On April 30, I, along with 180 other people, mostly women but also some men, attended the first annual Santa Clara University Own It Summit. Dozens of powerful, influential women shared their experiences throughout the day and offered advice to the audience members, many of whom were young women on the cusp of entering the “real world”. The Summit was refreshing, very real, and inspirational for all who were in attendance. From Oscar award winning producers to entrepreneurs to police chiefs, women of all backgrounds gathered at SCU to inspire and shape a new generation of powerful female leaders and male allies. So many tidbits of wisdom were shared that they could be used to compile a short novel and the Sunday we spent surrounding ourselves with Girl Power is one that we will not soon forget. Here are some of the most powerful pieces of advice I took away from the Summit:

Follow your gut

Broaden your horizons

Pick a starting place and just go

Ask the right questions

Have a goal in mind

Hustle!

Be resolute and flexible

Don’t neglect the important stuff (friends, family, health)

Become resilient

Don’t give in to autopilot. It’s a gateway problem to everything else

Practice thinking patterns that support brain health

Give yourself affirmations-- identify which one you need to hear and then tell it to yourself

Be happy. The world needs you to be happy

Pay attention to what gives your life meaning

Set goals-- What do I want? What do I need? What do I want my life to be about?

Focus!

Live “on purpose”

Practice self-compassion

Acknowledge the scale of what you’re trying to do

Recognize the roles of others in your life

Don’t tear yourself down

Accept that you are not entirely in control and that some things happen out of pure luck

Practice mindful meditation

Get rid of your expectations for a little while

Acknowledge your achievements

Exercise

Stand in superhero pose-- you'll feel strong and powerful

Practice gratitude

Know that you are in charge of your own well-being

Be prepared

Don't be afraid to tell people how you're feeling

Look for transparency

Ask, negotiate, read clues

Demand assignments that are impactful

Don't always volunteer "for the good of the team"

Try to avoid always gravitating towards people that think like you

Use your resources-- don't build things from scratch

Evolve faster and smarter than anything holding you back

When it's time to go home, go home

Understand people's motives so you don't get sucked in

Engage in dialogue

Demand qualification but support one another

Stand out, be personable (handwritten thank you cards are always the best)

Be courageous

Pursue your dreams despite the hurdles

Have the confidence to sit at the table. If there's no room at the table, make room

Be flexible with your plan. You'll get there

Ask for exactly what you want

Make connections

Find a mentor. Be a mentor

Set yourself at a higher standard. Do just one more thing than everyone else

If you don't love it, don't do it

Don't be afraid

Keep yourself current by continuing to educate yourself

Be optimistic

Be motivated by others telling you no

Fears and failures don't define you

Embrace the power of silence

Acknowledge etiquette and social norms

Be you, do you, OWN IT!

Here's to strong women: May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them