After three years of planning and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-awaited Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women virtual conference occurred earlier this month.
The Power of Penn Women
The Momentum 2021 conference came together thanks to a huge volunteer effort
Published: October 20, 2021
More than 2,300 attendees from around the world registered to listen, learn, and connect at the inclusive and trans-affirming event.
“We have never held a conference that highlighted so many different skills and services to this scale, focused on Penn women,” said Kelly Porter O’Connor, Director of Marketing and Communications for Penn Alumni Relations. “It was amazing to bring together the Penn community’s ideas, experiences, and marketplace, all made possible by our incredible alumni.”
Highlights from Momentum 2021: The Power of Penn Women
Attendees praised the dynamic speakers, wide range of topics, and unique opportunities that the event presented. “At most Penn events, we end up communing with people in our class or school. This was an extraordinary opportunity to engage with a remarkable pool of alumni spanning class years and programs,” said Mandana Chaffa, W’87, Co-Chair of Marketing, Steering Committee. “After 35 years since my own graduation, I’ve made many new friends across classes, time and zip codes, whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise. That is surely the priceless takeaway, and one of the best reasons to volunteer with Penn overall.”
Stars from Hollywood to higher education shared insights and wisdom, ranging from actor Elizabeth Banks, C’96, and film executive Stacey Snider, C’82; to acclaimed scholar Dorothy Roberts, the George A. Weiss University Professor of Law and Sociology and the Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Professor of Civil Rights; and Nicola Mason, GR’04, the Paul A. James and Charles A. Gilmore Endowed Chair at Penn Vet.
Penn President Amy Gutmann participated in an intimate conversation with Katlyn Grasso, W’15, focusing her discussion on Penn people and Penn teamwork. “During my Penn presidency, one of the most important things we’ve done is dramatically grow the representation of women among the standing faculty and in the upper tiers of University leadership. If anyone needs proof that Penn is a powerhouse of and for women leaders, look no further than this conference,” said Gutmann.
Penn deans shared their latest ideas and answered questions throughout the conference, including Wharton Dean Erika H. James; Graduate School of Education Dean Pam Grossman; School of Social Policy and Practice Dean Sara Bachman; and Antonia M. Villarruel, the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing.
Varied topics ranged from intercultural dialogue and comedy; navigating uncomfortable conversations and negotiation; sex, sleep, and what happens between the sheets; to positive psychology, along with the pandemic’s impact on the workplace.
“I enjoyed the ‘Climbing Vines’ session in which Black alumnae shared reflections about the challenges, successes, and growth gained through their experiences as Penn students; and ‘How to Write Anything’ when author Jo Piazza, C’02, delighted us with tips about writing and publishing,” said Valerie Allen, SW’93, GED’06, GRS’10, GR’22, a Planning Committee member and Penn’s Director, African-American Resource Center.
Conversations around race, gender identity, and politics got personal in a panel with featured speakers Mamta Accapadi, Vice Provost for University Life, along with Amber Hikes, SPP’08, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at the ACLU; Tania Israel, C’88, GED’92; Cecilia Ramirez, C’05, SPP’10, WEV’12; and moderator Erin Cross, GR’10, Director of Penn’s LGBT Center. “My work is calling myself into the conversation and identifying how my privileged identities can create a harmful impact in ways I haven’t considered,” said Accapadi.
Retirement was on tap too. The session, led by Jean Chatzky, C’86; Jamie Kramer, C’93, WG’01; Grace Vandecruze, WG’94; and Aliya Sahai, W’99, covered pitfalls to avoid and tips for how to retire in comfort.
Other keynote sessions included Angela Duckworth, PhD, G’03, GR’06, author, founder of Character Lab, and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor and Senior Scientific Advisor at the Positive Psychology Center, and former Penn President Judith Rodin, CW’66, HON’04. The full list of conference chairs and committee members is available here.
Find out more about upcoming Penn Alumni events, including Homecoming 2021.
