Breaking The Glass Ceiling In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Leadership in Heels organization gathered together for a meeting of the minds on women striving to “break the glass ceiling.”

On Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Center Club in Costa Mesa the Leadership in Heels speaker series hosted a panel of glass-breaking, C-suite executives for “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: What Happens When the Heels Get Too High” who authentically shared their stories on what it takes to break the glass ceiling, the rewards of being glass-breaking executives and the sacrifices and struggles of “the heels getting too high.”

According to the Department of Labor in a report on this topic, the glass ceiling is an “invisible barrier between women and the executive suite, preventing them from reaching the highest levels of the business world regardless of their accomplishments and merits.”

Panelists shared personal experiences with breaking the glass ceilings in their respective careers, including Kim Letch, Managing Partner of Irvine-based Ernst & Young LLP; Cheryl Osborn, President at Casco Contractors in Irvine; Dr. Jackie Eubany, Cardiologist; and Pernille Spiers-Lopez, Former President and CEO of IKEA North America and Author of the book Design Your Life.

Attendees received tangible tools and advice on how to break the glass ceiling, including:

• Identify what you want and have the confidence to ask for it.
• Build your own power and strength.
• Recognize and manage stress. Take the time to care for yourself first.
• Find a mentor or sponsor to help guide you.
• Set boundaries and know when to say no.
• Don’t get bogged down by the negative.
• Have one life and don’t strive for ‘work/life balance’ but strive to be happy and positive in all aspects of your one life.
• Take a pause, especially when times get frantic.
• Meditate.
• Count your wins and make an inventory of why you are qualified, especially when you feel uncomfortable or underqualified.

Leadership in Heels Founder and CEO Scharrell Jackson, a full-time Partner, COO and CFO for Squar Milner in Newport Beach, one of the top 70 accounting firms in the nation, moderated the panel and shared the challenges and rewards she has faced as a glass-breaking executive at this first Leadership in Heels event of 2018 on March 22nd. Jackson began the leadership series with the goal to authentically pivot lives forward personally and professionally while stimulating the mind and penetrating the heart.

“Many businesswomen want to break the glass ceiling but don’t quite know how. Others don’t consider the cost against the reward,” says Jackson. “I have shattered the glass ceiling, reaped many rewards and shed many tears. It is my goal to ensure that we understand not only what it takes to break the glass ceiling, but what happens when the heels get too high and how to win all the time!”

Attendees included c-suite executives, middle managers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, those just beginning their careers, and college students. In addition to interactive presentations and exercises, the Leadership in Heels speaker series offers breakfast, networking and giveaways.

Plus, each event honors an extraordinary business leader and on March 22 Leadership in Heels honored Pattie Grimm, host of the “Women Kicking Glass” radio show. Grimm was chosen for her unwavering commitment to highlight women who have broken the glass ceiling.

A portion of net proceeds from “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” benefited Irvine-based nonprofit American Heart Association, which is dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Leadership in Heels has raised thousands of dollars for Orange County nonprofits including WHW, Human Options, Girls Inc. of OC, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, Successful Survivors, THINK TOGETHER, and Working Wardrobes.

For more information about Leadership in Heels, visit www.scharrelljackson.com/about-leadership-in-heels.