On Anne's Mind

Integrate and Ignite is a terrific podcast for entrepreneurs and leaders. I was thrilled to be invited as a guest to talk about the 7 Skills High Achievers need to master to make the leap to Leadership.  We also talked about the #MeToo movement.  Hope you'll listen! 

I’m sick over the devastating sexual assault that Dr. Larry Nassar, of USA Gymnastics & Michigan State University, perpetrated for decades on young, female athletes. But I'm also in awe and inspired by the courage of the amazing little girls who grew into incredibly strong women.

They are an example of the power of the next generation of young women who are just beginning to hit their stride. They will not settle for "being one of the boys" or being silenced. Me Too; It's About Time; and "We're Coming For You Larry!" are just the beginning. Long may they lead!

Here's my commentary on the Rage and Resilience of this powerful Survivor Sisterhood. 

The great Magic Johnson, who led Michigan State University to the NCAA Basketball National Championship on his way to becoming one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, has called on his Alma Mater to be held accountable for the criminal behavior of MSU Dr. Larry Nassar.  As a Michigander who married an MSU Spartan, I am horrified and heartbroken over the abuse that hundreds of young, female athletes suffered -- for decades -- and the dozens of adults who refused to believe them or ignored their cries for help. Here's more on Magic Johnson's comments.   

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are aware of the paradigm shifting events that unfolded over the past few days in a courtroom in East Lansing, Michigan, which is only an hour's drive from my home.

One hundred and fifty six (yes, 156!) courageous girls and young women stood before a judge and, in often quivering voices through bitter tears, told their stories of years of sexual abuse (camoflauged as "medical treatment"!) by child predator Dr. Larry Nassar. For decades - DECADES - this evil man repeatedly sexually assaulted hundreds of world-class, young, female gymnasts entrusted to his care. Some only SIX years old. 

Nassar is headed to prison. 

It's believed to be the biggest scandal in the history of sports. The stories of the "sister survivors" are ugly and heart-wrenching. But they are the tip of the iceberg. 

Equally depraved are the dozens of adults at Michigan State University and the USA Gymnastics community who ignored or refused to believe years of warning signs and complaints from young girls who sensed something was very wrong with the "treatments" he gave them for their pain. Those heads are just beginning to fall with the forced resignation of MSU President of Lou Anna Simon and the entire Board of USA Gymnastics.  

Our cultural tetonic plates are shifting.  As one survivor put it, "This is what it looks like when little girls grow up and become powerful women demanding to be heard."  We must learn from this depraved lesson so that future generations of little girls (and little boys) are no longer ignored when they raise alarm after alarm. They must be heard, believed and protected. 

The coverage here in Michigan, which is at the center of this tempest, has been intense with outstanding journalism shedding light and turning up the heat on this evil.  Here is a quick summary of the major players and the best coverage on each I have found.  I hope you will read, weep and believe.   

Key Players:

• Dr. Larry Nassar - Now a convincted child molester who will spend the rest of his life in prison, Nassar was the USA gymnastics national team doctor and an osteopathic physician at Michigan State University. Who was/is Larry Nassar? 
• Sister Survivors -- Who knows how many Nassar painfully violated; 156 told their stories to the world in court, including Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman. Remember this name: Rachel Denhollander. She is the courageous young woman who finally broke this perversion wide open by taking her story to the Indianapolis Star (2 years ago) and filing a lawsuit.  Please read her "The Price I Paid" commentary in the NY TIMES. And then listen to Aly Raisman confront Nassar in court.  
• Judge Rosemarie Aquilina --  For seven days this  transformative judge did something highly unusual. She cleared her docket to make time at Nassar's sentencing hearing for any and all who wanted to speak to be heard. At first they thought it would be 88. But the calls kept coming as more and more of Nassar's young targets courageously stepped forward. The opportunity Judge Aquilina created for survivors to be heard and the support she gave them allowed the world to comprehend what happened and to react with appropriate vengence. This excellent Atlantic magazine article captures Aquilina's important role.  
• Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon -- Once highly-regarded, Simon served as president for over 14 years. The MSU Board of Trustees, stunningly concerned more about its University brand than its students, circled the wagons around her with a vote of confidence less than 10 days ago. Unfortunately, she will be remembered for her complacency (if not cover-up) in this nightmare and the stunning ARROGANCE of her resignation letter. 
• 
  Investigative Journalism -- That Larry Nassar is headed for life in prison and the survivors of his crimes are finally being heard is evidence of the importance of investigative journalism. The Indianapolis Star first broke this story two years ago. The Lansing State Journal, the MSU Student Newspaper and the Detroit Free Press have followed with oustanding additional coverage. But my favorite piece is the powerful commentary by sports columnist Shawn Windsor. His fury flames off the page as he tells one of the truths behind this story: society values boys over girls. Here's: This Isn't Penn State; It's Worse. 

Finally  -- I'm numb and sick over all of this. But I'm also in awe  and inspired by the courage of the amazingl little girls who grew into incredibly strong and powerful women who refused to be quiet. It took an incredible, tenacious young leader to unleash the power of this young sisterhood. They gained in strength as each stepped out of the shadows and felt their collective strength grow in that courtroom. They are an example of the power of the next generation of young women who are just beginning to hit their stride. 

They will not settle for "being one of the boys" or being silenced.  They are taking the baton of empowerment from generations of women who have gone before. Me Too; It's About Time; and "We're Coming For You Larry!" are just the beginning. Long may they lead!  

I'm concerned about the growing chasm between so-called "2nd Wave Feminists" (Baby Boomers) and Millennial Feminists. Just as women want men to stop MANSPLAINING and LISTEN regarding the #METOO movement, it's time for my generation of women committed to the equality of the female half of the human race to LISTEN to our younger sisters who are beginning to hit their stride. The differences split wide open in the 2016 election over support for Sanders vs. Clinton. But they continue growing! Here's an insightful and well-researched article that helped me understand. 

Participation in sports is one of the best ways I know to help inoculate our girls in preparation for the toxic #METOO culture they are growing up in. I'm a strong supporter of the Girls Changing the Game program of Detroit's PAL (Police Athletic League), which provides athletic opportunity and character building for 30,000 urban youth annually. Here's a great article in the Detroit News on why the opportunity to compete on sports teams and build confidence through physical activity is so important for our girls.

As much as I would love to see Oprah Winfrey debate Donald Trump on a national stage and believe that a Winfrey Administration would be a powerful antidote to the toxicity that has the USA in its grip, I agree with the parallel perspective. Oprah's stirring message, as she accepted a Lifetime Achievement honorary Golden Globe, was not about HER. It was about US. Hope you'll take the time to read this insightful commentary as you choose your own path. We are living in challenging times. Let's not be bystanders.  

Something happened last night in Hollywood that may have an impact on the whole world. Yes, it was the #METOO and #TIME'SUP night, as women dressed in black, men wore supporting lapel pins and putting an end to sexual harassment and assault dominated Red Carpet and Honoree comments.

But the most powerful moment of the night came when Oprah Winfrey received the Cecil B. deMille Lifetime Achievement Award. It is a coveted, honorary Golden Globe, bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment." She deserved it. 

But her greatest contribution may have been her acceptance remarks, which brought tears to the eyes of many, particularly women, in the star-packed audience, and were broadcast all over the world. Her message was one for the ages. I'm not going to attempt to explain the power and impact of her words. If you stayed up late and saw it live, you witnessed history ... better yet, herstory. If you haven't seen it, you need to. Watch it several times and soak it in. Then share it. Here's the link. 

Her message re-ignited talk about Oprah Winfrey as a potential 2020 candidate for President. After last night, that talk is getting serious. And it should. 

First, because she's clearly qualified and respected all over the world. Second, because of her integrity, clarity and values, an Oprah Winfrey Administration would be the most powerful antidote I can imagine to the toxicity that has America in its nasty grip.

Do I think she could be elected? ABSOLUTELY!

As discouraged as millions of us were one year ago when we took to the streets in Washington, DC (I was there), and in cities and countries all over the world, to express our outrage over the defeat of an incredibly qualified woman by a profoundly unqualified man, I believe the United States is on the verge of electing our first woman president. I'm hoping to live long enough to witness it. 

I've also come to believe that it is more likely that an African American woman will crack that ultimate "marble ceiling" before a white woman. Why? Because I believe our culture is more comfortable with powerful, eloquent African American women, such as Oprah, than we are with white women who dare to raise their voices too much and have the audacity to aspire too high. 

What do you think? Whether you agree or disagree with me, I'd love to hear from you. If you respond to this email, I'll answer! Anne

P.S. I'm getting ready to launch my PODCAST, which will be broadcast, initially, every other week. My launch date is March 8th: International Women's Day -- and the day that a National Women's Strike is scheduled in the U.S. What interesting times we are living in. Let's not be bystanders.  

Only 39 women have ever served as governor of a state in U.S. history -- one of them, the Honorable Jennifer Granholm, was governor of my home state of Michigan. Currently only SIX states have a woman serving as governor.  But that could change dramatically in 2018, according to the Center for American Women in Politics.  At least 79 women have either already thrown their hat in the ring or are seriously considering a gubenatorial run. We have a very strong candidate running for governor in Michigan -- Gretchen Whitmer, who was just profiled in the Washington Post. 

Here's more on why the U.S. may be poised for a giant gender leap forward in the 2018 elections.