Benedictine panel looks at leadership for women of color

No one gets to the top alone, and those who get there should not be afraid to show others the way.

The Women’s Institute for Global Leadership at Benedictine University and Women in the NAACP will present “Where Do We Go from Here: A Collaborative Effort to Advance Women of Color in Leadership,” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Margaret and Harold Moser Center at 1832 Centre Point Circle in Naperville.

Attendees will get a firsthand look at what it is like to serve as a senior-level woman leader, learn tips on preparing themselves for leadership positions, and have the opportunity to network with women business leaders and other women who are aspiring to leadership positions.

The panel features seven distinguished women who will share their experiences of navigating the labyrinth that women often face in leadership roles.

Panelists include Sherrin Ross Ingram, CEO of the International Center for Strategic Planning; Dorothy Abreu, vice president of PNC Bank; Melanie Gitaadji, director of operations at McDonald’s U.S.A.; Nicole Johnson Scales, senior vice president of Fifth Third Bank; Cathy Peng, chief business development officer at Ethertronics; Tanesha D.H. Pittman, executive director of BenU’s Women’s Institute for Global Leadership; and Reema Kapur, attorney at Seyfarth Shaw.

These women will share how they prepared themselves for leadership and talk about the challenges they faced on the road to leadership.

The discussion will be moderated by Sandra Houston of the Women’s Institute for Global Leadership.

The Women’s Institute for Global Leadership at Benedictine University was established to provide women around the world access to unparalleled educational opportunities to grow, advance and lead while sustaining and expanding the gains they have already made in the workplace and society.

The Institute seeks to cultivate an appreciation of the distinctive needs and matters concerning women; empower women with academic, practical and inspirational knowledge and understanding; foster greater collaborative efforts among women worldwide; and advocate for women via executive sponsorships of students and Institute members.

The event is free and open to the public. For details or to register, contact Houston at (630) 829-6126 or womensinstitute@ben.edu.