On March 6, 2025, we hosted a webinar titled Women Leading: Breaking Barriers in a Changing World. What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than by bringing together a group of strong, insightful women who have spent their careers breaking barriers and paving the way for others?
The panel, moderated by Alyssa Burke from D2L, featured Dr. Gladys Schrynemakers (Interim Senior University Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Programming at CUNY), Dr. Patrice Torcivia (Director of Learning Design, Technology and Media at Harvard’s Teaching and Learning Lab), and Dr. Sharon Hardy (University Dean of Admissions and Recruitment at CUNY). Together, they engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on how we can drive real, lasting change in our workplaces.
Here are five key takeaways from the discussion:
Navigating Leadership Barriers
Women encounter a range of barriers in the workplace, including imposter syndrome, fear of failure and being unfairly labeled when they assert themselves. Additionally, systemic challenges like harassment persist, and the caregiving responsibilities many women bear can significantly limit career advancement.
Building a Strong Support System
For women aspiring to leadership roles, mentorship and networking are key. Dr. Patrice Torcivia Prusko suggested that it’s essential for women to build a personal board of directors. . Dr. Gladys Schrynemaker echoed this, referring to it as a ride or die group that can help guide, challenge and support you through your career journey.
Mastering Negotiation and Advocacy
Women need to become skilled negotiators—not only when it comes to salary but also for a comprehensive benefits package that includes vacation time, professional development and more. Open conversations about compensation, as well as advocating for pay equity, are vital steps toward closing the gender pay gap.
Setting Boundaries and Saying ‘No’
Women often take on excessive workloads to avoid letting others down or missing opportunities. However, learning to set boundaries and saying ‘no’ is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Dr. Gladys Schrynemaker suggested that when requests for work come up, women should ask themselves ‘does this align with my values and goals’. If it doesn’t, they should say ‘no’. Learning to delegate is another skill women should be developing and practicing. Delegating tasks when appropriate can not only protect your well-being but also offer others a chance to grow and gain valuable experience.
Redefining Leadership
True leadership is about serving others, building trust and empowering teams. Women should confidently embrace their voices and perspectives, dismantling the culture of silence that often exists in male-dominated environments. As Dr. Sharon Hardy said, “I create conditions so those around me can fly.” Leadership is about inspiring positive change and creating opportunities for others, particularly those from marginalized groups, to thrive.
Feel free to connect with our panelists on LinkedIn:
- Dr. Sharon Hardy
If you’re interested in more conversations like this, we’re working on some fantastic content for our Women Connected affinity network at our Annual Fusion conference in July. Details will be available soon, but you can register today. We hope to see you there.
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