On March 26, before a packed house of more than 150 students, a panel of notable women kicked off the university’s inaugural Women’s Empowerment Summit, discussing their professional careers and how they overcame obstacles along the way to success.
The Impactful Women panel sparked a series of events at the Marano Campus Center that also included three breakout sessions and a catered networking reception. The summit, conceived and organized by Career Services, celebrated Women’s History Month and offered helpful advice and strategies for navigating professional paths for women looking to enter the workforce or advance their careers. Many of the presenters were SUNY Oswego alumni who shared their perspectives with current students.
Panel moderator Robin Curtis ’78, who gained fame as an actor on “Star Trek,” asked the five female panelists how they stay motivated in their current roles.
“If you don’t advocate for yourself, who will?” asked panelist Adriana Law (Class of ’21), a multimedia journalist for Spectrum News. “I’m trying to break that cycle for my family. I’m the first generation to graduate from college. I’m focused on what I can do to inspire myself.”
Panelist Chelsea Giovo (Class of 2013), a police captain with the Oswego Police Department, said she feels fortunate to have had female police officers paving the way for her, including a former female city police chief.
“I want to inspire others,” Giovo said, explaining how she helped write the department’s policy on maternity leave, including regulations for equipment and uniforms during and after pregnancy. “I want to set an example for the next person.”
Micron process integration manager Alika Fritz said the company is strengthening itself through continuous learning.
“Knowledge is everywhere,” she said, noting that experts can learn from their bosses, peers, other team members and those they supervise. “It doesn’t necessarily have to come from senior people. Learn as much as you can, from everyone.”
Jennifer Neuner, associate director of the Everson Museum of Art, encouraged participants to attend professional conferences and trainings within their institutions or specific areas of interest.
Christine Whiting, group rental manager at Enterprise Mobility, said she stays true to herself and her goals.
“I earned my seat at the table,” Whiting said, “I didn’t wait for an invitation. I tried to be who I was.”
After the panel, students could choose to attend two of three 25-minute sessions, which were:
The Women in Entertainment panel, moderated by Madison Gordon, 25, co-founder and president of the Women In Entertainment Club at SUNY Oswego:
Robin Curtis ’78 (professional actor, “Star Trek”) Juliet Giglio (creative writing instructor, screenwriter, novelist) Kayla Skipper ’14 (author, PBS and Moonbug Entertainment)
Know Your Worth: Salary Negotiation Workshop:
Jackie Campbell Wallace ’02 M’04, Associate Director of Career Education, Career Services
Attend a PowHERhouse Networking Workshop:
Christine Whiting, Group Rental Manager, Enterprise Mobility
The evening concluded with a catered networking hour and featured 13 panelists, 25 campus partners, and 160 student attendees. Megan McGarvey Mazzoccone (Class of 2007), career coach in Career Services, came up with the idea for the event and organized the evening’s activities.
“We are very pleased with how our first summit went,” Mazzoccone said, “participation exceeded our expectations. We received great feedback from students and panelists, and they are already looking forward to the next one. We are already brainstorming ways to make the event even bigger and better for next year.”
Students lined up to enter Compass at the Marano Campus Center and viewed dozens of posters featuring “Power Women” representing women in history and current female leaders at SUNY Oswego, each offering an inspiring quote.
The first 75 students received a special swag bag containing the book “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown.
“The Women’s Summit was amazing,” said journalism major Lauren Royce (Class of ’24). “There were many different women on the panel and they talked about how women can succeed in the professional world through the power of sisterhood and community.”
Lois said the timing of the event was just right for her, as she plans to begin her professional future after graduation in May.
“I participated in a panel discussion on women and salary negotiations in the entertainment industry and found the conversation extremely fascinating and informative,” she said. “As a woman preparing to enter the workforce, it’s important to learn from people with more experience. It was really great to see so many women in attendance at the event, many of my friends and colleagues, so intently listening to the panelists.”
Josie Taylor ’24 enjoyed the catered reception and networking atmosphere, complete with mocktails and swag bags.
“It was great to meet and network with people who were in the same shoes as us and get an inside look at things,” said Taylor. “I learned a lot from the event, but the most important thing I learned was the value of networking and the importance of utilizing the resources available to you. One conversation can change your life!”
The event was held in celebration of Women’s History Month and funding was provided by the Feinberg Family Fund, which was originally established in 2003 by Robert Feinberg (Class of 1978) and his wife Robbie but has grown to support SUNY Oswego students seeking professional and academic experiences to further their extracurricular career goals, including internships, co-ops and a variety of professional development opportunities such as the Women’s Empowerment Summit.
— Submitted by the University Promotion Department
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