1. Find your own unique voice and listen to what it’s saying.
2. Empower a young woman. Become a mentor by connecting with a young woman in your workplace, neighborhood or place of worship. Find small ways to reach out, listen and support her.
3. Act locally to make a difference globally. Make informed choices about what you buy and consume, as well as how you dispose of items. Reduce your carbon footprint, use energy and water responsibly and green your life.
4. Advocate for a cause that you care deeply about. Your time and expertise could help make a difference as a volunteer, counselor or board member.
5. Invest in women entrepreneurs. Join Team Maria in the WE Invest/Kiva partnership to give women the tools to start or expand their own businesses. For as little as $25, you can “Become a lender. Change a life.”
6. Speak up & ask for what you need. If you need to take time off of your job to care for a child or parent, ask for it. Families need more flexible work schedules, better child care policies and changes in family and medical leave. We need to use our voices collectively to improve workplace policies.
7. Engage your children in the world. As a mother, get your children involved at a young age in seeing the world through the eyes of others, respecting diversity, developing empathy and understanding the gift of giving back.
8. Donate to nonprofits that help women. Instead of purchasing a birthday, anniversary or holiday gift for family, friends and colleagues, make a donation in someone’s name to a nonprofit that works on improving the lives of women and girls.
9. Be an informed citizen. Educate yourself about the world you live in, share your knowledge, educate others and ignite a conversation.
10. Invite 10 of your friends to join The Women’s Conference online community at WWW.WOMENSCONFERENCE.ORG — The Home for Architects of Change.
Deborah Krier, founder and president of Wise Women Communications, is a marketing and public relations professional with experience in internal and external communication, media and public relations, crisis management, government relations and public affairs, integrated marketing campaigns, brand management, event coordination, Web site design and development and community relations. She managed corporate communications programs for ING Group, a company Forbes ranked as #10 on its “Super 50” list, served as a media and communications coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Region of the American Cancer Society, and served as the director of public relations and account manager for Linnell & Soreide Marketing Partners, a full-service marketing and advertising firm. She holds an MBA degree with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Colorado and an MS degree in communications management from Colorado State University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, is president of the Denver Professional Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications and is a member of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Women Business Owners. She is on the boards of directors for the Lupus Foundation of Colorado, serving as vice president for public awareness, and the University of Colorado Denver Buff Club, coordinating marketing and public relations activities.
