2010-2011 Chair, Maureen Hurley
Maureen Hurley, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer – Rich Products Corporation, was elected Chair of the WFF at the 2010 Annual Leadership Development Conference. Below is an excerpt of her acceptance speech from April 8, 2010….
You’ve probably heard the saying that “the two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why you were born …”
Well, I was born actually born on a Friday the 13th …I won’t tell you the year! It didn’t take long for me to hear about the superstition surrounding that day and I remember as a child asking my mom about it. She told me it was the Luckiest Day of Her Life. So, I reasoned, if 13 was lucky for my mom, then 13 will always be a lucky number for me, too!
As I prepared for this conference here in Las Vegas and thought about the many paths that brought me here today, sure enough, my lucky number 13 kept popping up.
I was introduced to amazing successful women – women who were so willing to honestly share their experiences – without ego – and I realized for the first time that I could soar in a career. I could add value to my company – and I could still raise a family. One thing I knew is that I could always count on sharing experiences and insights with other WFF women as they encountered similar work and family challenges.
It was 13 years ago, in 1997, that I attended my first WFF Conference in Dallas, TX. There were 650 people in attendance and on stage was then-Chair, Carla Cooper, Vice President for National Chain Accounts for Coca Cola. In my eyes, she was one of the most intelligent, articulate, poised, women executives I had ever encountered.
I remember thinking “I could never get up in front of that many people and deliver such a compelling message.”
Well, 13 years later I stand here in the same position as Carla. And even though my knees are a little weak, I feel confident that WFF has given me clarity, courage and conviction to support its Mission. How “lucky” for me that WFF came into my life!
13 years ago, my husband John, left the comfortable salary of the largest law firm in Buffalo, NY to join his alma mater Canisius College, a small but important Jesuit college in Buffalo, New York. On July 1st of this year he will become the first lay President of Canisius. How lucky for me that I have been able to share my life with a supportive soul mate!
It was also 13 years ago that our third child, Millie, was freed for adoption from the foster care system in Erie County. The whole adoption experience has something to do with the second part of my opening comments … the day you figure out why you were born. Millie’s birth name Milagros means miracle in Spanish. How lucky for our family that she came into our lives.
13 also has some important significance for me professionally. It was that many years ago at Rich Products Corporation, that my manager, mentor, colleague, and confidante, Bill Gisel, began his first full year as President of the Rich Products Food Group. Bill originally hired me at Rich’s in 1984 when he was the law department of one … so I doubled the size of our legal team! Over the years, as Bill’s role and influence grew within Rich’s, he afforded me many wonderful opportunities to learn, grow and develop.
And if it wasn’t lucky enough to have a manager like Bill, I have had the privilege of working for Bob and Mindy Rich, two pioneers in our industry, at the Greatest Family Owned company in the world.
How lucky for me that Rich’s chose to make me a part of their worldwide family and encouraged my volunteerism with the WFF!
Yes, there is certainly an element of luck in all of our lives, but accomplishing the important Mission of WFF, will take a lot more than luck. That Mission – engaging the food service industry to develop female talent and ensure career advancement for women, will require the continued clarity, courage and commitment that I experienced at my first WFF Conference.
Elevating Women Leaders has two parts to the equation: the first is “Ready Women” and the second is “Ready Organizations.”
You heard during these past two days about the exciting advancements made on the “Ready Women” part like the groundbreaking partnership with Kellogg School, the stretch experiences provided to our committed volunteer base and the relevant competency models and leadership assessments to help women leaders discover and play to their strengths.
As Chair, I am committed to continuing these important initiatives that my predecessors and fellow board members instituted.
The other half of that equation is “READY ORGANIZATIONS.” The kinds of organizations, who are proactive in advancing, leveraging and acknowledging the female talent in their companies and in our industry. The kinds of companies like the one I work for in Buffalo, NY. The kinds of companies like Kraft, the SOAR Award winner who we heard about yesterday.
There are no excuses. This is non-negotiable. Gender diverse senior leadership teams, boardrooms and CEO suites must be a priority for every company within our industry.
In my year as Chair, I am committed to collaborating with as many industry decision makers as possible to ensure that the second part of that equation “READY ORGANIZATIONS” is a reality. No luck involved …. Just clarity, courage and conviction.
In closing, I’d like to thank everyone in my Hurley and O’Connell family, my Rich’s family and my WFF family for supporting our efforts and for being with us today. I look forward to serving as your chair and am grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me.