Award-winning journalist and ABC 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts and Jen Hatmaker, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster speaker and advocate, were the featured speakers for "Leading the Lone Star State: Texas Women in Public Service Summit" on Sept. 19 at the Denton Convention Center. Hosted by the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University (JNIWL), the summit was a one-day conference uniting women in the fields of public administration, elected office, and government—as well as women who aspire to public roles—through informative sessions, inspirational speakers and networking opportunities.
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| Sara Madsen Miller, Deborah Roberts |
Photo credit: Leo Gonzalez/TWU
The opening welcome included remarks by Jane Nelson, former Texas Secretary of State; Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth; and Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D. Led by leaders in their fields, the breakout sessions featured panels on advocacy, strategic partnerships, politics, executive presence and leadership.
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| Key TWU leaders |
Maureen Zappala, speaker, author and High Altitude Strategies founder, was the opening session speaker discussing imposter syndrome.
Deborah Roberts:
The keynote conversation with Roberts was moderated by Sara Madsen Miller, a JNIWL advisory board member and COO and co-owner of 1820 Productions, an award-winning Dallas-based video production company.
Roberts, one of seven daughters, shared the following advice with the audience:
· “Believe in your purpose.”
· “Nothing will work unless you do.” (Maya Angelou)
· Barbara Walters gave Roberts this advice: “Sometimes you have to outlast your detractors.”
· When Roberts failed at her first live shot, her boss sent her back out to do another live shot that evening. She remarked, “Failure can be a powerful teacher if you’re willing to stay in the game.”
· “Be self-assured. Know your story. Don’t doubt who you are.”
Jen Hatmaker:
Hatmaker, whose new Awake: A Memoir, just published, shared her advice and perspective:
· “I’m grateful for the way you serve the state and the community. Give me a room full of women in leadership all the live long day.”
· “No matter how bad it is, you have to invite people into your story—the ones who love you. It’s far more courageous to ask people for help.”
Another highlight of the day included Shannon Mantaro, Texas Woman’s University’s executive director and chief officer of the JNIWL, presenting the JNIWL Distinguished Public Service Award to The Honorable Myra Crownover, a retired Texas House of Representatives member (2000-2016) who formerly represented District 64, which includes Denton County.
