POWER of COLLABORATION Global Summit: "Women and the Future of Global Leadership" Convenes at The United Nations

NEW YORK, NY, April 02, 2014 (Press-News.org) IMPACT Leadership 21 , in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, IBM and other global organizations, held the POWER of COLLABORATION Global Summit at the United Nations Headquarters Wednesday, February 26, 2014. Representatives from the diplomatic community, UN agencies, NGOs, academia and global leaders from both the public and private sectors attended the groundbreaking conference. The UN Summit provided a global platform for catalytic conversations that revolutionize global leadership for women through new, innovative approaches. It provided a unique opportunity for a very open and frank debate on gender equality, role of women in society, in decision-making, role of education, role of men, including the resources, tools, opportunities and channels that equip women to succeed in a global environment.

The theme of the panel discussions were two-fold. First on women in leadership and second, engaging men in gender equality discussions and actions. The panel discussions fostered a dialogue for both women and men to share ideas on equality, access to education for women and girls, and empowering women to participate in both the decision making process and implementation. The panels further emphasized the imperative for both women and men from across all sectors to collaborate and accelerate women's leadership at the top level and create sustainableeconomies. One of the main messages of the conference was that gender equality has been advancing, but there is a need to accelerate efforts towards its realization.

IMPACT Leadership 21′s revolutionary approach to accelerating women's leadership understands that men are part of the solution, and engaging them in the entire conversation and process is key. "In order for economies and global leadership to be sustainable, it is imperative that those who are in top leadership positions commit to a political will and a conscious effort to make women's leadership equality at the top a normal, daily aspect of every institution in our society," said Janet C. Salazar, the CEO and Founder of IMPACT Leadership 21. "We are at a tipping point of global leadership transformation - and women are ready and equipped for the much-needed rebalance," Salazar added.

Among those who were instrumental in making the launch of POWER of COLLABORATION a success was Lisa Marie Kao, CEO and Founder of MyntSmile Oral Health. Ms. Kao is a Global Ambassador for IMPACT Leadership 21. "As a global entrepreneur, a trailblazer in the oral health industry and a woman, I feel that I have a responsibility to serve as a role model, especially to the emerging women leaders who aspire to create change and make an impact," Ms. Kao said.

"IMPACT Leadership 21 engages key collaborators in the global community across sectors. Lisa Marie Kao, CEO and President of MyntSmile Oral Health, is one of our Global Ambassadors. As an entrepreneur, an inventor and a trailblazer in her industry, she actively promotes the business case of accelerating women's leadership at the top level," says Janet Salazar. Constance J. Peak, IMPACT's Chief Strategist and CFO stated, "Let us recognize the Power of Collaboration to transform. Let us Collaborate to Accelerate change in our world. It is our belief that the advancement of women's leadership willfacilitate answers for our today, and be the catalyst for a better tomorrow."

IMPACT welcomed over 200 distinguished attendees at the conference, including Ambassadors Libran Cabactulan (Philippine Mission to the UN), Edita Hrda (Czech Republic Mission to the UN), Anwarul Chowdhury (former UN Under-Secretary General), Josephine Ojiambo, (former Ambassador of Kenya to the UN), and MacDella Cooper, (Founder, The MacDella Cooper Foundation). The panel discussion on "Women and the Future of Global Leadership" featured several prominent speakers including, Barri Friedman Rafferty (CEO & Senior Partner, Ketchum NA), Denise Evans (VP, Market Development, IBM Corporation), Liz Lyman (Managing Director, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ), Michaela Walsh (Founder, Women's World Banking; Author, Founding a Movement), and Michelle Patterson (President and CEO, California Women's Conference).

IMPACT Leadership 21's innovative platform entitled "Conversations with Men: Engaging Men: An Innovative Approach, A Call To Action" was the second panel, featuring the following noteworthy speakers: Ahmad Alhendawi (UN Secretary-General First Envoy on Youth), John Gerzema (NY Times Bestselling Author, The Athena Doctrine), Dr. Keith Merron (Senior Executive Consultant), Barbara Annis and Associates (Gender Intelligence Institute), and Carl Murrell (UN Representative, Bahai International).

The panels were moderated by the Director of United Nations Millennium CampaignCorinne Woods and IMPACT CEO and Founder Janet C. Salazar.

This year's POWER of COLLABORATION also highlighted IMPACT Leadership 21's support and commitment to taking action on the "Post-2015 UN Development Agenda," strengthening the role of women in the debate which the UN is currently engaged. IMPACT Leadership 21 will be attending the California Women's Conference to launch "Conversations with Men" on the West Coast on May 19 & 20, in Long Beach, California.

For more information please contact Janet C. Salazar at: jcsalazar@impactleadership21.com

About IMPACT Leadership 21:

IMPACT Leadership 21 is a movement and a platformcommitted to accelerating and transforming women's global leadership at thehighest level of influence in the 21st century. IMPACT represents the core values and principles required for transformational leadership:
I - Innovation, M - Multiculturalism, P - Passion, A - Attunement, C - Collaboration, and T- Tenacity.