The event
I had the great pleasure of participating both as a guest and speaker at Accenture’s International Women’s Day Celebration (IWD). The 200 attendees enjoyed a combination of live-streaming panels from the firm’s headquarters in NYC (with speakers such as Carolyn Everson of Facebook and Paula Price from Harvard Business School), live panels comprised of leadership from within Accenture (both men and women), as well as “outsiders” such as myself.
The lesson
Woven throughout all the wisdom shared that day was the realization that each and every one of us will surprise ourselves at some point during our lives by living “greater than” we thought possible. Success isn’t about comparing yourself to others- it comes down to acknowledging your strengths and combining them with work that you truly enjoy. Many speakers admitted they had fallen into the same trap all of us have experienced at some point- comparing themselves to others. Ultimately, they all realized that the only one truly worth pleasing in yourself. The result? Creating your own destiny.
My contribution
More insights from the day:
- Step outside your comfort zone
- Embrace change and be adaptable
- Accept guidance and constructive criticism
- Never stop learning
- Develop a personal board of advisors
The constant among all of these is growth. In an ever-evolving world, our relevance is at stake if we continue to choose what is comfortable and safe.
