Author Dixie Gloria Feldt, Huffington Post.
“Victory is not final. Defeat is not fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts.”
This quote is misattributed to Winston Churchill.
But whoever said it was right. Having been through many wins and losses, I can vouch for that. I offer it as balm if you are pained by the election results and as caution if you’re pleased with the outcome.
This too is true: Take The Lead’s nonpartisan mission of leadership gender parity by 2025 has become more important than ever, as many of you have said to me since November 8. People are talking about it in every workplace and gathering place. Even the most skeptical are seeing that young women and people of color are terrified. The world they’d come to think is post-racist, post sexist, is neither.
CEO’s are acknowledging leadership and pay disparities that could affect their daughters. Instead of celebrating breaking that highest, hardest glass ceiling by the first female American president, we know how much work remains to be done to give every girl and woman a fair chance to reach her full potential.
As Forbes contributor Denise Restauri said to me, “Gender parity is in a different league now. I think many people heard the talk, but didn’t really hear it. Now everyone is talking about it (often differently) and others are listening differently.”
For Clinton supporters who ask what do women do next, I challenge you to talk, plan, understand, strategize, commit, and hold yourselves accountable. We have a template for you to use to help you get started.