Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit 2008

This week I attended Fortune’s Most Powerful Women’s Summit, which brings together a group of 300+ C-level executive women. I’ve attended for the past three years, and each year it gets better.

The event never fails to inspire, and this year there was no shortage of memorable moments. An interview with Warren Buffet by Fortune’s Carol Loomis was a special highlight. Listening to Warren Buffet speak would have been a treat anyway, but given the current financial crisis, his attendance at this all female event made an even greater impact. Warren’s pragmatic and comforting words are exactly what this country needs. I could not help thinking that he should be the person speaking to the American public rather than the person who currently occupies the White House.

The event was also timed with the Vice Presidential debate. There we were, an audience of 300+ women, watching an historic event in a large conference room. What I witnessed in that room confirmed what I have always known about female executives. We are not blinded by loyalty to our gender. Instead, we are focused on doing the right thing. We want the best person for the job. For most in that room, Sarah Palin was not that person. One woman told me “Two steps forward and three steps back.” What amazes me is that eighty percent of the women in that room are more qualified for the job.

There were many discussions around leadership, innovation, and of course the financial crisis. What I witnessed were cool, level-headed women leading people through a storm. It was an outstanding event and I am thankful to have been a part of it once again.