Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

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What #FortyOver40 Means To Me: Ruth Ann Harnisch

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As we are in the midst of the call for nominations for the 3rd Annual List of 40 Women to Watch Over 40 we took time to check in with some current honorees to find out what #40over40 meant to them. Today’s post is with is with Ruth Ann Harnisch, President of The Harnisch Foundation; Co-founder of SupporTED and former Emmy-nominated “recovering journalist”. Read and get inspired to nominate a woman who making in impact —  disrupting, innovation and forging new paths for women of all ages.

What did it mean to you to receive this honor? When I was named to the FortyOver40 list, it underscored my decision to step out more boldly with my philanthropic and social change work at the Harnisch Foundation. I’d like to think I fulfilled your hopes for me, as theHF just launched a new website and a new mission to focus on advancing women and girls. (http://thehf.org)

What role models / mentors helped you reach this point? In the past year, my professional involvement has been inspired and guided by a woman less than half my age. Lindsey Taylor Wood, a strategic consultant, led the Harnisch Foundation’s organizational restructuring. Along with the FortyOver40 honor, she forcefully underscored the notion that a woman old enough to choose her Medicare Part B plan can continue to achieve new professional heights.

How can more women become involved in disrupting? Our ability to be disruptive is enhanced by knowing other disruptors, and that’s where FortyOver40 makes a contribution. When we know about others, we can form alliances and support each other. We can reach out to recruit, encourage, and affirm the next disruptors. There is strength in numbers and we must continue to build our collective momentum through networking and concerted action.

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What 40 Over 40 Means to Me: Tracey Welson-Rossman

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 9.55.54 AMAs we are in the midst of the call for nominations for the 3rd Annual List of 40 Women to Watch Over 40 we took time to check in with some current honorees to find out what #40over40 meant to them. Today’s post is from Tracey Welson-Rossman, a 2013 honoree, Founder of TechGirlz.org and CMO, Chariot Solutions. Read and get inspired to nominate a woman who making in impact —  disrupting, innovation and forging new paths for women of all ages.

What did it mean to you to receive this honor? The award was a validation of the work I had been doing. It is not that I needed the validation, I was going to keep on the path I was and am on, but this award allowed me to take stock of what I had done up to this point and it was great to know others felt that what I have done had meaning.

What role models / mentors helped you reach this point? It sounds trite and worn, but my Mom and Dad. Specifically, my dad knew that I was going to be out in the working world even when I was little. He purposely brought home for dinner one night a woman who he worked with so I could see a woman in the working world. Remember this was at a time when it was still unusual to see a woman who was not a teacher, nurse or secretary. My mother has been incredibly supportive of everything I have done in my career. My own cheering section.

How can more women become involved in disrupting? Disrupting, or instigating, as I like to call it, starts by acting on your idea and not sitting on it until you feel there is a perfect time because there is never the perfect time.

You can find Tracey on twitter at @TWelsonRossman

y: TraceyWellsonRossman

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What #40over40 Means To Me: Diane Danielson, COO Sperry Van Ness

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We are thrilled to announce call for nominations for the 3rd Annual List of 40 Women to Watch Over 40! As we are looking forward to learning about more amazing women who are disrupting, innovation and forging new paths for women in front and behind them, we took time to check in with some current honorees to find out what #40over40 meant to them. The first in this series of posts is with Diane Danielson, a 2013 honoree and Chief Operating Officer for Sperry Van Ness Int’l Corp.

What did it mean to you to receive this honor?

While I personally was honored and enjoyed the fact that you were celebrating women in the prime of their years, the reaction from my company surprised me. I work in a male dominate industry (which of course I’m trying to disrupt with both technology and gender), but they were really impressed with this honor. Awards do matter. As more women move into leadership roles it’s a great differentiator to be rewarded at a key time in our careers, not just at the beginning and the end.

 What role models / mentors helped you reach this point?

My mentors and role models are my business girlfriends and peers. There are too many to list, but if they are reading this, they know who they are! They are women just like the others in the 40 over 40 list. This doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate the women who went before us. I am thankful to them every day I go into the office and take my place at the table. But, they had a different battle. My peers are the next wave. The sexism is more subtle, but still there, and the challenges are a little different. It’s our mission to not just be the token woman, but to even the playing field.

How can more women become involved in disrupting?

Disrupting is simply problem solving. Women are fabulous at that. Just ask a working mom! What helps is having awards like this to shift the public perception so that they too see women as disrupters and innovators.

Who inspires you? Nominate them here

Tweet: Help us celebrate #innovation at every age. 2015 nominations are open for Forty Women To Watch Over 40! http://fragile-line.flywheelsites.com/nominate/ #40over40

DianeDanielsonDiane Danielson is the Chief Operating Officer for Sperry Van Ness Int’l Corp., tweeting about , leadership, social media, and sometimes soccer. Follow her on twitter @DianeDanielson

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2014 Nominations Being Accepted

Nominations for the 2014 Women to Watch Over 40 list are being accepted through May 7, 2014. Do know a woman who makes an impact? Who has reinvented herself and her community? A woman who is creating momentum and making change? A woman who upends the perception that anyone over the age of 40 is “past their prime?” Click the button below to nominate them for our 2014 list. (And if you are that kind of woman, please feel free to nominate yourself!)

Winners will be announced in June 2014.