WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, CLOSER LOOK 

Narrator: Being a leader is not something that just happens to a person. It is a quality that has to be grown and supported. Today we will take a closer look at the Women's Leadership Conference, part of the Practice and Policy Lecture Series. 

No Audio: Connie Schlittler - Chief Information Officer, OKDHS

Connie Schlittler: We thought about the conference about nine months ago, believe it or not, because we had so many great women speakers that we wanted to bring in for our lecture series, and so that's where the conference idea came about and so far today it's just been awesome. We've been very inspired. Karen Jacobs has been our MC, and she's been with DHS for 30 years. It's just an awesome story of her career with the agency that she shared, and I think our theme of pride, professionalism and passion, it's just been really powerful and people are really resonating with that. So it's been a great morning so far and we're looking forward to the rest of the day. 

No Audio: Howard Hendrick - Director, OKDHS

Howard Hendrick: Well, it's an opportunity for a lot of women, not just the women who work for the Department of Human Services, for women throughout state government to have an opportunity to get tips on how to become better leaders. It also gives them the opportunity to network with other women so that they can become better leaders themselves and have an array of friends that they can consult with from time to time. So, we're really excited about having the opportunity to facilitate this kind of network and the kind of learning opportunity that we think will be valuable to all women. 

No Audio: March 13th, 2009 - Will Rogers Theatre in OKC

Narrator: The event, held March 13 at the Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City, hosted many high-ranking officials in state government, like Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, Congresswoman Mary Fallin, State Representatives Pam Peterson and Anastasia Pittman, Secretary of State N. Susan Savage and many other highly accomplished leaders. 

No Audio: Sheree Powell - DDSD, OKDHS

Sheree Powell: Well, it was very exciting to be a moderator at this panel. These women are extremely powerful in Oklahoma, and it always impresses me, the women leaders that we have here in this state. So, it was very exciting for me to moderate the panel and to get to meet each of these ladies and find out some interesting facts about them that we didn't already know. I think this conference has been good for a lot of us that work in state government, particularly at DHS. I'm a 25-year veteran of the department, and I started from the ground level and worked my way up. But it was due in a lot part to the mentors that I had here at the department and to other women and men who contributed to my career, so I think that's part of our role now, those of us who have worked our way through the process to turn around and mentor other young women, and encourage them to choose careers in public service.

No Audio: Emma Woodford - Civil Rights Administrator, OESA

Emma Woodford: I believe in a setting like this it gives women an opportunity to listen to women who are actively in leadership now and to hear where step by step they came from to get to where they are, and to know that it can be done, that it's do-able. 

No Audio: Karen Waddell - Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, Office of Alumni Development, OU Health Sciences Center

Narrator: Panels and speeches gave insight into strategic career planning, professional passion and pride, leading with conviction and purpose, as well as public service as a path to leadership. 

No Audio: Stephanie Bonds - Programs Manager, OKDHS

Stephanie Bond: Wow, it's a great conference. A whole room full of women from all across the state and all kinds of state agencies. It's absolutely packed to the gills and it's wonderful to see that much participation and enthusiasm. The speakers have been just wonderful, so motivational, leaders in the state, and they've told their stories and it's just great to hear. It's just really fun and I'm so glad that somebody took the initiative to put this together. 

No Audio: Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins

Jari Askins: You know, one of the nice things about where we are in today's society is that there are more and more women who are having opportunities for positions of leadership. Whether it's within a state agency like the Department of Human Services, we're learning that more women are employed so the percentages of women who are moving up into supervisors' positions or deputy directors or even in some agencies director is increasing, and I think that that's important because with 50% of Oklahoma's population being female, it's certainly nice to have that balance of opinion and approach to problem solving that women can bring.

No Audio: Marilyn Durbin - OU Center for Public Management

Marilyn Durbin: I am delighted to be here. This is a marvelous conference and I hope that it's replicated every year. I mean, I really think that having the opportunity to step back, to learn from each other, to learn from people who are making a difference in the state, women who are encouraging others of us to reach out and step just a little outside our comfort zone in order to expand our potential as leaders in the state... that's a wonderful opportunity, and it's... I think it's really good for all of us. 

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