Every year, there are a number of events that we look forward to participating in with our partner, The Robert Toigo Foundation. In October, Toigo held their Groundbreakers Women in Leadership Summit and, due to its virtual offering, we had the chance to involve more crew and provide them with an opportunity to focus on their personal and professional development. In addition, we also had the pleasure of Vernita Exum, Principal and Head of Equity Index in Europe, representing Vanguard in a panel discussion focusing on Navigating the New Normal.

With the conference hosting a variety of sessions over a three day span, we wanted to capture the perspectives of our crew who were able to attend. We asked them a few questions about their experience, and we were thrilled with the positive feedback we received. Here is what they had to say:

What was your biggest takeaway from one of the sessions you attended?

Who we are and where we came from, however defined by society, is not a limit. On the contrary, our experiences offer extraordinary value and perspective to creativity, problem solving and decision-making to any organization. – Rebecca C.

I received excellent tips for seeking feedback. Positive feedback is not the same as praise. Frequent, specific, and behavioral feedback accelerates development. – Jaliya F.

Being more deliberate in creating space for storytelling and authentic conversations, while supporting others as life and work become one in this virtual environment, is key. – Christina S.

Not having enough time is not our problem. It’s distraction. – Rashanda P.

How will you apply any lessons you learned to your personal or professional life?

For me, it is not just about sharing my perspective, but about listening and being on the lookout for diverse voices that can add to the fullness of our understanding as an organization. – Rebecca C.

I plan to look for more opportunities to give my team regular feedback, especially during this time when I don’t interact with them daily. For example, sitting in on a meeting for a specific purpose of being able to provide feedback even though I don’t need to be there. Doing a better job of asking for specific, behavioral feedback about myself, rather than asking for generic feedback. – Jaliya F.

I’ll aim to be more forgiving of myself as I manage home-life and work-life all hours of the day. Further, I’ll be focusing more of our team time on diversity and inclusion topics and learning about each other – what makes us different, what makes us better working as a team because of the differences. – Christina S.

I’ve immediately implemented non-distraction signals that include hanging a stop sign on my door for others and turning off email notifications during high focus times throughout my day. — Rashanda P.

One of the reasons we so highly value our relationship with Toigo is because they are always seeking to give back. Evident from the responses of our crew, there is no doubt that what they have gained from this year’s summit will benefit them for years to come. We look forward to continue building on our relationship. To learn more about the foundation, visit its website here.