News

President Beilock in Conversation with Inspiring Women Leaders

By Veronica Suchodolski ’19

Barnard Magazine

Fall 2020

The “Insights: Powered by Barnard” series was created in response to the evident need for both guidance and community in light of the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each month, the series — which is presented by Beyond Barnard — brings major industry leaders to the Barnard community through exclusive online events that reaffirm the College’s commitment to providing a high-caliber, lifelong education to its students and alumnae.

“The Insights series gives our students and alumnae the opportunity to learn firsthand from top women leaders across industries. I look forward to what future innovative Insights speakers will contribute to our vibrant intellectual community.” —President Sian Leah Beilock

Vernā Myers ’82, founder of the Vernā Myers Company and vice president of inclusion strategy at Netflix: “Here’s how we’re going to keep [the Black Lives Matter movement] going: Everyone of us is going to commit to keep it going. It’s not that magical. ...There are things that are happening, and they’re happening because each person is asking themselves, ‘What should I do? And how can I make a difference?’”

Maria Hinojosa ’84, founding anchor and executive producer of NPR’s Latino USA: “You have got to convince yourself that you are [all] that. Everybody is insecure, so you’re not the only one. I think the message from my book is I hope you realize that we don’t have time for the imposter syndrome anymore. We need you.”

Martha Stewart ’63, P’87, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia: “One of my favorite mottos is, ‘When you’re through changing, you’re through.’ Change is good, change might be frightening, it might be difficult, but it’s really good in the long run if you have that entrepreneurial spirit and you’re a real hard worker.”

Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action: “If your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be working so hard to stop people from voting. ... We have to remember that everything in our society is determined by a representative democracy, and if we aren’t represented, our democracy doesn’t see us.”

Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., ’85, chief patient officer of Pfizer Inc.: “I ground myself in knowing that there is a reason why I am in the room, so I need to make it count. ... So if you know what your passion is, you gotta go after it with a vengeance because you can’t wait for someone to serve it up on a platter for you.”