Women in Leadership Panel at University of Baltimore Inspires Positive Change
Nearly 100 students, alumni and community members gathered Thursday night at the John and Frances Angelos Law Center at the University of Baltimore (UB) for an engaging evening discussing women in leadership. The 2019 “Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change” panel was hosted by the Graduate Public Administration Student Association (GPASA) at UB.
According to Christina Stocks, GPASA President: “The goal of this panel is inspiring leadership and [discussing] strategies of high achieving women.” Each of the panelists was a personal or professional connection of Ms. Stocks, which showed the audience the power of networking and building relationships.
The event opened with remarks from Darlene Brannigan Smith, Executive Vice President and Provost and Roger Hartley, Dean of the College of Public Affairs. Provost Smith began the evening with a quote that set the tone for the entire conversation. In speaking about the importance of women working together, she said, “While we are individually strong, we are collectively powerful.”
Stacy L. Rodgers, Baltimore County Administrative Officer — the first African American and second woman to serve in this role — moderated the event. She believes that “government must reflect and represent the communities we serve” and thus carries out her role with honor and gratitude.
The panel was comprised with dynamic women who are impacting change in their respective fields. Here are some nuggets of wisdom from each of them:
Dr. Sarah Federman, Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs at UB, spoke about the importance of people in leadership opening the door for those behind them. “If they’re smarter than you, get out the way!” she exclaimed. She also advocated for the building up of men who can learn how to better support women. She believes in an equal balance of power — not a patriarchy flipped to a matriarchy.
Tiffany C. Davis, Senior Advisor at the Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, who works with a lot of government stakeholders, talked about the importance of emotional intelligence. When asked how she measures success in her role, she replied with how she focuses on the value she’s adding to the people with whom she works. Ms. Davis is very intentional about her time and the work that she does.
Lakeisha Mathews, Director of the Career and Internship Center at UB, weighed in on how to find the right fit at a job. She advised the audience to take a look at a company’s culture and values when going through the job search process. She emphasized that diversity and inclusion are two different things, so it’s crucial to know the type of work one is doing when they come into an organization. “You have to decide if you’re going to fight the injustice or stand in it,” she said. As a woman of color in leadership at the National Association of Career Development, Ms. Mathews knows that “the visibility you have comes with a responsibility.”
Traci Kodeck, CEO of Healthcare Access Maryland, has a passion for advocating for maternal and child health. She touched on her journey raising a 6-year-old daughter as a single mother and learning the balance of family and career. Practicing self-care, learning how to prioritize, delegate, say “no” and ask for help have been key solutions for her as she creates the life that’s best for the wellbeing of her family. Her advice to the audience in terms of figuring out where to start their career was to start with something their passionate about.
Senator Mary Washington, PhD, serving in Maryland’s 43rd District, talked about the importance of being fearless and taking up space. She proudly sports a large afro and is the first openly LGBT African American elected official in MD. She commented on how women generally tend to shrink themselves while men generally take up as much space as possible in any given setting. “Whenever there’s any opportunity for you to step up…take that opportunity…don’t be afraid to be as great as you are…don’t deny the world of your brilliance…don’t put your light under a bushel,” she exhorted.
Allison Shector, Founder and Director of the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School, highlighted the necessity of taking risks. She didn’t think many people would get behind her idea of a Montessori school, but it turned out that she had a wealth of support from her community. All three of her children graduated from the school she founded, and her next project will be expanding the school to a new site for young learners. According to Ms. Shector, in order to make your dreams happen, you have to find people who are passionate about what you’re passionate about. “Surround yourself with people who can help you,” she said.
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services and was the former Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama. She shared her experiences of being insulted and receiving other negative treatment and remarks from men as a woman in her position and confessed that at times, “Instead of trying to change them, I tried to change me.” Mrs. Obama lifted her spirits by telling her that she could still be fierce while wearing a flowery dress! It is this spirit of sisterhood that Ms. O’Mara Vignarajah believes is what is needed in today’s climate. One of her closing quotes for the night was advice given to her by her mother which stated, “Leadership is: be the first but don’t be the last.”
The conversations that occurred at the Women in Leadership panel were just the beginning of more events of this kind. For more information about the School of Public Affairs at UB, Maryland’s only school dedicated entirely for public service, visit www.ubalt.edu/publicaffairs.
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Jessica Smith is a writer, speaker and community builder with a passion for women’s empowerment and youth development. Her portfolio spans from wellness tools to business tips. She’s been acknowledged for the work she’s done in the community by receiving awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration, George Mason University and Women Impact Now, Inc. Jessica is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Baltimore’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Book a coaching call with her at www.calendly.com/jessicasmithmedia.
