Ursel J. McElroy

Yet it is also sobering when you realize the amount of ground we still have to cover.

So I intend to commemorate this important day, this important time to not only create awareness, but to use it as a platform for action that will yield needed change.

I think there will be many residual benefits from the pandemic.

The pandemic has accelerated the need for many successful organizations to appreciate the value of women

their contributions, and our need to be much more flexible, to be much more innovative, to be much more thoughtful and purposeful about how we harness, how we retain, how we utilize the talents of all of our employees.

But this is particularly beneficial, I believe, for many women.

I am keeping my eye on what many are concerned about the potential for a mass exodus of women during this time.

But I am also keeping my eye on the opportunities that companies have now to make workforce environments more conducive for the growth of women.

And it will be those companies that I believe will thrive

and that will succeed.

And many of the younger women or many of the women coming behind me, I believe in 15 years, 20 years will reap the benefits of that.

I would like to believe that the changes that we are forced to make at this time, the changes that we are

in the midst of making at this time, creates opportunities for us to be very intentional and thoughtful about how these changes allow us to create those spaces for many women leaders.

Thank you, Pooja.

It was absolutely my pleasure.