WCI Event: Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Honoring Inspirational Women around the Globe

Metropolitan Club of New York
November 20, 2008

On November 20, 2008, Women’s Campaign International (WCI) hosted an impressive gathering of worldwide women leaders at the Metropolitan Club of New York.  The year-end event, entitled Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Honoring Inspirational Women around the Globe, sought to recognize the groundbreaking work of courageous women who have pioneered in their fields and overcome the boundaries that normally hinder women’s effective participation in politics, business and social change.

The evening’s festivities kicked off with a VIP cocktail hour in the Governor’s room, where distinguished WCI donors and special guests gathered to enjoy light fare and mingle to the Afro-Cuban rhythms of the revolutionary all-women drumming troupe Okan Iloro. After the VIP hour, all guests were invited to take their seats in the President’s Ballroom.  As appetizers were served, WCI President, Marjorie Margolies, took the stage to welcome all guests and explain what a great honor it was to top off WCI’s 10th anniversary in such notable company.  Ms. Margolies then passed the mic to the event emcee and first honoree, Katie Couric.  Throughout the night, Ms. Couric’s charisma kept the crowd entertained as she introduced an array of inspirational honorees, each one delivering an equally inspirational speech highlighting their past struggles and current triumphs as women pioneers in their field.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was the next honoree, and she was met with a standing ovation and energizing applause as she walked up to the podium.  Senator Clinton’s speech spoke to her unwavering conviction that educating women is the critical component worldwide to changing a village, a nation and eventually, the world.  She spoke of WCI’s critical role in achieving this end, and reminded the crowd that such groundbreaking work for women must also be done at home in the United States as well as in the world’s poorest countries.  The Senator’s riveting speech set the tone for the evening, and more honorees took to the podium to tell their amazing stories: Honorable Callista Chimombo, Malawi’s Minister of Culture who traveled halfway around the world to address the crowd; Muriel Siebert, the first woman to earn a seat on the New York Stock Exchange; Sara Miller-McCune, the founder and president of Sage Publications; and Fran Weissler, producer of the musical Chicago and many other Broadway hits.  Honorable Marjorie Ngaunje of Malawi, Helen Thomas, and Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine were also recognized and applauded although they could not be in attendance that evening.

All honorees were presented with a one-of-a-kind, beautifully colored and hand-painted ceramic sculpture made by HIV positives artists in South Africa.  Ardmore ceramics generously donated these unique pieces which aptly complemented the night’s theme of supporting dynamic, community-driven change abroad.  These pieces and many more were also available for purchase throughout the night at WCI’s World Market, where exotic necklaces from boutique vendors and crafts from Global Goods Partners were sold.  In addition to the honorees and international shopping, dinner guests were entertained by comedian Jane Condon and special recognition was given to other notable guests in the crowd such as Geraldine Ferraro, Gloria Steinem and Chelsea Clinton.

To wrap up the evening, closing remarks were read on behalf of WCI’s last honoree, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.  As the first woman elected head of state of an African nation – and one of few female heads of state throughout the world – President Sirleaf and her remarks held special meaning to a group so dedicated to the cause of women’s equality.  The President’s thoughts were read by the one of her key campaign managers, Edith Gongloe-Weh, and they spoke to the urgent necessity of supporting women’s civic participation, most notably in post-conflict countries such as her own.  “This award signals for me the hard work that lies ahead, but Liberian women have joined our counterparts worldwide in the fight to overcome decadent structures of inequality stacked against our progress. With your [WCI's] help and continued support to Liberia and the women of the world, our story is bound to change for the better. As women around the world continue to unite to address their shared plight, the glass ceiling can definitely not remain in place.”

Senator Clinton delivers the keynote speech at the event

Honored guests Katie Couric and Lewis Katz chat over dinner

Edith Gongloe-Weh, on behalf of her Excellency Madame President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Sara Smith, friend of WCI

Host Committee Members Nancy Manket, Cara Manket and Keely Bisch