NextUp Leadership Summit 2022 Takeaways and Action Items

NextUp held our annual Leadership Summit in October, our first back in person since 2019. Over three jam-packed days of learning, we connected with one another and took in inspiration and strategies that will change the working world for the better for women.

On our first day, Katie Goodman encouraged us to use our creativity to get our ideas out there without letting perfectionism or our inner fears hold us back, while Christine Ruggiero showed us all the value of giving ourselves permission to have our emotions as we process hard things - then getting ourselves together and being the leaders we need to be. We have permission to have our feelings, and then move forward!

The amazing Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman encouraged us to use data-centric research on diversity, equity, and inclusion, because that is preventative care for an organization. We can each be a sponsor instead of a gatekeeper, intentionally becoming someone who ushers in and equips the next generation.

Lorraine Stromski gave us great advice about using our influence and our voice to support women. Development and opportunities to upskill can improve a diverse talent pipeline. As leaders, we also need to be vulnerable, owning our mistakes and lesson learned, and having truth tellers in our lives. That makes us better leaders.

The Women in Tech panel was amazing. Female leaders in the tech industry must be intentional about creating spaces under them to bring a diverse group of women in, and we have to measure where we are and where we want to go in improve female representation in the tech industry. Inclusion must be approached systemically, and leaders need to sponsor, not just mentor those they are bringing in.

Derek Lewis told us that, when we gain positions of power, we need to use them. We should immediately take responsibility to hire diversity in thought, skills, and looks. And we need to make the changes that are translated into the day to day. These are the minute-by-minute actions of every-day business function which are necessary to create real change and be a go-getter and a go-giver!

There was so much more learning than we could possibly sum up in a single article – and if you weren’t there, we want you with us next year. Check out nextupisnow.org to learn more about NextUp, our mission to Advance All Women, and our two annual national conferences.

NOTE: NextUp (formerly known as the Network of Executive Women) is a learning and leadership community working to bring professional women, allies and corporate partners together to champion gender equity and advance all women in their careers. Currently, NextUp represents 14,000 members and 300+ regional and corporate sponsors. Learn more at nextupisnow.org.