Rodin draws large crowd for Women in Leadership kick-off

University President Judith Rodin addressed over 175 students in Bodek Lounge Wednesday afternoon in the inaugural speech to a new Women in Leadership Series program. The WILS program is designed to promote the discussion of women in leadership roles and to provide the opportunity for women to meet other female leaders, College senior and WILS planning committee member Laura Schulman noted. College junior and committee member Roshini Thayaparan explained that "as a group of students involved in various facets of the University, we were fairly dismayed by the striking disproportion of women in leadership roles." The WILS programs consist of two basic components, a lecture by a prominent female and an opportunity for randomly-chosen students to have dinner with the speaker, Thayaparan explained. In Rodin's speech, entitled "How Do You Impact The Lives of 4,500 Students?" she drew on her own experiences to illustrate the qualities of an effective female leader. Rodin noted that women must overcome many challenges in an environment in which men do not experience the same "hostility" that women do. The source of this hostility, Rodin explained, are the stereotypes and preconceptions of what a woman should be. Many of these stereotypes create a lack of self-confidence in women, inhibiting their ability to become successful leaders, she noted. Rodin stressed that it is vital that society recognize the equality of woman and men, to prevent only half of our society from retaining positions of leadership, Rodin noted. She continued by emphasizing the qualities that make great leaders, such as the ability to foster a consensus and bring out talents in people. Rodin added that these qualities are more prevalent in women than in men. As a reflection of her own experience in leadership, Rodin noted that she "came to know the value of openness and cooperation." Despite the fact that these qualities are found more often in women then men, Rodin said that many woman go through life asking: "Am I good enough?" Rodin admitted that she also wondered if she was good enough -- but said that she developed much of her confidence during her undergraduate years at the University. "Penn gave me the courage to tackle questions? and to get people thinking in new ways," she said Rodin noted that she had to take risks in maintaining her beliefs, a trait she said was the key to developing leadership skills. She also noted that despite the necessity for self-confidence and the courage to take risks, there is no formula for becoming a leader. "You must follow your heart and do what you love. As a result of believing in yourself and acting on your beliefs, leadership will follow," Rodin said. "Leadership comes within and comes from what you feel in your gut more than what you feel in your head." In conclusion, Rodin encouraged the crowd to "go take some chances." "The risks are terrific because the gains and opportunities are out there," she said. "Men have been willing to take them and woman must also." Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairperson Rachael Goldfarb, a College junior on the planning committee, noted that "the speech exceeded all of our expectations and President Rodin is certainly more than appropriate to inaugurate this series given her experience and achievements in higher education."