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During her keynote address, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-Banner Elk, N.C., compared women to ants — the insect that can, improbably, lift 5,000 times its weight. 

“Women, like ants, often take on tasks that seem impossible,” she said. “But these little tasks that seem impossible really make a difference.”

Hosted by U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, the Sixth District Women’s Conference was held at James Madison University Tuesday morning.

The conference featured a resource fair and workshops. Attendees could attend a workshop on protecting against identity theft, learn about financial strategies or how to start a small business.

The speakers, however, were the biggest draw for most in attendance.

The theme of “making a difference” carried through Foxx’s speech and into the panel on leadership that followed.

Joining Foxx on the panel were Rita Bishop, Roanoke schools superintendent; Mary Lou Bourne, executive director of James Madison Innovations Inc.; Brig. Gen. Terry Djuric, commandant of the cadet corps at the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College; and Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst.

An early question to the panel from an audience member asked how panelists’ faith affects the way in which they lead.

Garst said she is very open with her faith.

“I’m not politically correct, so I’ll pray in public,” she said, adding that she’s prayed at several events, including police academy graduations. “If they don’t want to invite me back because of it, so be it.”

Foxx said she believes faith can and should inform leaders, but cited “the fine line between being informed by it and imposing your faith on others.”

The panel also discussed education and assistance to children and families in need, with Bishop stressing the importance of providing support to low-income or homeless children to allow them the same opportunity as other children.

“You don’t know who’s homeless in Roanoke City Schools, because we handle it,” she said. “We make sure they’re fed and clothed and are able to be the same.”

Both Bishop and Foxx said giving more support to single parents would help children succeed.

Djuric noted the support should continue into college, where educators should make sure students know someone is there to help them.

Bishop also said teaching teens to wait to have children until they’re married and in a stable job would strengthen families and help both children and their parents succeed.

The final question posed to the panelists was what had been the best piece of advice they’d ever received. While each had a slightly different answer, the tone of each comment was the same.

“Find what you love and you’ll always be good at it,” Garst said.

“We live in the greatest country in the world,” Foxx said, “and shame on us if we don’t use our talents to keep it that way.”

Djuric told the audience to believe in themselves. “Don’t just think of yourself as the only woman speaking up,” she said. “Think of yourself as a leader.”

The final piece of advice came from Bishop, who closed the panel with one of her favorite quotes.

“When you get ready to make your mark on the world,” she said, “look out for the little men with erasers.”
http://www.dnronline.com/article/think_of_yourself_as_a_leader