Earlier today Christina Nguyen and I went to the Dynamic Women in Business conference (WSA sponsored) at HBS.  I was actually… slightly disappointed, and we ended up leaving the conference after lunch (missing one panel session). The point of the conference was to discuss the role of women in business. However, I felt like all of the panels devolved to mostly being a discussion about work-life balance, which was aggravating, and highlighted how unequal things still are*.

The exception for me was the morning keynote with Ann Simonds. Two statements in particular dramatically stood out to me.

Perfect is not lovable.

Her emphasis on the fact that while you’re developing a great career, you won’t be able to be in every industry, go to every event, or make every product perfect is completely true. Anyone who was perfect would be loathed by a very jealous world.

The other point Anne Simonds made that was tremendously valuable was:

There is the life you learn with, and then the life you lead with after that.

I’m not sure if I agree or not, but I think it’s an interesting thing to think about. While I do spend much of my time learning, I do still feel like it’s “real life” and that I’m also producing and doing. Otherwise, when would I decide to start?

They’re quotes to keep thinking about as I move forwards into work and HBS.

* Not to detract from the entry about actual content with ranting… but one panel discussed “how do you keep your career and still keep your personal life?”  Every panelist who discussed keeping career discussed how they had to force their career to be exciting AND in the city their spouse was already in. There was never a case of a spouse moving due to the woman’s career. So apparently equality in work means “sacrifice to make your personal life and job intersect, and also have an awesome job.” This seems unrealistic and like it will make people burn out.  For other exciting gender and work rants, feel free to ask.