Women’s Power in Numbers: How Sponsors and Protégés Can Band Together
By Natalie Runyon, Shelley Beason, and Michele Hush
On the evening of November 20, Thomson Reuters and Wells Fargo Securities co-hosted a “Manhattan Mixer”, bringing together clients with senior female executives from both companies. Both Thomson Reuters and Wells Fargo are distinguished by their commitment to advancing women’s careers.
Together, these companies created an empowering night for women.
The event also had an interesting twist: senior women leaders were asked to invite a protégé. It is important for the advancement of emerging female leaders to have access to influential senior women. The “twist” on inviting protégés gave these women the opportunity to build personal connections with senior leaders based on a common goal: women’s advancement.
The keynote speaker was Diane Schumaker-Krieg, global head of Research, Economics, & Strategy at Wells Fargo Securities. An influential leader who believes in empowering other women, Schumaker-Krieg has been included in American Banker’s “25 Most Powerful Women in Finance” for the past four years, with the latest recognition coming in September of this year. Schumaker-Krieg is a strong advocate for women and passionate about supporting their career development.
The main takeaway from Schumaker-Krieg was her assertion that “women have power, especially when they band together.” During her remarks, the global head touched on her own career path and the importance of speaking up at the right time.
The event was also packed full of career tips for women’s advancement in business, strategies for sponsorship, and advice on developing power networks. For sponsors, Schumaker-Krieg recommended they reach out to emerging women leaders to ensure their ideas are heard. Sponsors were also encouraged to diversify their portfolio of protégés, advocating for two or three talented women rather than focusing on one.
For protégés, Schumaker-Krieg shared advice she learned through her many years in the trenches. A few of the key takeaways from her keynote included being great at what you do. While this sounds obvious, it is the most important thing you can do to get noticed. Ask for more responsibility: be sure to have specific ideas for how you can contribute in deeper, more expansive ways. Also, be creative/think outside the box and don’t be a wallflower; participate in all meetings, even “optional” ones. Volunteer to represent your team on important department or enterprise-level initiatives. Prepare ahead of time so that you can meaningfully advance the discussion. Also, promote the success of others. Your generosity will be remembered. To build your support network, reach out to groups within your company and outside your line of business. Learn what they do and how you can help them succeed.
During the event, new associations were made, and existing connections were reinforced. Each individual was challenged to make new contacts and to meet up with them in the month following the event. Indeed, events like these are the foundation for women expanding their power networks and supporting each other in advancing their careers.
