Going Beyond Limits Set by Others... Especially Yourself!
by Greta Franklin, an
experienced outdoors- and business woman as well as an awesome storyteller
A soft, knowing chuckle rose from the crowd as Emilie Cortes described how her mountaineering training mindset tended to differ slightly from her majority male climbing partners. Throughout the event entitled, "Women on Top: Lessons for Life and Business from the Mountains," Ms. Cortes tied together perspectives from the wild world of mountaineering with the structured world of business.
The San Francisco Chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE) hosted the occasion with co-sponsors Net Impact San Francisco Chapter, Net Impact Silicon Valley Chapter, Future Women Leaders, and Charles Schwab & The Women’s Interactive Network. The event which took place Thursday, July 27, is the first in YWSE’s new series called, “Life Lessons I Learned While Having Fun.”
Going beyond the limits set by others, as well as self, was a consistent theme throughout Ms. Cortes' presentation. As a sales executive for Axioma, Inc, Ms. Cortes has spent years growing a career successfully in a male-dominated profession. Her passion for glacial climbing has paralleled this success as she overcomes challenges in yet another male-dominated arena. By embracing her female prowess, she has come to appreciate her inherent abilities to communicate, to set goals and evaluate proper preparation and to take on fear face-to-face.
Whether working to get a client to give her the same level of respect as her male counterpart, or getting an all-male climbing team to realize she can and will carry her own weight, Ms. Cortes is up to the challenge. As women we tend to generalize certain aspects of our worth- and the "Women On Top" presentation helped bring some core considerations into focus.
At the end of the presentation attendees were encouraged to gather in small groups and share business insecurity or limiting perspective to which fellow attendees could offer personal insights or alternative thought processes. Eager participants shared such challenges with one another, receiving words of encouragement with regards to embracing our abilities to think methodically, to listen to and follow our hearts, and to move beyond personal limitations we have created for ourselves. The power of women coming together to support one another in their visions was widely felt as the evening came to a close.
* * * * * *
What can you do to be
ready for the unexpected tests of your will and composure, whether in a
business environment or stranded for the night at 13,000 feet?
by Christine Sculati,
a nonprofit consultant, who
likes to likes to bike, swim in the Bay, play soccer and climb in the mountains
in her spare time
As an enthusiast for mountain environments and the physical and mental preparation required to reach the most sublime places in the world, I eagerly attended “Women on Top: Lessons for Life and Business from the Mountains,” hosted by Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE) on July 23, 2009 in the Charles Schwab auditorium in San Francisco.
The inspirational talk and slide presentation featured mountaineer and businesswoman Emilie Cortes and was co-sponsored by Net Impact San Francisco Chapter, Net Impact Silicon Valley Chapter, Future Women Leaders and the Women’s Interactive Network of Charles Schwab. Emilie’s presentation was the first in YWSE’s new series called, “Life Lessons I Learned While Having Fun.”
Whether it be mountain climbing or any other rewarding activity, Emilie made a good case for pushing your limits to unleash your potential and do what you love to do. She also answered the important question of: What can you do to be ready for the unexpected tests of your will and composure, whether in a business environment or stranded for the night at 13,000 feet?
Although conference rooms in urban skyscrapers do not have a lot in common with glacier-covered mountains, Emilie, a sales executive for Axioma Inc., recognizes parallel themes while navigating both worlds, especially for women: communication, goal-setting, preparation and tackling fear.
It turns out that Emilie’s business skills helped her build a plan to become a successful high altitude mountain climber: talk to experts, follow instructions and get training. She said that she was never known to be athletic and was not in shape when she started five years ago. But since then she has reached the summits of several technical peaks, from California’s Sierra Nevada to volcanoes in Ecuador, and she participated in a fundraiser called “Climb to Fight Breast Cancer.”
Following Emilie’s inspirational presentation, a collective
wisdom emerged:
- Break the habit of limiting yourself. Limitations are oftentimes internal, not external.
- Prepare and persevere. Take one step at a time. Be methodical in a way that works for you. Respect your choices.
- Set ambitious but achievable goals. Some goals seem very far away, but if you break them down into milestones, the goal begins to feel much more attainable.
- Balance fear and risk and know when to be cautious. Learn how to breathe. Calm your inner voice. Learn that you can handle more than you previously thought.
- Recognize the importance of communication and leadership skills. Know yourself and communicate your real or perceived limitations. Don’t blame. Push through. You can have the same positive impact on others. Help them get to the next step.
- Find new ways to respond when being judged in a “man’s world.” Use humor. Be honest about the weight you are carrying, and recognize the significance of your contributions to a team.
My Take
After the event, YWSE-SF Board Member Nelli Theyel asked, “What made the night distinctive for you personally?”
What resonated with me was the importance of self-discovery and lifelong learning. I first gained clarity about my values and ambitions on a six-month adventure in South America 13 years ago. The journey was full of discovery. I lived in a rainforest with an indigenous family, many miles away from a road; learned to navigate a different society and culture; became much more self-aware and was endlessly amazed by the rich natural and cultural heritages of Ecuador and Peru. I also hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and reached the top of a 16,475-foot volcano called Tungurahua in central Ecuador. The adventures challenged my will and endurance. Yet my mind felt free. I came back with a new sense of purpose.
My need to learn and explore continues. The more I learn,
the more I realize what I don’t know. And along the way, there are still hurdles,
usually mental ones. The workshop
exercises led by Han Pham, YWSE board member, helped us relate the messages in
Emilie’s presentation to our ambitions and perceived obstacles. We turned to
others in the room to share ideas and experiences. The room buzzed with energy.
This is what is great about YWSE. They design events to share knowledge, create
supportive environments and encourage women to be leaders in their fields.
About "YWSE's Take On..."
We have heard from many of you that although you sometimes cannot join us live for our events, you still want to find a way to be a part of them and keep learning and growing along with us."YWSE's Take On..." is a new regular feature of the YWSE website and a benefit of membership. These insightful blog articles follow up each of our events and bring theYWSE experience home to you. It is a chance to hear from your fellow YWSE members as they share their personal insights from experiencing our events and programs. Best of all, it is an opportunity for our wider YWSE audience to share in the lessons from our events even if you couldn't join us in person. We hope you enjoy these stories as you get to know more about the amazing women of YWSE.
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