The Optical Vision Site

Women in Optical – Success Stories

I was sorting through my old copies of optical trade magazines last night, trying to clean up my office for the coming year. I could not bring myself to throw away the July 21, 2008 edition of Vision Monday as it is the Success Stories Optical’s Most Influential Women. I can’t believe it is the sixth year of this already and it is just as exciting, well almost, as the first one in 2003. What is the big deal you might say, why do women have to be singled out? I have been asked this over the years, especially during the time I was on the board of the Optical Women’s Association (OWA) and I say air is not big deal unless there isn’t any for you to breath. It is something you only notice if you don’t have any or the air quality is bad. It is about being noticed and given credibility. At the time the OWA was formed, very few women served on optical industry boards; very few were honored as leaders at industry functions or featured as optical business leaders.  It wasn’t so long ago that Time Magazine would celebrate “Man of the Year” rather than “Person of the Year”.

Picture from Vision Monday Cover July 21,2008

The OWA and Jobson’s annual special report have made the industry take more notice of the women that influence it and hopefully provide an example of leadership and encouragement for all women who work in the optical field. It isn’t about excluding men it is about including women and showcasing some of them once a year or so especially the mentors. These are the women who are team builders, developers of talent. Via example, education or training they successfully influence others to grow in their business or professional acumen. This is good for the optical business.

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