The evening of March 28th was a special moment for the Urban Zen Foundation. We have absolutely loved doing our part to honor Women’s History Month and it was a delight to close out the commemorative month with our friends from Womensphere. It was an all-encompassing experience that brilliantly walked the line of celebrating the accomplishments of trailblazing women while recognizing that, collectively, we are not yet at the finish line.
Guests arrived in the early evening and were welcomed into a space glowing with projections of profound women and tables peppered with delicious, healthy small plates and vibrant floral arrangements. The conversation in the room was inspired, while simultaneously the conversation online buzzed as guests tweeted about creative, inventive ways to keep the topic of women’s empowerment on the path of progression.
The flow of the evening was designed to encourage engaging conversations that piqued interest and sparked ingenuity. There was an impassioned question and answer period with emerging female leaders in varying fields, followed by an award ceremony that honored luminaries – women who are brilliantly lighting the way forward.
One such luminary, Lynn Tilton, shared a particularly motivating speech. Ms. Tilton is a superwoman by every measure. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and sole Principal of Patriarch Partners, a private equity firm managing $7 billion in assets. Listening to her speak, it became clear that this is a woman who has employed her power in equal measure with her wisdom. Lynn acknowledged her blessed and progressive life, but also articulated her concern for the “darkness that envelops us,” referring to tragic world events in Japan, New Zealand and the Middle East. She prophetically offered her opinion saying, “I think to myself, ‘What can change this? How do we create light?’ In the end, the greatest force of nature is people standing shoulder to shoulder, moving in one direction. In the end, it starts with each one of us being that spark. When I think about what might change this darkness, there is only one word that comes to mind: women. We are pure power.”
Lynn encouraged women to stand together, to be kind to one another, to be good to one another. She offered wise advice saying, “Each time you put negative energy out there about another woman, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.”
Lynn’s words acted as a catalyst for the rest of the evening. Throughout round table discussions, the closing remarks and the after party at Casa La Femme, it was clear that this event brought together powerful women prepared to move forward with powerful intentions.
So, women, in your steps forward, we leave you with an inspired suggestion from our VP of Operations, Madeline Nelson. Begin each day asking yourself, “Who am I and what do I do?”
After much living and self exploration Madeline now answers those questions by saying, “I am Woman and I am changing the world.”
Imagine the ripple effect if we all answered in the same way.
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Photography by George Goss
Related posts:
- In Honor of Women’s History Month
- Building Bridges, Empowering Women
- Women, Inspiration and Enterprise Symposium
- WOMENSPHERE & URBAN ZEN: Paying it forward
- Donna Karan and Women Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium
