Closing the Leadership Gap

October 9, 2009

During a visit to Barnard, founder and president of the White House Project Marie Wilson invited an audience of more than 100 students, faculty, and alumnae to harness their power, invest in their skills, and effect change: "We can change the whole world with only Barnard women," she enthused, "which, of course, is okay by me."

Wilson's lecture, "Closing the Leadership Gap," was sponsored by Smart Women Lead, a student group which, like the White House Project, encourages women to become politically active. The talk stressed the necessity of women assuming greater leadership roles so that women's advocacy could come from within the existing power structure. When women contribute to the policy discussion, Wilson argued, they bring a novel way of approaching problems and a fresh perspective. "There really is such a thing as a wise, Latina woman," says Wilson, referring to new Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the addition of her viewpoint inherently improves the quality of decisions made.

Wilson's lecture and the work of Smart Women Lead echo President Spar's opening remarks at the event, "There are lots of smart women at Barnard, and we want [and need] them to lead in the future." Despite women such as Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, who have made society more accepting and trusting of women leaders, Wilson was quick to point out that progress toward parity has been woefully inadequate. Still, these women have helped Americans "actually believe that women are in leadership" in this country, in spite of bleak numbers.

Yet Wilson is optimistic. She advises that there are many things women can do to change the leadership gap and provide a support network for one another; each woman needs to affirm and advance the authority and ambition of other women. Issuing an inspiring call to action, she insisted that each member of the audience, in the next 24 hours, invite a woman to assume a role of leadership. "Men wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and think [about running] for president," she said. Women, on the other hand, need greater incitement. The expansion of women's leadership is a crucial task, but one that can be accomplished through diligent work by individuals.

The message conveyed hope and unity, but also urgency, and did not fail to motivate or inspire the women in the audience. In order to expand women's leadership, she said, women must come together and agree, "We won't be divided."

– Anna Scaife '11

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