Press Release
BIBA CEO Cheryl Packwood speaks at Bermuda Business and Professional Women’s Association (BPW) Confe
Category: BusinessHamilton, Bermuda: Saturday, March 08, 2008 -
Hamilton, Bermuda, 8 March 2008 – On Friday, March 7th, the BPW Association marked International Women's Day (officially celebrated on March 8th annually) with an all day conference, entitled “New Dimensions of Leadership” at the Hamilton Princess Hotel that drew more than 50 members and supporters. Several of Bermuda's leading professional women spoke throughout the day, discussing their contributions to society in strengthening world peace and security as well as the empowerment of women to maximize their potential for meaningful change. The keynote luncheon presentation was delivered by Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) CEO Cheryl Packwood.
Ms. Packwood addressed the delegates on "Building a Strong and Competitive Corporate Culture". Well known in Bermuda for her leadership at BIBA and also, with AT&T Wireless/Cingular, (now Digicel), she called upon her experience in many other corporate cultures; first as a teacher in the New York City Public School System before she decided to study law at Harvard University. She then worked at a Wall Street Firm, honing her writing and analytical skills. Next, Cheryl moved to Côte d'Ivoire, practicing law for some ten years before moving into the telecommunications field as the managing director for the Ivorian operations of an American company.
In 2003, she returned to Bermuda taking up the position of General Manager of Corporate Services at the BMA, moving on to Cingular Bermuda and now holding the Chief Executive Officer position at BIBA.
Ms. Packwood's corporate experience has proven that building a strong, successful and competitive corporate culture is not difficult to accomplish if the basic elements are there from the onset: 1) Vision and Values - Creating goals that are clear, visible and attainable 2) Culture of Trust - Building a work environment of trust so that ideas can flow freely 3) Team & Individual Empowerment - Empowering your employees so that they know that their contribution is valued 4) Corporate Governance - Establishing policies and procedures which position your organization to compete globally, and 5) Leading by Example - Walking the talk!
She stressed that whether the culture you're trying to facilitate is that for a large corporate entity, a small office, or even a body of volunteers, the establishment of a clear, shared vision and a system of practical and realistic values is an important step in developing an organization that fosters a strong corporate culture.
Strongly passionate about her community, Cheryl took corporate trust beyond the office doors, adding that her audience must realize that it is important and critical to success to establish strong community ties. Depending on the size of the institution, community involvement might be as simple as sponsoring local teams, supporting shelters, or raising funds for charities. But an organization does not build trust just by giving money.
She emphasized that “Employees who spend their time giving back to the community will reap dividends toward the institution's credibility and trustworthiness. It is imperative that the community believe that your sponsorship is from the heart. The Management must make every effort to attend events in the community and hand out prizes and talk to people. A check is great but the person behind the check is superior and those who volunteer time to assist are equally valued as those with deep pockets.” Ms. Packwood paid tribute to International Women's Day, concluding by saying, "There is still more to build upon; but there is certainly much to celebrate.”
The United Nations gives a truly poetic description of what International Women's Day is. It is a day when women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day. They can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. International Women's Day is the story of not just those of us who have risen to the top but of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.
Ms. Packwood ended by affirming women’s progress: “Today, we have Hillary Clinton with a realistic chance at the White House, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson as president of Liberia, Cristina Fernadez as President of Argentina, and, well, you and me talking about how to make the corporate culture successful because you know what? We count. “
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