5 Takeaways from the Women to Watch event

425 Magazine recently gathered women in business at The Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland to celebrate its latest cohort of local Women to Watch. This year’s program was hosted by King 5’s Amity Addrisi and featured Lisa Chin, CEO of Treehouse, Traci Schneider, Co-founder of Ben's Fund, LaEisha Howard, Author of Fill Your Tank, and Emmy-winning TV personality Kelly Hanson. The evening included decadent bites, festive cocktails, and a deep sense of community that has been desperately missed by so many during the ongoing pandemic.

Each of the night’s featured women took to the stage overlooking sunset views of Lake Washington to share their own personal journeys along with words of encouragement and tips for navigating the unknown. Here are 5 key takeaways from the inspirational evening:

Remember why you started

Kelly Hanson, host of King 5’s Local Lens, loves to ask guests of the show, “What would your 12-year-old self think about the work you do now?”. It’s a thought-provoking question and one that helps guests get straight to the truth about what drives them. When times get tough as you navigate your career, it’s important to remember why you started. Whether you’re trying to change the world or simply trying to change things in your own backyard, stop and ask yourself, “What is all of it for?” and that will help guide you in the right direction.

Give yourself grace

There is no reward without risk and when you’re taking risks, you sometimes fail. It’s important to give yourself grace in moments when things don’t work out exactly as you planned. Know that you don’t know everything, and that’s ok. When you trust that every experience has value, you’ll find it easier to shift your perspective about failure.

Everything is an opportunity

Every “no” is an opportunity to get creative about your next move. Not everyone will appreciate your value or see the possibilities within you. Trust that there is value in your journey and that you’re exactly where you need to be. When the time is right, don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith.

The answer will always be no if you never ask

Author Nora Roberts famously said, “If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.”

Despite the progress women have made in the workplace, there’s still a lot of work to be done. It’s important to speak up when there’s something to discuss whether is pay equity, flexible scheduling, career advancement opportunities, or anything else that needs to be addressed. The truth is that the answer will always be no if you never ask, so put together a compelling pitch, and ask.

Take the next right step

There’s always something you can do in order to move in the direction you want to go. Taking the next right step might involve sending an email, making a phone call, showing up to an event where you have the opportunity to network, or simply being still and coming up with a solid strategy to maximize your efforts. Be clear about your goals and don’t be afraid to take the first next step in the right direction to achieve them. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it.

Over 175 guests attended this year’s Women to Watch event and it was great to see the community show of support for this year’s featured women. Event sponsors included Kitsap Bank, Lake Chelan, Diageo, Infoblox, Symetra, and Knobbe Martens. In-kind sponsors included Ascend, Bobae, and Bee’s Flowers. All photos by Verbovski. The September issue of 425 magazine is on newsstands now.

You can also view this post via 425 Magazine here.