ALLENTOWN, Pa. — On this International Women’s Day weekend, when the world is reminded of all the incredible things that women can do, it’s also extremely important to focus on the don’ts.
The don’ts were fully and strongly emphasized during an IWD luncheon event at Renaissance Allentown Hotel on Friday.
Don’t give up your dreams.
Don’t do it alone.
Don’t tolerate sexism.
Don’t forget to find balance in your life.
Don’t downplay your successes.
Don’t ignore your gut instincts.
Don’t settle for less than equality.
Sponsored by African-American Business Leaders Council, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Business Council, the event underscored the importance of women to feel empowered in all aspects of their lives and that they’re not alone.
Female leaders and achievers from the Lehigh Valley participated in a panel discussion on topics including challenges, successes and failures in the workplace.
Other topics underscored the importance for women to have a support system, finding life balance, career shifting and how to address sexism.
The theme is resilience
The local event was held the day before the annual IWD observance. Founded in 1911, the day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.
The 2025 IWD campaign theme is #AccelerateAction: inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion.
“I have two kids and a career. I learned you have to have balance. You need to have boundaries in life to protect what is most important to you — time. You never know how much currency — time — you’ll get in life.”Hasanna Birdsong, managing director of Adept Group, a packaging company in Allentown
“I think the overarching theme of this year's Women's History Month is resilience,” said event moderator Sandra Bieber, a marketing and public relations strategist.
“Women need to feel empowered to overcome some things during these troubled times. The one thing that I would love to impart is that it's OK to reimagine yourself and reimagine who you want to become.
"These women [on the panel] are so good at being able to pivot and reinvent themselves and give back to the community.”
Panelist Hasanna Birdsong, managing director of Adept Group, a packaging company in Allentown, discussed the importance of harmony and balance in a career.
“I have two kids and a career,” Birdsong said. “I learned you have to have balance. You need to have boundaries in life to protect what is most important to you — time.
"You never know how much currency — time — you’ll get in life.”
‘Seized the moment’
Women in attendance were urged to follow their curiosity.
“That’s what motivated me, what propelled me and instilled in me to live my life with less fear,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, supervisor of customer service integration at PPL Electric Utilities.
“My message to everyone is it’s not always about advocating drastic career changes. You can make small changes over an extended period of time. That can make a big difference.”
“Leadership has different faces, ways and styles,” she said. “Not all leadership has to be in your face and very loud. It can be quiet, behind the scenes, where you can get things done.”Carol Obando-Derstine, supervisor of customer service integration at PPL Electric Utilities
Obando-Derstine, who helped found the Greater Philadelphia chapter of Latinas in Tech on IWD last year, also shared advice on women being in leadership positions.
“Leadership has different faces, ways and styles,” she said. “Not all leadership has to be in your face and very loud. It can be quiet, behind the scenes, where you can get things done.”
Women may sometimes experience apprehension when considering changing careers.
Nancy Conrad was a third-grade school teacher and guidance counselor before setting off on a 25-year law career.
She is a veteran attorney and managing partner of the Lehigh Valley office of White & Williams LLP and president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
“When I was a teacher, I started working with school lawyers on things like fair labor practices and collective bargaining agreements,” Conrad said.
“Then, and with no real guidance, I applied to law school. I taught school during the day and attended law school at night. I ended up in this field not because I planned it, but because I seized the moment.”
‘I'm influencing Bethlehem’
When women experience uncertainty about choosing a career, sometimes the answer is found in the option of others.
Such was the case for Camille Hamilton of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center in Allentown.
The Jamaica-born Hamilton chose nursing. However, her mentor in New York saw in her a teacher, the career of her mother, and in which she had no interest.
“I was told by a mentor, ‘You will be teaching.' He said, 'you have too much knowledge and too much to share.' He said to try it. I thought I would hate it. I loved it.”Camille Hamilton of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center in Allentown
“I was told by a mentor, ‘You will be teaching,’” she said. “He said, 'you have too much knowledge and too much to share.' He said to try it. I thought I would hate it.
“I loved it.”
After graduating from Freedom High School, Rachel Leon served in the Navy for 10 years, then three years in Hawaii, where she founded a nonprofit serving homeless veterans.
She returned home and enrolled in Northampton Community College to study global affairs.
Now a member of Bethlehem City Council, Leon said she learned how influential her experiences would be as a civil servant.
“I’m influencing Bethlehem,” she said. “We created an internal equity program.
"Council crafts laws. I view the city council as a drumbeat and the administration as the music over the drumbeat.”
‘Can't fear failure’
Much progress has been made for women. Much work remains, especially in gender equality, participants said.
“At the current rate of progress, it will take till 2158 — five more generations — until we reach full gender equality,” said Yamelisa Jimenez Taveras, co-vice chairwoman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“The work still remains. We are not done. We have to find true equity."Yamelisa Jimenez Taveras, co-vice chair, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“The work still remains. We are not done. We have to find true equity. To do that is to invest in women.
"We need to understand that we need to work on making sure to lift up the women whose voices have been historically silenced. And we need to be inclusive for more women of color in these spaces.”
Neither failure nor success is permanent, Birdsong said.
“Oprah [Winfrey] was told she wasn’t good enough to be on TV; we all know how that worked out," she said.
“The Spanx woman, Sara Blakely, couldn’t get anyone to invest in her company. But she didn’t quit. She did OK.
“And what if Beyonce quit after she lost on ‘Star Search’? What would we do today without the Queen Bey?
“You can’t fear failure.”
