“Drew Faust made history this past Friday when she was formally installed as Harvard University's first female president. The prolific scholar and academic leader was honored with two days of celebrations and convocations, culminating in Friday's grand procession featuring university representatives from around the globe. Harvard now joins the University of Cambridge, MIT, and Princeton University as the fourth Ivy League school to be headed by a woman president.” White House Project President, Marie Wilson, who attended her induction last week, had this to say about the “tremendous significance of this event,” and “the road Faust had traveled to achieve the position. She got to this place by resisting messages that dampen many a woman’s ambition to this day. She resisted the usual messages about the role of women – a task made evermore difficult as a privileged southern woman pushed to be a perfect girl: quiet and obedient, curtsies and all. She resisted the template offered to her, opting to be called “Drew” instead of “Catherine;” marching for civil rights and against the Vietnam War; and going on to earn a doctorate in American Civilization.”
The White House Project
The road to success, for many women, holds many challenges. It is so important to have a vision or and intention and to hold to it through these challenging times. There are many great roles awaiting women – opportunities for us to contribute in ways and places where we have not contributed in the past. The world is crying for our talents, abilities and feminine wisdom. It is up to us to step into this place of power and contribute at our highest level.
Where are you holding back?
What is your greatest unexpressed idea or contribution?
Picture yourself having achieved this. Make your first step towards creating this contribution.
Maureen Simon
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