Power of Women: Southeast holds luncheon to inspire women to be prominent figures in male-dominated world of business

Studies show that women with master's of business administration degrees are likely to be paid less at their first jobs than male peers with the same amount of education and experience. But comments made by students and faculty at Wednesday's Power of Women conference indicate they have their eyes open to the challenges women face upon graduation and are ready to support their peers in becoming successful.

The luncheon is the second held by the Southeast Missouri University Foundation and was a collaboration this year among the foundation, Southeast Missouri State University Athletics and the Women Inspiring Entrepreneurship (WIN!) initiative at the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It focused on highlighting philanthropists, entrepreneurs and extraordinary women of Southeast and connecting female students with opportunities, women mentors and community resources. It was also a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Speakers included Sherri Cliffe, president and owner of Cliffedge Marketing LLC of St. Louis, Kathy M. Mangels, Southest vice president for finance and administration, Dr. Erin R. Fluegge Woolf, assistant professor of management, Cindy Gannon, associate director of athletics and Southeast senior Maddy McKenzie. About 400 women registered for the event, which included an expo of local businesses, community groups and campus organizations.

Fluegge Woolf said it is important to create and support networking opportunities for men and for women, but "when you get a group of women together, there's a special energy that happens."

She pointed to literature that says women are more likely "to exhibit transformational leadership behaviors." Transformational leadership is a charismatic style that produces results by valuing the members of an organization.

Echoing a movement founded by Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook Inc., Fluegge Woolf encouraged attendees to "lean in," to cultivate leadership skills and support competitiveness often negatively characterized as "bossy."

Openly addressing challenges specific to women is key to helping women become successful, she said.

"Talking about the barriers is the first step to breaking them, so it's a welcome discussion in the classroom, even if the stereotypes are painful or awkward to discuss," Fluegge Woolf said.

She has worked to form a network of "strong, fabulous women who support, encourage and uplift" her and encourages others to do the same.

"A good friend of mine says she has her own personal 'board of directors' who fill these roles for her," Fluegge Woolf said. "I love this idea, and I encourage all people to have their own board of directors, too. Doing so is helpful to gain insight, experience and perspective."

Panel discussion

Southeast Missouri State University students Sonya Allen, left, Jordan Cavitt and Malli Tahghighi talk at the Power of Women luncheon Wednesday at the Show Me Center. (ADAM VOGLER)

A panel of women gathered at the luncheon and answered questions about their thoughts on women in the working world and in higher education. The overall balance of females to males at Southeast, according to data supplied on the university website, is 59 percent female to 41 percent male. The women in majors such as education, family studies, pre-nursing and hospitality said their classes were mostly made up of women. In business, finance and accounting classes, though, they said they shared the classroom with just a handful of women.

What do women bring to the workplace?

Women tend to work hard to move up in the business world, because of stereotypes that they aren't able to perform as well as men, Jordan Cavitt said.

"Passion," Meagan Siemer said.

Sonya Allen said women have to work harder to earn respect in the workplace, but bring with them unique talents.

"We are just different. Our creativity is different. It adds to the diversity of the workplace in the business world," she said.

Women are more open to connection through social media and are more open to taking suggestions, Steffie Allerslev said.

What women do you find inspirational?

Anke Ruwette said she discovered recently that she could not easily name any women by whom she was inspired. She began researching women who were in prominent positions through the professional social media site LinkedIn. She said she found Arianna Huffington to be exemplary.

Other famous names mentioned by the group included Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé.

But it was women they met one-on-one, in their hometowns and at college that the women spoke of most passionately.

Hannah Paneitz said she was inspired by "Miss Whelan," a small-business owner in Owensville, Mo.

Jordan Cavitt of Benton, Ky., remembered Community Financial Services Bank president Betsy Flynn as someone who encouraged her.

The creativity of Renaissance owner Sherry Yeager was mentioned by Allen.

Maddy McKenzie said she was grateful to Dr. Heather McMillan, assistant professor of Management, specializing in Human Resources at Southeast Missouri State University. McMillan advised adding a business component to McKenzie's course of study to support her in her goal of directing a physical therapy facility.

"She definitely opened my eyes to what I needed to get to where I want to go."

Chelsea Nesbit said she was encouraged by McKenzie's example.

"She makes me want to live up to what she's done," Nesbit said.

What advice do you have for other women?

"Stay focused. You have to believe in yourself more than anyone else believes in you," Danielle Sampson said.

Ruwette said women shouldn't be afraid to try and possibly fail.

"Failing is part of success," she said.

Student panelists

Sonya Allen

Jordan Cavitt

Malli Tahghighi

Hannah Paneitz

Meagan Siemer

Dani Eastman

Amy Baker

Jessica Mues

Lizzy Michaelree

Maddy McKenzie

Chelsea Nesbit

Victoria Welch

Anke Ruwette

Steffie Allerslev

Danielle Sampson

Ashlee Ross