The Power of Two PR Experts. The Power of &.
Posted on Mar. 14, 2023 / Subscribe 0
Claire Powell, communications director at BAE Systems, Inc., and Jennifer Manocchio, president of Sweeney, met while working together in a client/PR agency relationship. But their story and impact grew more powerful beyond their 9-to-5 as they discovered their shared inspiration to help other women rise.
The two PR experts joined forces and founded The Boardroom, a volunteer-led organization focused on advancing women to higher levels of leadership. The organization provides opportunities to network, find advocates and gain access to training and C-suite professionals to help women reach the next level of career growth.
The Boardroom has quickly gained traction across the country and around the globe, providing a platform for women to tell their stories and support each other in their mission to break the glass ceiling. For Powell and Manocchio, volunteering their time to create this pioneering organization, both admit to needing the other in the process, saying they couldn’t do it alone. And no one should have to, which is where the ampersand in The Boardroom’s branding comes into play.
“The ampersand is used by the Writers Guild of America to denote two writers collaborating as a team, rather than two writers writing separately,” said Powell. “As an organization, The Boardroom believes that we will achieve more by supporting and empowering each other.”
The Boardroom’s core values revolve around community, knowledge and confidence. “There are a number of other women’s leadership organizations available, many costing upwards of $10,000. We wanted to welcome all women to the table at no cost while providing high-quality training and on-demand content they can use to impact their career paths,” said Manocchio.
As soon as a member joins the table, they are surrounded by other women who want to encourage and support their growth. Industry leaders share their valuable advice and expertise to help other women advance in their careers.
Who are the fearless leaders?
Powell’s background ranges from communications and PR in industries including retail, banking, and defense, and Manocchio’s in the agency space focused on public relations and marketing. Both women credit their success to networking and strong mentorship from powerful men and women. Never discounting the value of men in the workplace, they saw great value in creating a space of their own.
“It's no secret that women are still striving for equity,” said Powell. “While women have made significant progress in today’s workplace, only 15 percent of women serve as CEO’s at the top U.S. highest-grossing companies, according to Statista. Many women also continue to face gender and racial discrimination in the workplace and their salary is often lower than their male coworkers’ in the same jobs.”
The driver for Manocchio? “I want a better place for my daughters when they enter the workplace. The Boardroom was created for the women of the future, but also for the women of today. Effective change is afoot, especially if strong, innovative, intelligent women and men band together.”
450 members in 6-months is a humbling start for the co-founders. Powell shares that, “Even impacting one person is a huge win for us.” Since the pandemic, more and more women are dropping out of the workforce. In February of 2022, there were nearly 2 million fewer women in the workplace. The Boardroom aims to give women the confidence, tools and mentorship and succeed.
Welcome to the Table
The Boardroom encourages any woman or man looking to advance women in the workplace to join the organization from C-suite leaders to middle managers, students and retirees. Members gain access to on-demand and in-person conversations with top thinkers and mentors across the country, providing a roadmap to success.
Success is a destination for most people. Historically, it’s been harder to achieve for women.
The Boardroom makes success accessible, setting the organization apart from other women’s development organizations. Membership to the organization is free and inclusive. The Boardroom celebrates diversity in women and was designed as a resource to connect women with top leaders, including those from the Fortune 100 and academia.
Never underestimate the power of connection, as that’s how The Boardroom came to be. Two powerful women joined forces to create something meaningful to help inspire the women of today and women of the future.
#TakeHerAdvice and join The Boardroom on LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information on events and on-demand content. For more information or to be added to the monthly e-newsletter, email [email protected]
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