Lead-HER-Ship » Women

Mom’s Messages-Forget Text and Email

Eileen McDargh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:36 +0000

For 15 long days, Mom refused food and water, shrinking her already tiny self into maybe a scant 80 pounds. Whatever energy she had left, when she wasn’t sleeping, was reserved to nod yes and no to questions and mouth the words, “I love you too.” Kneeling beside her bed, with my face close to hers, I told her again, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Mom whispered.

“I love you three and four,” I responded, watching a smile and small chuckle wash over her face. It was the last smile I would see.

But even if she slipped the surly bonds of earth and crossed the sky on rainbow-colored wings, she made sure that her messages of comfort would continue… unexplainable messages that I quietly offer to all of us who believe life is indeed a continuum.

Throughout her last days and nights, I’d give her tiny kisses pressed in her sunken cheek or across her now unlined forehead.

“Butterfly kisses, Mamacita. Get rid of this cocoon. Go fly. You’re a butterfly among all the flowers of heaven.”

Indeed, flying was Mom’s passion from her days as a WWII Women’s Air Force Service Pilot-WASP.

The morning Mom died, I stepped outside Aegis Assisted Living to answer my cell phone. Talking to my assistant Bonnie, I suddenly glanced up. A gorgeous Monarch butterfly was practicing touch-and-go landings on the flowers!

“Bonnie, a butterfly!”

She quickly responded. “The native Americans believed that the butterfly is a sign from a soul. Now watch for coins at your feet.”

I never understood the significance of coins but then again, I had never heard about the butterfly.

Later that day, when we’ve cleaned out her room, my twin brother and I finally go home, numb and heavy hearted yet grateful for our Mom’s amazing life and love for us. We want nothing more than to walk down to the beach in the brilliant California sunshine.

As we near the bluff top overlooking the Pacific, my eyes sweep downward: a quarter! I’ve walked this path for 32 years and never seen even a penny.

“John, look!” I held the quarter up to the sky and said, “Ok, Mama—how about two whales?”

Yes, my friends. Just as John and I reached the bluff to gaze across this expanse of blue, two gray whales spouted on their journey south to San Ignacio Lagoon in the Baja. While it is the season for migrating whales, it has been years since I have seen any during my constant beach runs.

Mom started off my January reminding me that life is nothing if not a daring adventure. Now, she tells me to pay attention, to watch with eyes of wonder and mystery.

L’Chaim. To life.

International Council on Women’s Business Leadership

Eileen McDargh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:52:30 +0000

On Tuesday, January 24^th, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted the first meeting of the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

The Council serves the United States government in an advisory capacity on major issues in international business and economic policy, including the effective integration of business interests and women’s economic empowerment into overall foreign policy; the role and limits of international economic institutions from a gender-specific perspective; and the Department of State’s role in advancing and promoting the role of women in a competitive global economy. Learn more.

World Economic Forum-Davos Finally Gets it right!

Eileen McDargh — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:56:03 +0000

Women are the way forward. Finally, beginning today – Feb 1- some of the most powerful companies in the U.S(Coca-Cola, Accenture, and others) are signing a worldwide pledge to bring women into the economic mainstream. And not a second too soon. They are finally beginning to understand what development experts have known all along: women are more likely than men to put their income back into their communities, drive up literacy, drive down mortality, and ultimately, raise GDP.

Recently Walmart has pledged more than $20 billion to source women-owned companies in the U.S. and Coca Cola has since announced a similar program to support 5 million women entrepreneurs globally by 2020.

Question though: why must women start their own businesses to flourish? When will U.S. businesses also grasp what a recent Catalyst survey shows: a strong correlation between gender diversity in leadership ranks results in better economic performance for the company.

Afghan Woman Murdered Because She Gave Birth To A Girl?

Eileen McDargh — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:21 +0000

A horrifying story out of Afghanistan courtesy of The New York Post… a young woman with three children has been murdered allegedly at the hands of her mother-in-law and husband. The reason? The girl’s family believes that she was murdered because she gave birth to three girls despite the fact that her husband and mother-in-law demanded she have a boy! Imagine that! Clearly, a lack of education is an issue because it is the man who determines the gender of the child – not the woman. The mother-in-law is in police custody but he husband is no where to be found. To read the entire horrid story click here.

Interview with Katherine Hays, chief executive of GenArts

Eileen McDargh — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:16:29 +0000

The NY Times has a fascinating article that is an interview with the Chief Executive of GenArts Katherine Hays. You’ll want to read and learn from this insight into leadership from the perspective of a woman.

Forbes 10 Most Interesting Women Of 2011

Eileen McDargh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:17:16 +0000

Forbes has a list of the 10 Most Interesting Women Of 2011. Some of the people on this list are not as interesting as Forbes thinks they are but the article is still a good read. You can read the full article at Forbes.com.

Lisa Rohleder: The Accidental Social Entrepreneur

Eileen McDargh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:07 +0000

No Country for Young Women
is a multimedia project with the ultimate goal of
becoming a wide-ranging archive of women’s stories about
their lives and careers, to provide real role models, and inspire
readers to pursue their goals and fulfill their potential. The NextWomen are delighted
to bring you our favourite interviews from their fantastic series.

This week we bring you the story of Lisa Rohleder, social entrepreneur and acupuncturist.

What is
your name, age, and location?

Lisa Rohleder, 43, Portland, Oregon.

Women in the Board Room: A Global Infographic

Eileen McDargh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:07 +0000

Today, I was reading in Forbes Magazine about the CEO of Mindflash, Donna Wells, who used to be at Mint.com. It’s a piece called: A Few Female CEOs? Doesn’t Mean Women Aren’t Successful.

One of her learnings she describes in this article is about whether as a founder of a company you continue doing everything yourself or outsourcing your work:

World’s Most Innovative Young Minds Get Together in Lisbon This Weekend

Eileen McDargh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:06 +0000

This weekend will see Lisbon transformed
into a melting pot of innovative thinking, as 150 of the most inspiring
change-makers under 30 will get together for the Sandbox Global
Summit.

Sandbox, for which recent
The NextWomen interviewee Robyn Scott is a Global
Ambassador, is the foremost global community of extraordinary young
achievers below 30. It brings together young people worldwide who have already
had an impressive impact, no matter in what field or industry.The growing
community counts 600 young leaders in 48 different countries.

Do It! Or Ditch It: Self Discipline: The Secret Weapon For Business Success

Eileen McDargh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:06 +0000

“Mastering others is
strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” Lao Tzu

There are many parallels between those
who succeed in sport and those who succeed in business. In both worlds goal
setting and planning are keys to success – and positive thinking is vital to
ensure that self belief is the order of every day. But there is one secret
weapon that sets the winners apart from those who fall short of their true
potential – and that is the sheer power of self-discipline. Without it, it is all
too easy to lose your focus and be easily distracted from your goal.

How many times do most people attempt to
achieve a goal before giving up? Would you guess 1, 2 or 3? The real answer is
more likely to be 0.5. The majority of people give up before they even try.

Self discipline is a hard-won
habit that will tune up your brain for focused action, even when you would
prefer to be doing something else. Strengthening your capacity for
self-discipline is like building a personal investment fund for future success.
Becoming more self-disciplined today will help you to deliver greater and more positive
results tomorrow. In my experience, it is the core trait that sets successful
people apart in every field of
endeavour. It’s all about what are you prepared to do to get the outcome you desire.
Without it, nothing will ever happen and nothing will ever change. Those
who are willing to use their time wisely, as well as putting in the hours and the
effort, are more likely to achieve their goals – on time, and ahead of the
competition.