The way to grow your power is to give it away

Over the past few days, thanks to the generosity of colleagues, I attended the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit. I got to hear from Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Valerie Jarrett, Stacey Abrams (a force), Cynthia Marshall (a maverick in every sense), Carla Harris and Chaka Khan.

I went in not quite knowing what to expect; I left with a sense of clarity and purpose (and a much better understanding of how to shop for jackets, thanks to one of the sessions on personal style).

It’s been a minute since I’ve attended a conference at which my entire purpose was not to give a keynote, not to be on a panel, not to recruit, not to be recruited, but to learn. That was a gift for which I am deeply grateful.

And it got me thinking about the last most recent time I received such a gift - from Ruth Ann Harnisch, a person who consistently shows up, listens, and uses her powers and her resources and her time for good.