Purdue University Northwest’s Calumet campus recently culminated a two-week celebration of Women’s History Month with a panel discussion, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, staffed by eight of the school’s alumnae.
“We wanted to expand on our traditional Women’s History Month by presenting our successful alumnae,” said Lori Feldman, associate dean in the College of Business, who also served as co-moderator of the discussion. “We thought we would only have a couple of the women, but quite a few accepted.”
The 90-minute program centered on the balance of work/life, and was motivated by Anne-Marie Slaughter’s New York Times best selling book, “Unfinished Business.”
Described by People magazine as “an eye-opening call to action from someone who rethought the whole notion of ‘having it all,’ Unfinished Business could change how many of us approach our most important business: living.”
When Anne-Marie Slaughter accepted her dream job as the first female director of policy planning at the U.S. State Department in 2009, she was confident she could juggle the demands of her position in Washington, D.C., with the responsibilities of her family life in suburban New Jersey.
Her husband encouraged her to pursue the job and she was fortunate to have a supportive boss, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Slaughter had been moving up on a high-profile career track since law school, but reality intervened. Parenting needs caused her to make a decision to leave the State Department and return to an academic career that gave her more time for her family.
All eight panelists agreed that setting priorities and working with them, and surrounding yourself with supportive family, co-workers and friends will go a long way on that climb up the ladder.
“I was focused on my career when I met my husband and then had my child,” said Rachel Delaney, CEO of Humane Society Calumet Area. “There was a big change to balance my life/work. It was a challenge.”
She had to learn to delegate to others on the work front, she added, and allow them to take leadership roles in order to lighten her load.
Panelist Alexis Vazquez Dedelow, local attorney and owner/president of WJOB AM 1230 radio station in Hammond, agreed that balancing priorities is key to success.
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“I never thought I would be a lawyer, I thought it was out of my reach,” she told the audience. “With three children, I didn’t have time to apply to law school, so that was put on the back burner.”
But eventually she did enroll, putting her children in preschool and attending part time. She also worked as a secretary, waitress and bartender along the way to her dream of graduating law school. “Whatever it took,” she said.
Although the program was geared toward women, there were a few males in the audience.
PNW senior Matthew Hall is an Honors College student and was interested in what panelist Delaney had to say.
“She is speaking at our banquet next week and I’m sure she will have advice for both female and male students,” he said. “And I want to see how our school’s alumni gained leadership positions.”
Another male visitor, educator James Downs of Valparaiso, attended to hear his sister Cynthia Downes, who was one of the panel speakers.
“It isn’t surprising that Cynthia has reached this level of success. She’s always been a high achiever,” the proud brother said. “I’ve always looked up to her, and she’s been a motivation for my own career success.”
The panel program served many purposes, in addition to inspiring and motivating through the sharing of personal stories, according to Rebecca Stankowski, Women’s History Month program co-coordinator.
“This (panel) also shows the ability, determination and dedication of our female graduates to make a serious career in what is still a male-dominated world,” she said. “There have been great strides.”
In addition to Delaney, Dedelow and Downes, the panel included: Morningstar brand manager Ashley Dudzik; Horseshoe Casino/Caesars Entertainment regional vice president of Human Resources Dawn Reynolds Pettit; JP Morgan Chase Bank Executive Director/Market Director Megan Richter; Joan E. Schenk & Associates CEO Joan Schenk; and Community Healthcare System Cancer Research Foundation administrator Mary Shields.
“We’re already planning our program for next year’s Women’s History Month,” Feldman told the audience at the close of the program. “If there’s someone you would like to nominate for the panel discussion, please leave their name with us.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance Reporter for the Post Tribune.