Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
International Women’s Day celebrated
Panelists advise gathering to be bold leaders of change in workplace
BENTONVILLE — Panelists at the annual International Women’s Day celebration in Northwest Arkansas told audience members to “be brave and bold.”
“Whether you’re running for office, starting a grassroots movement, getting out there and doing work, showing up and being bold, looking past ourselves and mental blocks is half the battle,” said Sarah Adams- Cornell, a Native American activist.
More than 200 people gathered at Old High Middle School on Tuesday for the event, which was hosted by Bentonville’s Rotary Club and sponsored by WalMart Women’s Economic Empowerment. Its theme was “Be Bold for Change: Women Speak.” It coincided with International Women’s Day worldwide, which is today.
The Rotary Club uses proceeds from the event to help pay for student scholarships, and several Old High Middle School students watched from the balcony.
“This is the 40th year International Women’s Day promotes the advancement of women and girls,” said Beth Keck, a practitionerin- residence at the John Hopkins University who founded the local event with her husband. Keck earned her education with the help of a Rotary scholarship back when the club was only for men and she wanted to celebrate how far the club has come.
Keck moderated a panel discussion by Adams-Cornell; Stephanie Ellis, principal of Aggipah River Tours; Jessie Wallace Burchfield, director of the Bowen Law Library at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and Kyla Templeton, founder of Girls Bike Bentonville.
Panelists spoke briefly about their backgrounds in male-dominated industries and then moved to the topic of being bold leaders of change in the workplace.
Ellis, now principal at a river trip company her father started, said her family intended for her brother to take over the family business. Her initial lessons in bringing change were subtle and guided by following her natural interest, she said.
Burchfield emphasized women’s leadership doesn’t have to look the same as men’s traditional leadership styles. Instead, it can be quiet, incremental and supportive of others.
“You can be bold by standing up each day and doing what’s right,” Burchfield said. “You don’t have to be loud or unruly; just do what you think is right. That takes courage.”
Adams- Cornell said many women feel a barrier with enacting change because they often wait for the right conditions or struggle with self doubt.
“We feel like we have to wait for the perfect time to start something,” she said.
Te mp l e t o n a g re e d making way for change shouldn’t seem so intimidating, since it doesn’t happen immediately.
“A lot of times change is gradual; you don’t realize it until it’s happened,” Templeton said. Her creating Girls Bike Bentonville happened that way, she said. “As we follow our hearts, that in itself makes big change for the community.”
Speakers also explored the many ways personal life could impact their roles in the office. Burchfield said working out a civil relationship with her ex- husband allowed her to attend law school with greater peace of mind, knowing child care wasn’t an issue. Templeton emphasized establishing each family’s priorities as crucial. Adams- Cornell said the notion of work-life balance is something only women talk about, which she said points to an inequality in family responsibility. Adams- Cornell said women maintaining their careers make for happier children when their mothers are happy also.
The event concluded with a presentation by Rotary of Bentonville of a $500 donation to Stacey Harris of Old High Middle School for programming support.