Forbes Women's Summit 2021: Moira Forbes | ForbesWomen

Hi, my name is Moira Forbes, and I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to this special gathering, which includes inspiring content and extraordinary women. This year's summit is being held again against the backdrop of a time defined by unprecedented challenges and unprecedented uncertainty. What we have planned or expected to happen continues to be upended, including the fact that we're still together virtually and not always in person for events such as this. I've become all the more grateful for gatherings that bring together interesting and dynamic women such as you. I'm grateful for the opportunity it represents and what's possible when we come together around a shared commitment. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: three things continue to stay at the forefront of my mind when I think about the past 19 months. First, it's the set of intense challenges that have been shared by everyone around the world. This is truly extraordinary; we've never lived through in modern history a moment such as this where our cultures, our communities, and our businesses have all experienced this time of incredible tumult and challenge together. Secondly, what stood out to me is the deep inequalities right now that we have to confront, that we have to fight, and that the pandemic has continued to put a spotlight on. And the last, the third thing, is that this year in the past 19 months have also been a powerful reminder that no matter what corner of society we're in, we each hold the power to lead massive change. As I said, I regret that we can't always be together in person, but I'm excited and hopeful about the ideas and inspiration that will be sparked at this event. I'm excited by what's possible when we come together around a shared commitment. Forbes has been steadfast in our mission to empower individuals to be successful in life and in business for over 105 years, and that includes our steadfast commitment to ensuring that women have equal access to opportunity and spotlighting the ways in which women are advancing in exciting and extraordinary ways. While there's still much progress that needs to happen, women today are at the helm of countries, overseeing companies, and leading movements that are reshaping society. And while we know that women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and that the hard-won gains in recent years are being threatened, women still are continuing to rise in unprecedented ways. We're using our voice, we're using our power, and now we're using our platforms more than ever to make a lasting impact that betters the world. Throughout today's event, you'll hear from visionary female leaders who aren't just talking about the challenges we face; more importantly, they're doing something about them. More simply, each of the women that you're going to hear from and learn from today is a change maker. To that end, I'm confident that the conversations and discussions that we'll be having are going to be instructive, that these conversations are going to spark new ideas, reframe questions, and inspire all of us to tap into our own power, to harness that power, to hone it, and to put that power to work on behalf of others. At a time truly when the stakes have never been higher, it's also true that the possibilities have never been greater. Now is the time to summon our collective resolve and to pay our power forward. Each of us is a change maker; when we come together, extraordinary things can and will continue to happen. So as we head into the close of 2021 — and I cannot believe we are coming to the end of this year — I still am incredibly optimistic, actually the most optimistic I've ever been about the future opportunities for women and the world. And why? It's because time and again, I've consistently seen that what unites women across industries and generations, especially now, is their ability to turn challenge into opportunity. And now that's being proven like never before during the pandemic. Women have the potential to not just navigate a new normal, but a better one. This is exciting and inspiring. We're having the conversations that we need to be having around creating a more equitable workforce of the future; we're having conversations around how we advance society. And we're not just having those conversations, we're putting thought and rigor and action into place. By bringing together individuals such as yourself at this gathering, it's really important to remember that this is a unique moment to exchange ideas, to share best practices, to learn from one another, and to drive meaningful change. For that, I am truly grateful. So I want to thank each and every one of you for being part of this amazing gathering. I'm grateful that we at Forbes continue to have the opportunity to engage and connect with so many extraordinary leaders such as yourselves, and I truly hope to be in touch with all of you in the weeks and months ahead.