Our Favorite Moments From #LinkageWIL | Day 3

During Day 3 of Linkage’s Women in Leadership Institute^™, we unpacked an incredible amount of meaningful and thought-provoking information.

If you haven’t checked out the conversation on social media, now is the time to do so! Many of our attendees have shared what has inspired them at #LinkageWIL, and we are touched by their stories. Find us on Twitter or Instagram for an insider’s look.  

We’ve collected some of our favorite takeaways from Day 3 below. Take a peek–and if you spot something you like, be sure to share it with colleagues or friends.

And in case you missed out, we’ve got coverage from Day 1 and Day 2.

Keynote: Molly Fletcher on Being Influential

Dubbed “The Female Jerry McGuire”, former sports agent Molly Fletcher shared her story of success as a powerful women leader in a male-dominated, super competitive field – the world of professional sports. In her keynote, she focused on the importance and the power of negotiation, and how that aligns with being an influential leader.  Molly discussed the importance of relationship building to best position yourself to influence, and gave us tools and her best tips to propel each our us on our own leadership journeys.

What we learned: 

• The ability to connect is imperative to being influential. 
• Truly influential leaders are their own biggest advocates, they ask for what they want and need (and receive it).
• Influential leaders impact important organizational decisions, and being able to negotiate in these situations is critical to ensuring the future you want for both yourself, and your organization.
• Who we choose to give our energy to is incredibly important to us as women. 
• Being influential and able to negotiate both require us to deliver messages in a way that leads others to listen and act.

To learn more from Molly, visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

Deep Dive Session: Strategic Networking

Laugh, learn and lean into your authenticity! Networking is an opportunity to share your story and build relationships. This interactive deep-dive session was designed to give the women leaders improv skills that foster confidence, presence, and creativity for connection.

In this session, leaders were able to gain flexibility and storytelling techniques to enjoy the moment. 

What we learned: 

• We need to get out of our comfort zones! Don’t hold back, and never be afraid to interact.
• Be comfortable with your physical and metal state in order to maximize your presence and network effectively.
• Be vulnerable. Everyone is in the same state as you.
• Don’t overthink it! Never be scared of what will come out of your mouth. Your most unique superpower is your uniqueness. No one can be you like you can. Own your authenticity in each interaction.
• Be an active listener. Here’s a tip to foster active listening; when you’re speaking with someone, instead of thinking about what you’re going to say next, be in the moment. Repeat what they are saying to you in your head and truly listen to what they are saying to you, before responding.

Keynote: Shiza Shahid on Being Inspiring

Entrepreneur, technologist, investor, and impact leader Shiza Shahid took to the main stage this afternoon to discuss how far women have come, and how far we still have to go.  She challenged us to consider what’s most important today to further the empowerment of women and reminded us that we can each play a role in the advancement of gender equality in our businesses, our communities, and across the globe.

What we learned:

• There are moments when you have to decide who you are. Be guided by hope, not fear.
• In the business world, silence no longer equals neutrality. Silence is complicity. We need an ethical revolution.
• We need to advocate for ourselves while also mentoring others.
• By engaging others and inspiring them to contribute vs. trying to do it all ourselves, we are advancing the empowerment of our fellow women.
• As leaders, our goal should be to bring out the best in people and our teams. Once we are able to do this, they will have more faith in their own abilities.
• By praising and recognizing the hard work of our team members, we are stimulating a commitment that will inspire them to continue to do their best.
• Let your values and beliefs guide you, this will allow you to lead authentically.

To learn more from Shiza, follow her on Twitter.

Deep Dive Session: Negotiation

Negotiation is a critical leadership skill. A good negotiator, just like a good leader: builds relationships, generates consensus, navigates tough conversations, and achieves goals.

In this session, we discussed the 10 best practices all good negotiators use to close the deal and get results.

What we learned: 

• Ask for what you want, not what you think you’ll get.
• Understand what matters most to the person you’re negotiating with. We spent a lot of time thinking about what we want, but the most powerful negotiation tool we have is our ability to understand the motivations and desires of the person we are negotiating with.
• There are four styles of negotiation, and it is vital that you understand the negotiation style of the person sitting across the table from you. With this understanding, you can tailor your approach and lead with the information that is most important to them. Take this quiz to learn what type of negotiator you are.
• Have the courage to pause and stop talking. State your ask and wait for the response. The pause sends a message about your intention.

Panel: Linkage’s Women in Leadership Executive Impact Award 

Jennifer McCollum, Linkage CEO, took the stage at #LinkageWIL this afternoon to introduce and acknowledge our 2019 Executive Impact Award Winners.

Wall Street Veteran and Co-Chair of #LinkageWIL, Carla Harris moderated the conversation on stage with all four winners. These incredible women leaders shared their insights on who inspires them, what being an authentic leader means, why proving our value is such a challenge, and advice for future leaders. They were candid and forthcoming—sharing stories from their childhood, family, and the professional experiences that have helped shape who they are today.

Each one of these outstanding women leaders have encouraged and inspired women within their organizations–and in their communities. They each exemplify what it means to be a purposeful leader.

Our heartfelt congratulations to the 2019 award recipients:

• Corinne Mescher, Vice President Marketing, Global Brand Strategy at MGA Entertainment
• Barbara Turner, President and Chief Operating Officer at Ohio National Financial Services.
• Nancy R. Corcoran-Davidoff, Executive Vice President, Chief Experience & Human Resources Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health

Since 1999, Linkage’s Women in Leadership Institute^™ (WIL), a four-day immersive learning experience, has equipped more than 10,000 women with actionable strategies to overcome the seven hurdles women often face in the workplace.