Some of you may not remember the Eurythmics classic “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” but I do and every time I hear Mika Brezinski, Huma Abedin and Maggie McGrath give their opening remarks at the Forbes 50 over 50 lunches, I’m reminded of it. This week was no different.
There is just no way to sit in the company of kick ass women making a difference in the most wide-ranging endeavors from non-profits to venture capital to healthcare and academia, and not be inspired. Everyone there was celebrating each other and this idea Mika had five years ago to shine a light on women who most people thought should be wrapping it up.
Much of the conversation this year was asking how to stay the course in a country that is so divided? Fortunately, the answer from these three leaders is consistent. Don’t believe the hype, don’t let yourself get distracted from your purpose. The room itself feels like a real life example of “age is just a number.” Now in its fifth year, many members are in their late fifties and sixties. It was noted that one of us is seventy six and still out there swinging!
In fact, the special guest speaker was Maria Shriver, who on Thursday will be seventy years old herself. When asked what she planned to do next her list was so long I can’t recall all of it. But educating about brain health is at the very top. And Alzheimer’s prevention. She recounted that when her father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with the disease, “You weren’t even allowed to talk about prevention - there was no cure - nothing could be done.” She is now passionate about promoting all the progress that has been made in recognizing how diet, exercise and stress management directly affect the onset of dementia.
Full disclosure, I’ve had an eye on Maria’s work with the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement for many years and was determined to meet her. Thank you Forbes for making sure that happened. Stay tuned as we design how best to work together. Maria is passionate about brain health and mitigating stigma and feelings of isolation facing dementia. This has been my mission since that first impulse to find a way to get my mother to laugh!
As the event wrapped I was waiting for my checked coat and couldn’t help but notice the patent leather boots AND skirt on the woman next to me. Also a multi-pronged gold necklace that looked something between a dog collar and a choker Nefertiti would have worn.
“That’s wild!” I said to her.
“It’s a statement piece,” she responded, “They never go out of style.” She said this with an “Am I right?” tone and smiled. The woman had a sense of humor. “I’m Carla Rockmore.”
This kind of directness is not unusual at these lunches. We’re literally instructed to introduce ourselves to basically every woman we make eye contact with.
“Oh Hi! I’m Dani, I’m all about laughter. Which also, fortunately, never goes out of style.”
I’m not sure I actually said that. I probably said something more like,
“I’m sure you’re right!” But regardless, we then had a brief conversation where Carla confessed that, yes, she loves fashion, has a big Insta and QVC presence, but what she loves almost as much is making people laugh! Hashtag me too!
On the E train back to where I was staying I looked up Ms. Rockmore on Instagram. She does love making people laugh! Whether she’s dancing in a plush bathrobe or tripping out of frame putting on stockings, she’s definitely about having fun while looking fabulous!
Settling back in LA this afternoon, anticipating my schedule for the next few weeks, speaking at the ICAA conference and then MoMa Symposium, it can feel like a lot. In those inevitable moments where I feel like Hardy from the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo, “Another fine mess I’ve gotten myself into.” A 1930 movie reference only a 60 year old comedy nerd would make! Challenging these thoughts, I’ll take Ms. Brezinski’s words to heart. We women don’t have to close in on ourselves as the years keep coming. On the contrary, we can keep taking big swings. We can keep meeting kindred spirits with contagious energy and a sense of humor who, despite the inevitability of passing decades, are also refusing to tap out!
