They let me tag along with them when they went to meetings, and I would listen. My great uncle gave me my people skills. He taught me to convene meetings, to be a conciliator, to be honest, to say what needs to be said and to say it in a way that folks can receive it. My father gave me spirituality, kindness, open-mindedness, and integrity. It's important to find men and women inside and outside your company who can coach you and give you support.
Women often feel they are excluded from men's informal networks.
That's true to some extent, but we have to learn to ask. Men always ask, but women seldom do. When asked what she would like to do in ten or fifteen years, Westina said she expected to be writing. She has kept a journal for thirty years. I hope to continue to be a leader-a woman who writes and works with women.