At the school's first-ever Women & Power Summit this Mon., Mar. 4, Upper School students heard anecdotes, insights, and advice from more than 30 powerful, accomplished alumnae, including keynote speaker Christine Lallouette Lagarde '74, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
For over a century, the School has helped students explore the relationship between women and power—and has evolved this relationship through its enduring commitment to educating and empowering young women to reach their fullest potential, effect positive change, and find a way or make one. But this particular event aimed to provide Upper School students with opportunities to dive deeper into the topic, to learn how fellow Holton women have found and navigated power, and to better understand their own existing and potential power.
Alumna Marcia Johnson Bateson '75 is the visionary behind the day. Last year, inspired by the book Women and Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard, she approached Head of School Susanna Jones about facilitating deeper discussion of the topic with students to better empower them to become leaders. Since then, the two have worked with school staff to make the day a reality, and Ms. Jones has made women and power a theme this year, challenging the student body in her fall Convocation speech "to acknowledge that we need power to accomplish goals, to make a difference. Instead of shirking from power for fear of offending, [women] need to think consciously about how we can gain and use power for good."
The Women & Power Summit got off to an electrifying start with Mme. Lagarde's riveting keynote address. Among other topics, she spoke about the people and experiences that shaped her as a leader, what matters most to her, and her work at the IMF, which for more than 70 years has worked to ensure financial stability and create more prosperity around the world and for its 189 member countries. She talked in particular about her mission to increase the organization's focus on women's participation in the economy.
During Mme. Lagarde's tenure at the IMF, she has hired its first female chief economist and instituted, as part of its annual audits of member countries, a review of women's roles in those economies. For example, the IMF examines obstacles that prevent women from accessing the labor market and starting businesses, from attending school and finding safe, secure transportation.
The IMF's close investigation of women's role in economies, Mme. Lagarde said, "is something that did not exist before my time, and I hope it will survive me when I go."
"Women's participation in the economy is of macro-critical importance," she continued. "I was challenged in the early days of my job at the IMF in 2011. I heard many board members say, 'Women in the economy? This is not macro-critical.'... I intended that it was...and now the board is not challenging it."
Mme. Lagarde said she often hears from male counterparts that more opportunities for women will mean fewer for men. "That is just not true," she said. "It's been demonstrated by research that we have done: when you bring more women into the labor force, into an enterprise, or into societies...they bring different skill-sets, different attitudes, their own upbringing, and it enriches the way decisions are made... If measured economically, it improves the productivity...[which] is not just going to benefit women; it's going to benefit the entire enterprise."
In terms of advice for young women, Mme. Lagarde counseled audience members not to wait to become a leader. "You should just accomplish what you feel you have inside yourself."
She also shared a tip she learned from a female mentor early in her career: "dress, address, and redress." In other words, look the part so you're taken seriously, know how to tailor your message and delivery to connect with each specific audience, and be sure to enforce the rules, not as a show of strength but for the health of the organization.
Following her speech, the Alumnae Association presented Mme. Lagarde with the 2019 Distinguished Alumna Award. Students then adjourned to small-group panel discussions, featuring more than 30 other alumnae representing a diverse array of professions and graduating years.
Among the alumnae panelists were a retired deputy district attorney, an art gallery founder, a NASA planetary scientist, a speechwriter for Queen Noor of Jordan, and a former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. The diverse group of speakers discussed topics ranging from the value of networking to the gift of constructive criticism, from the importance of listening as a leader to managing being the only woman in the room.
The school is truly grateful to all those who planned the day, to the Mary Jane Puckett Fund to Advance Women in Power for Good for its endowed support, and to the many alumnae who shared their inspiring stories and poignant insights with Upper School students. Holton plans to host the Summit bi-annually.
View highlights of Mme. Lagarde's remarks below.
See highlights from our alumnae panelists' talks in our "Women & Power" Instagram Story (you must have an Instagram account).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lallouette Lagarde '74 with Head of School Susanna Jones and Holton's Upper School student body.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Nearly 35 powerful, accomplished alumnae shared their stories, insights, and advice with Upper Schoolers at the first-ever Women & Power Summit.