I can’t believe it now but it was nearly seven years ago that I first attended
seven years ago that I first attended
seven years ago that I first attended Syracuse University with the goal of
Syracuse University with the goal of
Syracuse University with the goal of getting into politics in one day
getting into politics in one day
getting into politics in one day becoming a politician naturally in doing
becoming a politician naturally in doing
becoming a politician naturally in doing so my first week on campus I decided to
so my first week on campus I decided to
so my first week on campus I decided to join student government when I got to
join student government when I got to
join student government when I got to the meeting I realized I was one of very
the meeting I realized I was one of very
the meeting I realized I was one of very few women who are in this auditorium I
few women who are in this auditorium I
few women who are in this auditorium I thought maybe it was the start of the
thought maybe it was the start of the
thought maybe it was the start of the year and the attendance was just low but
year and the attendance was just low but
year and the attendance was just low but in reality there were just not many
in reality there were just not many
in reality there were just not many women involved whatsoever they weren’t
women involved whatsoever they weren’t
women involved whatsoever they weren’t involved with the general body they
involved with the general body they
involved with the general body they weren’t involved all the way up to the
weren’t involved all the way up to the
weren’t involved all the way up to the executive level so I started doing some
executive level so I started doing some
executive level so I started doing some research and I wanted to find out when
research and I wanted to find out when
research and I wanted to find out when was the last time we had a woman serving
was the last time we had a woman serving
was the last time we had a woman serving as president what I found was there were
as president what I found was there were
as president what I found was there were less than one-sixth of our student body
less than one-sixth of our student body
less than one-sixth of our student body presidents in history who were women and
presidents in history who were women and
presidents in history who were women and I was setting out to change that by the
I was setting out to change that by the
I was setting out to change that by the time I was a sophomore I had become
time I was a sophomore I had become
time I was a sophomore I had become student body vice president and I knew I
student body vice president and I knew I
student body vice president and I knew I had the intention to run for president
had the intention to run for president
had the intention to run for president so I started looking at numbers across
so I started looking at numbers across
so I started looking at numbers across the country to see if other universities
the country to see if other universities
the country to see if other universities had the same problems as Syracuse and as
had the same problems as Syracuse and as
had the same problems as Syracuse and as it turns out there were lots of schools
it turns out there were lots of schools
it turns out there were lots of schools who are at the same place they had a lot
who are at the same place they had a lot
who are at the same place they had a lot of participation from their female
of participation from their female
of participation from their female students but they weren’t necessarily
students but they weren’t necessarily
students but they weren’t necessarily serving at the executive levels and
serving at the executive levels and
serving at the executive levels and unfortunately that’s represented in our
unfortunately that’s represented in our
unfortunately that’s represented in our government we look at Congress or our
government we look at Congress or our
government we look at Congress or our state legislatures so here’s a picture
state legislatures so here’s a picture
state legislatures so here’s a picture of several of the women who have served
of several of the women who have served
of several of the women who have served in the United States Senate right now
in the United States Senate right now
in the United States Senate right now we’re at an exciting time we’re 21 women
we’re at an exciting time we’re 21 women
we’re at an exciting time we’re 21 women are serving and that’s historic looking
are serving and that’s historic looking
are serving and that’s historic looking at Congress overall there’s only 19
at Congress overall there’s only 19
at Congress overall there’s only 19 percent of women when we look to state
percent of women when we look to state
percent of women when we look to state legislatures 25 percent of state
legislatures 25 percent of state
legislatures 25 percent of state legislatures across the country are
legislatures across the country are
legislatures across the country are composed of women and when we look at
composed of women and when we look at
composed of women and when we look at governor’s we only have 5 out of 50 with
governor’s we only have 5 out of 50 with
governor’s we only have 5 out of 50 with the record being six clearly we need a
the record being six clearly we need a
the record being six clearly we need a change now this isn’t to say that women
change now this isn’t to say that women
change now this isn’t to say that women are serving in political roles in a way
are serving in political roles in a way
are serving in political roles in a way that’s better than men or vice versa we
that’s better than men or vice versa we
that’s better than men or vice versa we just see things differently and we bring
just see things differently and we bring
just see things differently and we bring different issues to the table when it
different issues to the table when it
different issues to the table when it comes to the women in the Senate it has
comes to the women in the Senate it has
comes to the women in the Senate it has shown that they have been more
shown that they have been more
shown that they have been more collaborative with each other whether
collaborative with each other whether
collaborative with each other whether they’re Democrats
they’re Democrats
they’re Democrats Republicans it’s the women who are
Republicans it’s the women who are
Republicans it’s the women who are coming together to reach across the
coming together to reach across the
coming together to reach across the aisle and get to solving our nation’s
aisle and get to solving our nation’s
aisle and get to solving our nation’s most critical issues whether it’s the
most critical issues whether it’s the
most critical issues whether it’s the fiscal cliff or just being the ones who
fiscal cliff or just being the ones who
fiscal cliff or just being the ones who come in when there’s a blizzard in
come in when there’s a blizzard in
come in when there’s a blizzard in Washington DC as Lisa Murkowski pointed
Washington DC as Lisa Murkowski pointed
Washington DC as Lisa Murkowski pointed out in this c-span video women were the
out in this c-span video women were the
out in this c-span video women were the only ones who showed up to work last
only ones who showed up to work last
only ones who showed up to work last year when there was a massive Blizzard
year when there was a massive Blizzard
year when there was a massive Blizzard women see things differently and
women see things differently and
women see things differently and unfortunately there are a lot of things
unfortunately there are a lot of things
unfortunately there are a lot of things that are preventing women from getting
that are preventing women from getting
that are preventing women from getting excited about these roles and serving in
excited about these roles and serving in
excited about these roles and serving in them and this comes all the way back
them and this comes all the way back
them and this comes all the way back down to high school in college so many
down to high school in college so many
down to high school in college so many young women say they want to be
young women say they want to be
young women say they want to be President one day raise your hand if you
President one day raise your hand if you
President one day raise your hand if you wanted to be president at some point in
wanted to be president at some point in
wanted to be president at some point in your life yeah I see some hands
your life yeah I see some hands
your life yeah I see some hands unfortunately while you get older that
unfortunately while you get older that
unfortunately while you get older that ambition is lessened and a lot of that
ambition is lessened and a lot of that
ambition is lessened and a lot of that has to do with just the nature of the
has to do with just the nature of the
has to do with just the nature of the game and we have a hand in changing that
game and we have a hand in changing that
game and we have a hand in changing that so when I ran for president and I’ll
so when I ran for president and I’ll
so when I ran for president and I’ll tell you even though I have these
tell you even though I have these
tell you even though I have these ambitions i sat out for a while and said
ambitions i sat out for a while and said
ambitions i sat out for a while and said you know I don’t think I want to run and
you know I don’t think I want to run and
you know I don’t think I want to run and a lot of that had to do with sexism I
a lot of that had to do with sexism I
a lot of that had to do with sexism I wanted to talk about my vision not the
wanted to talk about my vision not the
wanted to talk about my vision not the color of my lipstick or my blazer or my
color of my lipstick or my blazer or my
color of my lipstick or my blazer or my heels I was also told that I should not
heels I was also told that I should not
heels I was also told that I should not curl my hair I should dress in a way
curl my hair I should dress in a way
curl my hair I should dress in a way that’s less feminine and I should wear
that’s less feminine and I should wear
that’s less feminine and I should wear glasses which is fine because I need
glasses which is fine because I need
glasses which is fine because I need them sometimes but it’s not something
them sometimes but it’s not something
them sometimes but it’s not something that I all of a sudden put on and I’m
that I all of a sudden put on and I’m
that I all of a sudden put on and I’m more capable than well envisioned yes
more capable than well envisioned yes
more capable than well envisioned yes but in leadership No
but in leadership No
but in leadership No so I wanted to make sure that no other
so I wanted to make sure that no other
so I wanted to make sure that no other women had that same issue when it came
women had that same issue when it came
women had that same issue when it came to college campuses so while I was Miss
to college campuses so while I was Miss
to college campuses so while I was Miss Rhode Island I was able to travel across
Rhode Island I was able to travel across
Rhode Island I was able to travel across the country and speak to young women
the country and speak to young women
the country and speak to young women about getting involved in politics and
about getting involved in politics and
about getting involved in politics and bridging this gender gap
bridging this gender gap
bridging this gender gap unfortunately the gender gap exists more
unfortunately the gender gap exists more
unfortunately the gender gap exists more than just politics now at the time when
than just politics now at the time when
than just politics now at the time when I started at Syracuse I didn’t know that
I started at Syracuse I didn’t know that
I started at Syracuse I didn’t know that I was going to be studying cybersecurity
I was going to be studying cybersecurity
I was going to be studying cybersecurity eventually I also didn’t know that
eventually I also didn’t know that
eventually I also didn’t know that cybersecurity was going to be a critical
cybersecurity was going to be a critical
cybersecurity was going to be a critical issue that our nation was facing now I’m
issue that our nation was facing now I’m
issue that our nation was facing now I’m sure we’ve heard a lot about cyber
sure we’ve heard a lot about cyber
sure we’ve heard a lot about cyber recently I’m currently a student at
recently I’m currently a student at
recently I’m currently a student at Salvi Regina University studying
Salvi Regina University studying
Salvi Regina University studying cybersecurity there because
cybersecurity there because
cybersecurity there because cybersecurity and politics of course go
cybersecurity and politics of course go
cybersecurity and politics of course go hand in hand now when we’re looking at
hand in hand now when we’re looking at
hand in hand now when we’re looking at cyber and getting ahead and
cyber and getting ahead and
cyber and getting ahead and cyber threat analysis and really getting
cyber threat analysis and really getting
cyber threat analysis and really getting steps ahead of cyber criminals and
steps ahead of cyber criminals and
steps ahead of cyber criminals and hackers it’s important just like in
hackers it’s important just like in
hackers it’s important just like in Congress that we have people who
Congress that we have people who
Congress that we have people who represent the entire population that
represent the entire population that
represent the entire population that instead of having ten or twenty percent
instead of having ten or twenty percent
instead of having ten or twenty percent women we’re having something that looks
women we’re having something that looks
women we’re having something that looks more like 50 more like our actual
more like 50 more like our actual
more like 50 more like our actual population now when it comes to the
population now when it comes to the
population now when it comes to the computing workforce only 26 percent of
computing workforce only 26 percent of
computing workforce only 26 percent of our entire technological workforce is
our entire technological workforce is
our entire technological workforce is women and again this is something that
women and again this is something that
women and again this is something that starts when girls are younger and they
starts when girls are younger and they
starts when girls are younger and they get discouraged STEM education science
get discouraged STEM education science
get discouraged STEM education science technology engineering and math that’s
technology engineering and math that’s
technology engineering and math that’s something that women lose interest in as
something that women lose interest in as
something that women lose interest in as they’ve gotten older statistically
they’ve gotten older statistically
they’ve gotten older statistically speaking but it’s more crucial now than
speaking but it’s more crucial now than
speaking but it’s more crucial now than ever when looking at cybersecurity these
ever when looking at cybersecurity these
ever when looking at cybersecurity these days only one in every 10 cyber
days only one in every 10 cyber
days only one in every 10 cyber professionals are women and we need that
professionals are women and we need that
professionals are women and we need that kind of thought and the different
kind of thought and the different
kind of thought and the different experiences that women bring to the
experiences that women bring to the
experiences that women bring to the table in order to stay ahead and really
table in order to stay ahead and really
table in order to stay ahead and really protect our critical infrastructure and
protect our critical infrastructure and
protect our critical infrastructure and data from any potential threats and in
data from any potential threats and in
data from any potential threats and in business too unfortunately the numbers
business too unfortunately the numbers
business too unfortunately the numbers are even more grim now it’s not that
are even more grim now it’s not that
are even more grim now it’s not that women are not in business because they
women are not in business because they
women are not in business because they absolutely are
absolutely are
absolutely are but it’s women in c-suites and moving on
but it’s women in c-suites and moving on
but it’s women in c-suites and moving on up the executive chain that we’re not
up the executive chain that we’re not
up the executive chain that we’re not seeing
seeing
seeing now this is Sheryl Sandberg and as many
now this is Sheryl Sandberg and as many
now this is Sheryl Sandberg and as many people know she’s the chief exec she’s
people know she’s the chief exec she’s
people know she’s the chief exec she’s operating officer of Facebook and she’s
operating officer of Facebook and she’s
operating officer of Facebook and she’s also known for her work lean in getting
also known for her work lean in getting
also known for her work lean in getting more women excited about leadership and
more women excited about leadership and
more women excited about leadership and really putting themselves out there in
really putting themselves out there in
really putting themselves out there in the workforce and climbing on up the
the workforce and climbing on up the
the workforce and climbing on up the ladder but when we’re looking at fortune
ladder but when we’re looking at fortune
ladder but when we’re looking at fortune 500 companies out of 500 companies 24%
500 companies out of 500 companies 24%
500 companies out of 500 companies 24% I’m sorry 24 of those companies are led
I’m sorry 24 of those companies are led
I’m sorry 24 of those companies are led by women so 4.4 percent it’s shown that
by women so 4.4 percent it’s shown that
by women so 4.4 percent it’s shown that when you have women who are leading and
when you have women who are leading and
when you have women who are leading and who are at the head of these companies
who are at the head of these companies
who are at the head of these companies they tend to be more profitable and we
they tend to be more profitable and we
they tend to be more profitable and we need more women excited about working
need more women excited about working
need more women excited about working their way up and we also need men in
their way up and we also need men in
their way up and we also need men in this to recognizing that having women at
this to recognizing that having women at
this to recognizing that having women at the head of these organizations will
the head of these organizations will
the head of these organizations will help them when they’re reaching their
help them when they’re reaching their
help them when they’re reaching their audiences and trying to get out there
audiences and trying to get out there
audiences and trying to get out there and make a difference through their
and make a difference through their
and make a difference through their products in their work
products in their work
products in their work so it’s in all of these workforces that
so it’s in all of these workforces that
so it’s in all of these workforces that women are valued and they need to be
women are valued and they need to be
women are valued and they need to be there and we need to encourage them and
there and we need to encourage them and
there and we need to encourage them and not let that ambition get stifled at a
not let that ambition get stifled at a
not let that ambition get stifled at a young age because if we lose that we’re
young age because if we lose that we’re
young age because if we lose that we’re really losing half the talent of our
really losing half the talent of our
really losing half the talent of our workforce now there’s three things I’d
workforce now there’s three things I’d
workforce now there’s three things I’d like you to do first see yourself as
like you to do first see yourself as
like you to do first see yourself as part of that pipeline whether you have
part of that pipeline whether you have
part of that pipeline whether you have ambitions to lead your community and
ambitions to lead your community and
ambitions to lead your community and some capacity of public service
some capacity of public service
some capacity of public service perhaps you’re excited about technology
perhaps you’re excited about technology
perhaps you’re excited about technology and math and you’re a young girl and
and math and you’re a young girl and
and math and you’re a young girl and society is telling you otherwise you
society is telling you otherwise you
society is telling you otherwise you should be interested in something
should be interested in something
should be interested in something different or you have ambitions of
different or you have ambitions of
different or you have ambitions of leaving a major company I want you to
leaving a major company I want you to
leaving a major company I want you to see yourself as part of that pipeline
see yourself as part of that pipeline
see yourself as part of that pipeline and remind yourselves that you need to
and remind yourselves that you need to
and remind yourselves that you need to be there and for men in the audience I
be there and for men in the audience I
be there and for men in the audience I hope that you’ll be dedicated to
hope that you’ll be dedicated to
hope that you’ll be dedicated to recognizing that talent in supporting
recognizing that talent in supporting
recognizing that talent in supporting that talent so these young women realize
that talent so these young women realize
that talent so these young women realize that they really are capable of adding
that they really are capable of adding
that they really are capable of adding to the picture and all of us working
to the picture and all of us working
to the picture and all of us working together will make that happen secondly
together will make that happen secondly
together will make that happen secondly I’d like you to flip the script
I’d like you to flip the script
I’d like you to flip the script oftentimes professions get gendered and
oftentimes professions get gendered and
oftentimes professions get gendered and what I mean by that is well a friend of
what I mean by that is well a friend of
what I mean by that is well a friend of mine actually this is great story she
mine actually this is great story she
mine actually this is great story she had gone into a local school to talk
had gone into a local school to talk
had gone into a local school to talk about our project leading ladies and she
about our project leading ladies and she
about our project leading ladies and she said okay well students I want you to
said okay well students I want you to
said okay well students I want you to tell me what boy jobs are and what girl
tell me what boy jobs are and what girl
tell me what boy jobs are and what girl jobs are and students start throwing
jobs are and students start throwing
jobs are and students start throwing different answers out and of course she
different answers out and of course she
different answers out and of course she says well that’s actually not true those
says well that’s actually not true those
says well that’s actually not true those jobs are open to men and women and we
jobs are open to men and women and we
jobs are open to men and women and we need to stop start socializing young
need to stop start socializing young
need to stop start socializing young women and men at a younger age to
women and men at a younger age to
women and men at a younger age to realize that they’re capable of serving
realize that they’re capable of serving
realize that they’re capable of serving in any capacity for example in terms of
in any capacity for example in terms of
in any capacity for example in terms of flipping the script I love this pantsuit
flipping the script I love this pantsuit
flipping the script I love this pantsuit and the first time I wore it someone
and the first time I wore it someone
and the first time I wore it someone said you know you look like you could be
said you know you look like you could be
said you know you look like you could be First Lady and there’s nothing wrong
First Lady and there’s nothing wrong
First Lady and there’s nothing wrong with being first lady I’m sure I’d
with being first lady I’m sure I’d
with being first lady I’m sure I’d really enjoy that lifestyle but I said
really enjoy that lifestyle but I said
really enjoy that lifestyle but I said you know what I look like the president
you know what I look like the president
you know what I look like the president right
now finally when we’re talking about I
now finally when we’re talking about I am statements I want you to remind
am statements I want you to remind
am statements I want you to remind yourself I am a leader and I am a
yourself I am a leader and I am a
yourself I am a leader and I am a trailblazer especially if you’re going
trailblazer especially if you’re going
trailblazer especially if you’re going into one of these fields and breaking
into one of these fields and breaking
into one of these fields and breaking down barriers that haven’t been broken
down barriers that haven’t been broken
down barriers that haven’t been broken down before in the words of one of my
down before in the words of one of my
down before in the words of one of my favorite leading ladies Eleanor
favorite leading ladies Eleanor
favorite leading ladies Eleanor Roosevelt do one thing each day that
Roosevelt do one thing each day that
Roosevelt do one thing each day that scares you remind yourself that you are
scares you remind yourself that you are
scares you remind yourself that you are fearless you are courageous and you are
fearless you are courageous and you are
fearless you are courageous and you are needed to make a difference and together
needed to make a difference and together
needed to make a difference and together men and women can do excellent things we
men and women can do excellent things we
men and women can do excellent things we just need women at the table thank you
just need women at the table thank you
just need women at the table thank you so much
”
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