Learning how to Lead with Intention: The 2022 Annual Purdue Women’s Conference (1 of 4)

On June 9-10 I had the privilege to attend the Purdue Alumni Network’s Annual Women’s conference. Organized and hosted by Purdue for Life, the overarching goal is to motivate, uplift and connect.

This year’s conference, held at the Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, focused on wellness and growth in both our personal and professional lives: in no particular order, I am going to dive into my main takeaways.

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TAKEAWAY 1: Surround yourself with those that lift you up, and lift them in return

 There was a wide array of speakers and presenters from a multitude of fields: Government, Marketing, Psychology, Corporate Leadership … all high-level leaders and achievers with amazing stories. What did they have in common? They emphasized the importance of mental well-being, of avoiding burnout, and of surrounding yourself with a team.  

 Many times throughout the 2-day event, I heard the term “board of directors” – not in the context of business, but in life. Your personal board is the group of people that know you, can align around you, support you, connect you, sponsor, and advocate for you and help you meet your goals. Do you have those people? Are you investing in them and surrounding yourself with them? If you spend time with people that you admire, and who you wish to be like, you will surely grow.

 Another example: Who is in your boat? Melissa St John shared a story of the Inuit and their annual full-tribe whale hunt. Every person has a job, every hand helps, and every body counts. It can’t be done without everyone, and it is done for the good of everyone. The moral of this story? No one person can go it alone, and every person has a strength to contribute. Find your tribe, fill your boat, and surround yourself with people that can bring strength where you are lacking, and support where you are in need. And, most importantly, do the same for them.

 Possibly the most important takeaway here: your biggest legacy isn’t what you have done, but who you have helped and what you have given back. It’s important to take every bit of support, advice and encouragement; but if you’re not passing it on, then what was it for? As we rise up the ladder, fill our cups with knowledge, and move forward in life, it is imperative that we turn back and lend a hand, and pour into those that come after us. That is the greatest success of all; to create a larger, more complete network of empowered people that is better off with you having been a part of it.

Got a question? Want to work together? Reach out!