On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, hundreds of America’s top female business leaders converged in New York City for a gala luncheon honoring the 2013 National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Top 50 Companies for Executive Women. These winners represent the cream of the crop of corporations and nonprofits that have advanced women in their organization, as featured in the February/March 2013 issue of Working Mother. The event boasted a lively celebration of women’s business accomplishments, as well as a keynote speech by Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and former Ambassador at-Large for Global Women’s Issues under the Obama Administration.

Working Mother Media president Carol Evans kicked off the event with her signature-style rousing welcome to the comanies, women and men in attendance—an audience of more than 450. She introduced NAFE president Betty Spence, PhD (pictured above, far right), who asserted to the audience, “Women’s success is your success.” Since 1972, NAFE has supported female executives, professionals and entrepreneurs by providing resources necessary for success. In her opening speech, Dr. Spence focused the audience’s attention on supporting the next generation of women—something that can only be achieved if women claim their skills and acknowledge their own abilities. “If we want the next generation of women leaders to prosper, let’s model comfort with our own talent so that they will be proud of theirs,” she said. 

Furthering this emphasis on claiming one’s abilities and skills, women from NAFE’s Top 10 Companies for Executive Women, representing companies such as Procter & Gamble and Marriott International, spoke briefly about the personal attributes key to their own success as they accepted their companies' awards. 

A highlight of the afternoon was the thought-provoking keynote speech by Melanne Verveer (pictured above, center, beside Working Mother executive editor Barbara Turvett). Verveer discussed the current state of women’s political and economic power and reminded the audience that women, who make up half the population, still only hold one-fifth of national government positions. “The decisions that affect women, their families and society for the most part are being made without their voice,” Verveer said. In addition, she discussed several barriers to women starting their own businesses—barriers like discriminatory laws and customs and lack of access to capital. Despite these and other challenges, Verveer said she was realistically optimistic about increasing women’s roles in politics and the economy. She touted several benefits of women’s heightened political participation as well as studies that linked the empowerment of women to global growth.

The stimulating event and speeches were topped only by the enthusiasm of all in attendance. For next year’s event, Spence looks forward to building on the changes NAFE women will make in their companies throughout the year: "These are the women who have the influence back in their companies. They have committed to making change for women back at their organization and advancing women. And that is huge!”