Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Hosts HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Conference

By Cassie Williams Jones

Almost 300 women from across the state gathered on Jan. 25 for the 7^th Annual HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Conference.

Presented by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, the conference brings together women from various careers to inspire each other and to learn skills to become better leaders. This year’s meeting, held at the Richmond Downtown Marriott, featured an array of prominent women, all leaders in their respective fields.

Sonia Aranza, a global consultant and executive leadership expert at Aranza Communications, delivered the day’s keynote address on leadership. Aranza specializes in global cross-cultural engagement and cross-cultural business strategies, and she lectures internationally on diversity and leadership.

Aranza described her experience growing up as a Filipino immigrant to the U.S. and learning her earliest lessons in leadership from her hard-working parents.

“I don’t recall knowing the word ‘leadership,’ or understanding what it meant, but the lessons of leadership were all around me,” she said.

While keeping the audience of women engaged and laughing, she also made serious points about dealing with personal issues and correcting one’s internal self before trying to lead others. She said leaders should practice self-observation that includes physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual analysis.

“Leaders fail because they fail to lead themselves,” Arazna said. “They fail to lead themselves because they fail to know themselves.”

This message of confronting self and being honest with one’s self carried through the other portions of the conference. Offering similar advice, four panelists shared their experiences of success, and their voyages to self-discovery.

Wanda Mitchell, Ed.D., VCU’s founding vice president for diversity and equity, joined panelists Katherine Winstch, founder of The Mom Complex, a global division of The Martin Agency; Susan Mitchell, president of Guardians of Honor, LLC, a management and technology solutions provider; and Debbie Lennick, vice president of market innovation at Creative, a workplace interiors and technology company, in “Snapshots of Success: A Conversation with Real Women About Their Journey.” Moderated by Mary Foley, speaker, author and radio personality, the group gave personal accounts of learning balance as a successful female leader.

In addition to the speakers, participants also sat in on four sessions throughout the day of concurrent workshops covering topics ranging from leadership philosophy and excellence to personal finance and creativity.

“This conference is about addressing the whole woman – both personally and professionally,” said Nakeina Douglas, Ph.D., director of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute. “Our goal is always to bring quality leadership programming to women from across the state. We present a diversity of sessions, topics and speakers with the hope that women leave feeling inspired, empowered and motivated to achieve whatever is next on their personal and professional agendas.”

The Harris Institute promotes the development of current and emerging leaders in academic institutions, other public, private and nonprofit organizations and communities. Consistent with the mission of VCU, the institute is committed to identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders through leadership training and public policy research.

Established in May 1999 by the VCU Board of Visitors, the Institute was formed in honor of Grace E. Harris, Ph.D., upon her retirement from the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs. Harris has served the university for more than 40 years in the roles of faculty member, dean, vice provost, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and acting president, becoming the highest-ranking woman and highest-ranking African-American in VCU’s history. Today, she remains a distinguished professor at VCU.

“It’s just a great day,” said Harris, who welcomed participants to the event. “Continue to be excited about being a woman.”

The HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development Program is a five-month leadership development experience for current and emerging women leaders who are committed to investing in themselves and their organizations. The program is designed to benefit women at all career levels in public, private, nonprofit and entrepreneurial positions. By engaging in intellectual and experiential workshops, participants learn key principles aimed at enhancing their leadership styles

The institute implements other programs, as well, including the VCU Leadership Development Program, the Department Chairs Certification Program and the Minority Political Leadership Institute. In addition, it also conducts research and disseminates knowledge on the best practices in leadership.


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