Karen Keller
2010 was a great year for women. We are on the edge of new financial power, becoming an economic force. We are improving society by influencing how women are viewed in the workplace. We are growing businesses at a rapid rate, redefining family roles, and exercising major leadership to make a difference in the world. We are a force to be reckoned with and it’s only getting better!
Here’s my list of 2010 women who give each of us hope for making that difference:
- Lindsey Vonn, American Alpine ski racer, who won her third consecutive World Cup championship in 2010, making her the first American woman and the second woman ever to accomplish this. Not to mention she has an Olympic gold medal, 33 World Cup wins and two World Championship gold medals.
- Sarah Palin. Whether you agree with her politics or not, she is a woman staying true to her beliefs against opposition and ridicule. Her individualism, self-reliance and herculean work ethic are much the same as Margaret Sanger or Betty Friedan only the other side of the feminist coin.
- Maria Bartiromo, author of The 10 Laws of Enduring Success and TV anchor of CNBC’s Closing Bell, where she celebrates women in business; their vision, courage, purpose, integrity and humility.
- Sarah Bartz, CEO of Yahoo, who in the midst of great challenge, is optimistic about her decision to take Yahoo out of the running for the web’s search business and instead focusing on their viewers.
- Marie Diaz, CEO of Pursuit of Excellence, and HR firm, has shown women there is a way to balance home, family and corporate life while making a hefty sum of money.
- Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, who presented at TEDGlobal 2010, calling for women to have a place at the table after wartime conflicts are over.
- Jennifer Pozner, founder of Women In Media & News, a women’s media analysis, education and advocacy organization. She proposes increasing the presence and power of women in the public debate, connecting media with a national network of women experts.
- Diane Sawyer, ABC World News anchor, has set the bar for women to venture into and succeed in a male dominated industry.
- Jenna Goudreau, writer for ForbesWoman.com, where she writes about the discrepancies between women and men, women’s advancements in the workplace and misconceptions and myths about women leaders. She’s a not-mixing–her-words kind of gal.
- Martha Stewart, CEO of Martha Stewart Companies. This woman has overcome obstacles, adversity and public ostracizing only to rise again to the forefront in 2011.
