rising Star award winner Maja Darowska, CEO and Owner of MPack Sp. Z.o.o. (Poland) explained her reason for staying in Poland to run her business, even when she had several lucrative offers abroad: “If you want to create something good, you want to do it in your home. And Poland is my home.”

Carla Campbell-Jackson, Claim Section Manager at State Farm Insurance was honored with the Community Service Award, for her work mentoring at-risk and underprivileged children. Having grown up in inner-city St. Louis, she said she works to help children understand that it doesn’t matter where they grow up; achieving success is all about determination.

Next, Marie Meliksetian, Program Director, Asset Lab Managed Business Process Services at IBM, was honored with the Mentorship award for her work mentoring 30 women across several companies. “One reason I am here today is the passion and opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life,” she said. “A minute of your life can make a major difference… Think about what success is to you and that one moment you can dedicate” to someone in the world.

Outstanding Entrepreneur award winner Jane Poynter, President of Paragon Space Development, emphasized the importance of having fun in the workplace. “It actually helps you be more creative your having fun.” She also encouraged business leaders to consider reevaluating their companies’ processes as part of the “green movement.” “It reduces operating expenses in a very real way,” she said.

Elizabeth Davis, Founder & Managing Director of EAD & Associates received the award for Service to New York City. She shared three points for success, First, “People who believe in you will always find a way to support you.” Second, these kind of personal solutions “are also good business sense.” And third, “being passionate to bring all parts of your life together can push you forward.”

Finally, receiving NAFE’s highest award, Woman of Achievement, was Janet L. Robinson, President and CEO of The New York Times Company. She explained that effective leadership means embracing challenges, embarking on “the perpetual, almost Homeric search for enhanced business models,” and “encouraging the next generation of great business leaders.”

She explained the importance of vision and flexibility with the wisdom, “truly great companies understand the difference between what should never change and what should be open to change.”

For NAFE’s profiles of the award winners, click here.