Grand Rapids ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award 2023 Video Featuring Grand Valley State University, Steelcase, and Treetops Collective

[00:00] I am the first employee that is still case higher 14 years ago in my hometown. [00:08] Because I was a woman in leadership, I was the first and only many times, the [00:13] first and [00:13] only dean, the first and only vice president, and then at Grand Valley, the [00:17] first female [00:18] president. [00:19] I started in a human resources role and years later, I was encouraged to apply [00:25] and explore [00:26] new things in the sales support organization or later on as managing directors. [00:31] So, still case is a garden of opportunities. [00:35] Treat a collective is a nonprofit organization that works with refugees and [00:39] immigrants, mostly [00:40] women. [00:41] To give them a sense of belonging, they have to know what their worth is, they [00:45] have to [00:45] know that they are valued, they have to know that they make a difference. [00:54] So when I was recruited to Grand Valley State University, I was recruited by a [00:58] female board [00:59] chair. [01:00] I was recruited and found that the provost was a woman, that the deans were [01:06] dominated [01:07] by women. [01:08] So, I could see the university already had a great history of really being [01:13] inclusive [01:14] to women. [01:15] Our culture right now in the community, we're building, has very few person- [01:20] only's. [01:21] It's very diverse and around the senior team table, it's nominated by women. [01:26] Around the deans, it's nominated by women. [01:28] Our CEO is a woman, and our executive team also is high in women representation [01:36] . [01:36] And if you look across all company levels, you will see more and more women as [01:42] we aspire [01:43] to have this gender balance. [01:46] So more than that, that they are more than included, they are empowered through [01:50] the work [01:51] and their ability to have an impact. [01:53] One of the initiatives that we've started at Grand Valley is called REP4, and [01:58] that is [01:59] really about allowing juniors and seniors, underserved that includes women, [02:05] people of [02:06] color, those coming out of impoverished backgrounds, to reform education on our [02:12] behalf. [02:13] And we commit to put their ideas into action. [02:16] Having an aspiration is not enough. [02:19] What you need to do is to take action. [02:22] In India, the still case is transforming the workforce by launching our [02:26] business inclusion [02:27] group Woman of Steel, a dynamic initiative that breaks down traditional [02:32] barriers, preventing [02:34] women from working. [02:35] By addressing challenges like transportation, training and cultural norms, we [02:40] empower these [02:41] women to join the labor force. [02:47] I walked with a mother of three who was in a very abusive relationship, and [02:52] they came [02:53] a time when she decided that it was her decision, "I've had enough. [02:58] I want out what do I need to do next?" [03:02] So we come in and say, "What do you want us to do for you?" [03:05] I need a job because I was depending on somebody. [03:08] I need somewhere to stay, and then my children. [03:12] She has gotten out of that toxic relationship, has built a life, and to me, she [03:18] 's a role [03:19] model. [03:20] She's somebody I can look up to and say, "You did it, and you should be proud [03:23] of yourself." [03:24] Young mother taking care of her beautiful children who has a job. [03:29] All this is going to start school this year. [03:30] She has learned how to drive. [03:32] She can speak English. [03:33] She has a steady job, and this is, you say, "Hooray, you did it." [03:38] One of the things I think Athena does is it calls us all to bring someone else [03:44] along, [03:44] another woman. [03:46] When you bring them along, you're changing the opportunities for everyone today [03:52] and everyone [03:53] tomorrow, and hopefully they'll bring someone else along, and they'll change [03:57] the opportunities [03:58] for the next generation as well. [04:00] Our goal in Tritav's is to come and empower women and bring them to a point [04:04] where they [04:05] feel independent, confident, and trust themselves that I am capable of doing [04:11] what I need to [04:12] do for myself and my family. [04:16] Women of Cecile play a critical role in making our business better. [04:21] They are an inspiration to all of us. [04:23] They are an inspiration in our workforce, and they are an inspiration in our [04:28] community [04:28] because they are demonstrating that when you have this passion, this desire, [04:33] and you have [04:34] someone that can help you to connect with opportunity, that can bring the best [04:39] on you, [04:40] you can grow, you can achieve anything you want in life, and also you can [04:45] create a better [04:46] future for your family.