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Lauren Rich Fine, executive search consultant at Howard & O'Brien Associates, laughs as she is praised by Margot James Copland, executive vice president of KeyCorp, during Monday's YWCA Women of Achievement Awards luncheon. Fine was one of six women honored with glass sculptures like the one she is holding in her hand.
(Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Virginia "Gigi" Benjamin was the first female attorney at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP in 1976, and now heads its public law and finance practice group.
"The day I made partner, the partner who had delivered that message to me walked into my office and said, 'Congratulations. I never thought you'd make it,'" she said.
Constance "Connie" Harper, associate publisher and editor of the "Call & Post" newspaper, was one of only seven black students in her graduating class at John Adams High School. "I grew up with racism and sexism staring me in the face," she said.
When she visited The Ohio State University for a journalism event as editor of the school newspaper, someone who saw her stepping on the hotel elevator asked, "'When did you start working here?'
"I said, 'I'm not working here, I am a guest.'"
Benjamin and Harper were among six women honored by the YWCA of Greater Cleveland as its 2013 Women of Achievement for breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes.
They joined more than 200 alumnae "who have blazed trails for women and girls to follow," said Tom F. Zenty III, chief executive officer of University Hospitals and event co-chair.
The YWCA created the award in 1977 to celebrate accomplished women after realizing that nearly all of the professional awards at the time were presented to men.
The Women of Achievement Award honors women "who embody outstanding leadership qualities, are exceptionally committed to their careers and communities, and live the YWCA mission to empower women and eliminate racism." They were recognized luncheon on Monday that drew hundreds of people to the downtown Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
The 2013 YWCA Women of Achievement, from top left, are: Virginia 'GiGi' Benjamin, Kim Bixenstine, Clara Taplin Rankin, Lauren Rich Fine, Constance 'Connie' Harper, and Lisa Oliver. They were honored for how they embodied the YWCA of Greater Cleveland's goals of eliminating racism and empowering women.
The YWCA's other honorees:
aC/Kim Bixenstine, vice president and deputy general counsel of University Hospitals, recalled "the many times in many meetings when I was the only woman in the room."
Her advice for others from those days: "If you want to be treated like a leader, act like a leader."
aC/Clara Taplin Rankin was in her 70s when she created the nonprofit Hopewell, Ohio's only therapeutic farm community for adults with severe mental illness.
Now in her 90s, she said she looks forward to the day when society looks beyond race and gender.
"Women have to make time to think about ways to express themselves and to be generous," she said.
Of volunteering, she said: "Do it if you can. Open your world up."
aC/Lauren Rich Fine, executive search consultant at Howard & O'Brien Associates, spent 23 years on male-dominated Wall Street as a top-ranked equity analyst at Merrill Lynch & Co.
"We distinguish ourselves by not just finding candidates with the required technical skills but the right cultural fit," she said of her current role. "We present a diverse slate 100 percent of the time."
"Playing it safe doesn't really get you very far in life," she added.
aC/Lisa Oliver, the first woman president of the Greater Cleveland District at KeyBank, oversees $5 billion and more than 700 employees.
"I believe empowerment begins with women believing they are empowered," she said. "It's about embracing those things that make me who I am," rather than trying to fit someone else's ideal.
"I plan to go to my grave with a glass of wine in one hand and a chocolate in the other, saying, 'Woo Hoo, what a ride!"
In addition to the six honorees, the YWCA also recognized 63 Women of Professional Excellence nominated by their employers and awarded three scholarships.
Kara Gawelek, a junior at Baldwin Wallace University, won the $1,500 Dr. Jennie S. Hwang Award.
The Cleveland Women's City Club Foundation Scholarships went to Ebony Naylor, and Jonishia Lewis, both at Cuyahoga Community College.
Harper, of the Call & Post, said: "If you asked me how I became a Woman of Achievement, I would say, 'I have no idea.'" But she said she was honored and humbled to be recognized for something she so enjoyed doing.
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