When Martha Piper was offered the president’s job at the University of British Columbia, she almost didn’t accept it.
“I needed to be cajoled, supported and guided” by family and friends, she told the crowd at the Fairmont Waterfront when she accepted her Influential Women In Business Lifetime Achievement award on International Women’s Day.
Don’t hesitate to do the things that scare you, she said, looking back on a career filled with opportunities to accept new leadership roles and challenges. Know that it’s natural to doubt yourself. But when Lady Luck knocks on your door, open it.
Luck has played a big role in her life, she said. She was lucky to be born into her family, lucky to live in the Western world where women can get educated and aspire to be the top of their fields, lucky to marry a man who loved and supported her, lucky to have two wonderful children and extremely lucky to have four amazing grandchildren.
She was also lucky to be considered as the best candidate to lead “the world’s most extraordinary university,” a role she held from 1997 to 2006.
To the women in the room she said, “By stepping up to lead, by encouraging other women to lead and empowering other women, you will make the world a better place.”
Dr. Piper — she has a PhD in epidemiology and biostatics as well as 17 honorary degrees —was hesitant to give advice, she did offer two “suggestions.”
1) When luck stares you in the face and you have to decide whether to accept the offering, remember the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: Do something every day that scares you.
2) Invest in good bedsheets. “I’m serious,” she told the laughing crowd. “Treat yourself and I’ll guarantee you will sleep through the night and will be able to respond positively when Lady Luck knocks on your door.”
The awards are sponsored by Business in Vancouver. You can read BIV's profile of Dr. Martha Piper here.
