YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

Leading with Passion, Purpose and Power When we see our differences as strengths, it invites us to explore complexity as authentic leaders and leads to breakthroughs. Through difference, we engage in provocative conversations where we can successfully lead. We invite everyone to share their experience and for us all to remain optimistic as we become catalysts for change within ourselves and our families, organizations and communities.

Gratitude for our Sponsors!Thank-you for supporting our work. Your generosity is helping to advance women’s leadership in our community. Empowering Sponsors:-Eide Bailly-Jerry’s Body Shop -South Central College-Diana Gabriel, PCC Professional Certified Coach -Sowelu Institute-ProGrowth Bank

Media Sponsors:-KTOE-Minnesota 93-Events & Expos-River Valley Woman

Luncheon Sponsors:-Pepsi-SnellMaschka, Riedy & Ries Law Firm-Snell -I+S Group

�1Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

Passion

“Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.” From www.urbandictionary.com

Purpose

“The force that drives us.”From www.urbandictionary.com

Power

Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. -Tao Te Ching

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Passion | Purpose | Power

YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

�2Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

Difference as Strength, Complexity as Breakthrough Lex invited us to explore why the world needs more authentic women leaders from everywhere. • Seeing power as agency, the

power to do something versus the power over

• Exploring our unique individual roles in creating systems change (blending power & authenticity)

• The power of “critical connections” and critical moves rather than critical mass

• The importance of acting locally - by starting with our UnConference!

Lex Schroeder, writer, editor, speaker, lead blogger and instructor for Take the Lead Woman. Editor with The Lean Enterprise Institute, the leading research organization on lean thinking and practice.

The UnConferenceThe UnConference portion of our 3rd Annual YWCA's Women's Leadership Conference was hosted by Lex Schroeder and Katie Boone, of Sowelu Institute. We invited conference participants into a delightful, useful process for participants.

Participants self-organized based on what is important to them, they created and managed their own agenda of break out conversations around our central question: When it comes to women's leadership, what are the conversations we need to be having at this time? What's next?!

The result was surprisingly powerful and extremely effective in connecting and strengthening our relationships by building shared understanding and deeper insights into what's next for women's leadership in our region.

Lex Schroeder and Katie Boone opened up the UnConference

Participants exploring the marketplace of conversations to engage in

• How do we build and inspire male allies while remaining authentic?!

• How do we talk to ourselves about ourselves? And others?!

• Mankato is changing and becoming more diverse. How can we support silent emerging leaders to become more recognized?!

• How do we stop women against women abuse in the workplace and beyond? What’s next, how do we be the solution?!

• How do we empower women in a male dominated field?!

• How do we know when and how to grow a business with a good balance of life and relationships?!

• Why are there not many African America Women leaders in Mankato, or support for them?

Conversations Called for the UnConference:

YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

�3Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

“Acting locally allows us to be inside the movement and flow of the system. Changes in small places affect the global system… We never know how our small activities will affect others through the invisible fabric of our connectedness. In this exquisitely connected world, it’s never a questions of ‘critical mass’. It’s always about critical connections.” ~Grace Lee Boggs

How do we build and inspire male allies while remaining authentic? Caller: Deanna Gregel

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • Mothers of Sons = Raising respectful mates • Relating to male dominated business • Values, Counselor • Managers of men, level the playing field • Overthinking the issue • Culture of business • “Must be me” • Build allies in your field • Consistency – common ground • Be Genuine • The trouble I have is… what if being authentic

is trying to create something (a bond) by developing common interests? i.e. creeping into the “boys club”

Next Steps: • How do we build trust through a third party? • Stay consistent

UNCONFERENCE REPORT OUT Passion | Purpose | Power

How do we talk to ourselves about ourselves? And others? Caller: Cathy Brennan

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • We have negative thoughts that come from

our upbringing, self-analysis, we hold ourselves to high standards, and we lack self-confidence

Next Steps: • Ways to improve our self-talk are: think

more positively, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, don’t “should” on ourselves, let go of expectations of our mothers, reward ourselves for what we do well, and set goals

YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

�4Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

Mankato is changing and becoming more diverse. How can we support silent emerging leaders to become more recognized? Caller: Aisha, Ayan from YWCA

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • Weekly conversation with different women –

Hangout on Google weekly or regularly. • Having a support group more than once • A small group to support young women

leaders • Open conversations about how to

concretely support and network the “silent” leaders

• We need to be on the ballot - city council and county board are very difficult to step into

• Thought about my daughters and decided not to be silent

• Others put me in a box - but get to know me first, don’t assume, lots of judgement

Next Steps: • Create an online forum for women who are

LOUD SILENT LEADERS • Or coffee and tea at the Coffee Hag • YWCA All women rise group for the “Tea

Party Yvonne” Who will take responsibility for re-convening the group and how will you plan to meet?: • Jaqueline Karsten - Coffee Hag • Annelies Hafenmeister, MSU Mankato

“Whatever the problem, community is the solution.” ~Margaret Wheatley

How do we stop women against women abuse in the workplace and beyond? What’s next, how do we be the solution? Caller: Kelly Hanson Magnuson

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • Trust your gut, know when to pull back

and when to speak up • Insecurity and feelings of being

threatened are major problem perpetuates

• Focus on positive feedback rather than blatant criticism

• What are your intentions? What is your approach in giving/stopping criticism?

• Pick your battles (limited), where am I at? Pause. Is it worth it?

• Band together Next Steps: • Be forgiving, be constructive, be

together Who will take responsibility for re-convening the group and how will you plan to meet?: • All individually responsible, will stop

women on women abuse when we see it and refuse to perpetuate the problem

YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

�5Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

How do we empower women in a male dominated field? Caller: Becky

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • Building networks • Confidence vs competence • Finding male allies – standing up for each

other • How do you maintain your emotions? The

more you do it, the better you get. • Using humor • Never let them see you sweat • CPAs/Construction • Women meetings to empower each other • Women energy – arrow pushing down by

men • Empowering each other, stand up for

yourself and others. • We are not alone!!!

How do we know when and how to grow a business with a good balance of life and relationships? Caller: Amanda Gerdts

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • Balance is ever-moving. • Success is not a destination, but a

direction. • Don’t be afraid to “WIG” and have

“Wildly Important Ideas” • Prioritizing and writing goals are essential

for both the family and business balance • Don’t be afraid to write it and use a

calendar • A – Have to B – Really want to C – Do

when I can • Don’t be afraid of yourself and your

ideas/dreams Next Steps: • Write it down • Re-visit after 90 days • Take a brief break before starting again

Why are there not many African American Women leaders in Mankato, or support for them? Caller: Caprice Agunbiade

Summary of Key Ideas, Insights & Takeaways: • No outlets to identify with as African

American • More career opportunities • Create relationships (critical connections)

so we advocate for each other • Focus on race, not just immigrants

YWCA Women’s Leadership Conference November 5 - 6, 2014

�6Hosted and Harvested by Katie Boone with Sowelu Institute and Lex Schroeder, Partner in Co-Learning

CLOSING POEM - SUMMARY OF OUR TIME TOGETHER

Passion | Purpose | Power

Women are absolutely awesomebut sometimes we forget thatrelease the thoughts that you don’t knowbecause when you know what you know what you knowyou stand up for who you are - what you want the competition is overyou have the power to dowhat you need to docause when you use your poweryou have more powerto do what you dogo where you are celebrated not where you are toleratedstart loving you - being yourself come to the tablestand up - step up - speak up because we’ve got some business to doletting go of gender roles and gender ruleswatching or unexpected teachersmoving to our edge - our path becomes clearlooking in my heart - there was no map, no road forwardI had to trust and move forward with couragegoing up was not an option waking up everyday in gratitude clarifying my vision and purposebecause there’s not a whole lot of time on this planetwe’ve got work to do, so we better get coin itby loving deeply, following your truth don’t worry - you’ll learn along the way we can figure it out togetheryou gotta bring people alongand not everyone will be willing to come alongchange is hard - it doesn’t happen overnightWhere is the Minnesota Nice? don’t take it personally

don’t let it get under your skin Teach the personAsk the questionsOpen the doors fur us toshare our storyfollow your intuition find your moral courage opening your mind and heart todo the cha-chadance of the optimistlearning and teachingthrough our storiesknocking on the 1,001 doorit’s our resilience & persistencelearning to fail fastand get back up again focus on your tribefind your self worth firstfinding the juicy pulse of what popsand stimulates our sensestransgressing beyond the rulesto create something newto live your passion, live passionatelydiscovering our erotic truths it don’t sword to act like a manhow people see us is how people treat usand it can mess with our self-identitycoming back - to the safe enough spacefor a conversation at this family tableas a mother - as a women - I can take a riskguided by my purposeI do my cha-cha as a unifiedauthentic leadermaking change one conversation at a time