The Third Annual Women’s Leadership Program Fall Kick-Off Event

Above: Executive mentors joined by Keynote Speaker Ida Castro, Dean Joyce Strawser and Program Director Mike Reuter

Written by: Melissa Vega

The Women’s Leadership Program (WLP) hosted its Annual Fall Kick-Off Dinner in collaboration with the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute, on Wednesday, September 30^th. The Fall Kick-Off Dinner gave the WLP the opportunity to welcome the 39 executive mentors from 32 different companies, including but not limited to: Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, KPMG, Merrill Lynch, Prudential, Wyndham Worldwide, Investors Bank, Assurant and more, who have volunteered to share their learnings and experiences with female students in The Gerald P. Buccino ‘63 Center for Leadership Development.

Above: Women’s Leadership Program mentees

One of the most memorable moments of the WLP Fall Kick-Off Dinner was the presentation of keynote speaker, Ida Castro, the Chairwoman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Castro also carries many other noteworthy titles including: Vice President Government/Community Relations and Chief Diversity Officer at the Commonwealth Medical College, Founder ofthe National Voluntary Mediation Program, Founder of the first Hispanic women’s group in New Jersey, first Hispanic woman to earn tenure as an Associate Professor at Rutgers, and prior Women’s Bureau Director at the U.S. Department of Labor. Among the numerous awards Ms. Castro has received for her advocacy on behalf of minorities and women is the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Puerto Rican Legal and Education Fund.

Above: Program Director Mike Reuter, Dean Joyce Strawser, Keynote Speaker Ida Castro and Executive Director of the Joseph A. Unanue Institute Denisse Oller

Ms. Castro’s speech centered upon empowerment and leadership, particularly re-defining these terms through her personal experiences, both academic and career focused. A few highlights from Ms. Castro’s speech are:

1. Be frank with yourself and search for courage and power.
2. Give yourself permission.
3. Believe in yourself. Empower yourself.
4. Be the best you could be.
5. “Do not leave before you leave” as said by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook.
6. Love what you do, then do something else.
7. Pay it forward.

The WLP would like to thank Ms. Castro and the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute for helping kick-off another year. The WLP would also like to extend a thank you for Dean Strawser of the Stillman School of Business and Mike Reuter, Director of the Center for Leadership Development, for their continuous support. Lastly, this program would not have been able to reach new heights without the dedication of its executive mentors. The WLP would like to thank all mentors for volunteering to prepare, empower, and educate, female members.

• ← Class of 2019 Meets with Executive VP Dave Maurer
• Author Jim Davidson Speaks to the Class of 2019 →