Last month, Lowe's was proud to host the 2021 "Elevate Your Influence" Women's Leadership Summit. On July 22nd and 23rd, Lowe's leaders engaged in conversation with influential women from a range of industries. The ninth annual Women's Leadership Summit focused on helping current and future women leaders grow their influence, develop impactful relationships and use their knowledge and leadership to guide Lowe's forward.
This year, the Women’s Leadership Summit boasted an exciting new development. Not only would the entire summit be virtual, but every presentation would be made available to all Lowe's associates through the Women Empowered Business Resource Group. The decision to cascade the tools and information beyond the leadership level was a natural choice for summit planners. In the words of Ginny Hunter, Leadership Development Director and one of the summit’s organizers, "Women across the career spectrum face so many demands. Our goal was to help each one of them thrive — in their current roles and beyond."
Moving Beyond a Pandemic
Janice Dupré, Lowe's Executive Vice President of Human Resources, and Jamie Furey, Vice President of Talent Management, Learning and Diversity, took the opportunity to shed some light on the effects of the past year with their opening address.
Dupré began her EVP tenure during the early days of the pandemic. As Lowe's leadership contended with sending Store Support Center associates home and implementing entirely new safety procedures for stores and supply chain facilities, Dupré had a firsthand view of how the Covid-19 pandemic would affect the workforce — and how it would disproportionately affect women.
The pandemic is still ongoing, and as of now, mothers in the workforce have suffered an estimated $65 billion in lost wages and economic activity. For the many who had to leave the workforce, re-entering and finding a new role poses its own challenge.
Throughout the past year and a half, Lowe’s has committed nearly $1.3 billion in COVID-related support. That includes $55 million in grants, delivering much-needed financial assistance to minority- and women-owned small businesses (in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
These efforts and events like the summit are aimed at continuing to build the pipeline of great leaders at Lowe’s, and to help make sure the pandemic doesn't have long-term effects on women in the workforce. "This summit is about looking forward and building a better future together,” Dupré said. “It's about creating opportunities, seizing opportunities and advancing ourselves while lifting up others."
A Lineup of Leaders
The 2021 Women’s Leadership Summit featured an exciting panel of keynote speakers and Lowe’s executives. Author and motivational speaker Mel Robbins delivered the keynote presentation, sharing her tips for cultivating executive presence and effective communication. In a fireside chat, Dupré held an honest conversation about career challenges and resilience with Ariel Investment Co-CEO Mellody Hobson. And in a second fireside chat, global fashion executive Rebecca Minkoff talked branding and confidence with Lowe’s Chief Brand & Marketing Officer Marisa Thalberg.
From the Lowe’s executive team, speakers included Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison and Senior Vice President & General Merchandising Manager of Home Décor Margi Vagell. Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Don Frieson and Senior Vice President of Brand Management Jen Wilson appeared together to discuss the impact of the Women Empowered Business Resource Group. The summit also featured two-panel discussions, moderated by Chief Information Officer Seemantini Godbole and Senior Vice President of Global Merchandising Sarah Dodd.
Women Empowered
The 2021 Women’s Leadership Summit averaged upwards of 750 attendees each day, with global participation. Beyond listening to the speakers, attendees came together in more than 65 global breakout sessions and worked through career mapping exercises.
Around 1,700 associates currently participate in the Women Empowered BRG, and leaders hope that number continues to grow.
Lowe’s sees current and future women leaders as key to our continued success as a company. As women thrive, so will Lowe’s. Dupré said it best in her opening address: "How steel is strengthened by fire — that's what you're like as women and leaders. We've been through the fire. We might be tired. But we're emerging even stronger."
