The Puzzle: Blog

There is no more an appropriate day than today, the International Women's Day of 2017, to announce that CS&A is holding our first ever Women's Institute on June 16 in Boston.

While we host our Diversity FORUM that centers around diversity and inclusion and our hiring conferences held in cities across the country, we felt called to host an event that focuses on the ever-growing conversation around women. The empowerment of girls and women is the new frontier for human rights today. Women are helping forge a better working world by taking groundbreaking action that drives great change and inspires a more gender inclusive world. Together, groups all over the world are challenging stereotypes, pointing out bias, and highlighting alternatives. Women, young and old alike, are coming together to celebrate each other's journeys and the barriers they overcome, and to inspire and empower each other to stand tall and believe in their abilities, gifts, and talents.

A common thread in this recent movement is the message that there is unabashed strength in numbers. Women are strong and powerful, and connections between and among women are a force. This is why the theme for our first Women's Institute is “Lean On: Strengthening One Another Through Mentorship and Collective Wisdom.” We want to bring women together–of all different ages, backgrounds, and stages in their career–to provide a welcoming space for professional development, open conversation, and to facilitate opportunities for women to support each other in their careers. Our Women's Institute is an event for women and allies in the independent school community to learn and grow with each other.

The event will feature two co-keynote speakers: Lisa Lyle, Head of School at Mary Institute & Saint Louis Country Day (MICDS), and Becky Sykes, President of the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation. Lisa is also the former Assistant Head of School at The Blake School in Minnesota; a former faculty member at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey; a board member of ISACS, INDEX, and Wyman Center; and she was named the most influential “Business Woman of 2015” by Biz Journal – St. Louis. In addition to being President of the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation and splitting her time between the United States and South Africa, Becky worked at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, for over 40 years.

Panel discussions in the morning will be followed by an afternoon of mentorship and networking. Unlike the other events we hold during the year, our Women's Institute will not feature a hiring component. This event will focus entirely on professional development. A full schedule, including a list of our honorary faculty members, will be shared in the coming weeks. We hope to create mentorships, friendships, and support networks through our Women's Institute. At the end of the day, we want attendees to leave feeling fed and able to take what they have learned and apply it to not only their careers in independent school education, but to all aspects of their lives.

The details:

Thursday, June 15, 2017
6:00 p.m.- Welcome Reception at the Maritime Museum, connected to the Battery Wharf Hotel

Friday, June 16
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.- Institute

Location: Battery Wharf Hotel, Boston

Cost: $150 registration fee, per attendee

To Register: Click here

Book Your Hotel Room:  Click here (Battery Wharf Hotel Boston, 3 Battery Wharf, Boston)

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