Serena Williams, Gloria Steinem Headline Women's Watermark Conference in Silicon Valley
The Watermark Conference is the largest of its kind on the West Coast
By Kiki Intarasuwan ••
Serena Williams and Gloria Steinem spoke to a large crowd at the Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley Friday meant to offer inspiration and networking opportunities for women. Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe also spoke about the women balancing work and a home life.
The Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley announced that the 2019 event
will feature keynote speakers including world-renowned athlete Serena Williams; legendary political activist and feminist organizer, Gloria Steinem; and Brené Brown, courage and vulnerability researcher, #1 New York Times best-selling author and one of the top five most viewed TED speakers in the world. Thousands are expected to attend this annual sold-out event at the San Jose Convention Center.
World-renowned athlete Serena Williams and legendary political activist and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem are among the keynote speakers Friday at the Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley.
Speaking to a large crowd of people at the sold-out annual event at the San Jose Convention Center, Steinem touched on several topics that affect women around the world, but most notably, she said violence against women is the common denominator in many issues, including terrorism.
Legendary political activist and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem was a keynote speaker at Friday's Watermark Conference for Women Silicon Valley. Hear how she inspired young women.
"Sometimes I believe the world is divided into two kinds of people. Those who divide people into two, and those who don’t. We need to be those who don’t," Steinem said about the gender expectations women still face.
The feminist leader and Presidential Medal of Honor recipient also said she hopes that society can move towards becoming less gendered.
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Thousands of women gathered at the San Jose Convention Center for the annual Watermark Conference for Women. (Feb. 22, 2019).
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Gloria Steinem joined the Watermark Conference for Women to speak on a number of issues women face in the workforce at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2109)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
"Women's movements around the world and in this country are the strongest they've ever been:" Gloria Steinem joined the Watermark Conference for Women to speak on a number of issues women face in the workforce at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2109)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
NPR's Celeste Headlee interviewed Gloria Steinem on the discrepancy in activism and women who didn't vote during the Watermark Conference for Women at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
"It's kind of a compliment because it shows we have power: " Gloria Steinem shared advice to women in the workforce who have received harassment for speaking up for their rights during her brief appearance at the Watermark Conference for Women at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2109)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
"Gender is an invention:" Gloria Steinem joined the Watermark Conference for Women to discuss violence against women at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2019).
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
NPR's Celeste Headlee interviewed Gloria Steinem and discussed a number of issues women face in the workforce during the Watermark Conference for Women at the San Jose Convention Center. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Tennis legend Serena Williams joined Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe at the Watermark Conference in San Jose to discuss issues women face in the workforce. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Tennis legend Serena Williams joined Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe at the Watermark Conference in San Jose to discuss issues women face in the workforce. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Tennis legend Serena Williams joined Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe at the Watermark Conference in San Jose to discuss issues women face in the workforce. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Tennis legend Serena Williams joined Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe at the Watermark Conference in San Jose to discuss issues women face in the workforce. (Feb. 22, 2019)
Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
Tennis legend Serena Williams joined Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe at the Watermark Conference in San Jose to discuss issues women face in the workforce. (Feb. 22, 2019)
In the afternoon, Williams sat down with Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe to have a fireside chat about women in the workplace and balancing work and home life, a topic which Williams is a strong advocate.
Earlier this month, Williams appeared in a Super Bowl ad as spokeswoman for Bumble, which bills itself as a feminist dating app where women make the first move. She urged women on Friday to take the risk in their dating life, as well as in their career.
"You might not get that raise but you're definitely not going to get one if you don't ask for it," Wolfe said in agreement with Williams.
The tennis star opened up in August 2018 about her struggle with postpartum emotions after she gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. On Friday, she spoke further about her health scare related to blood clots.
Gloria Steinem inspired 17-year-old Wessley Edmonds after her Watermark Conference speech, now she wishes she could ask her, "How do we make sure women of color know they have a necessary role in the movement?"
She addressed how black women are often not believed, and they're three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Watermark Conference is the largest of its kind on the West Coast. It offers a day of energizing inspiration and networking, in addition to its powerful lineup of speakers who are influential champions for women.
NBC Bay Area’s Jessica Aguirre sits down with Gloria Steinem.
Brené Brown, #1 New York Times best-selling author and one of the top five most viewed TED speakers in the world, also spoke at the conference.
Brown addressed people who feel unsettled by others talking about of racism, sexism and homophobia, saying "Your privilege and your comfort is not the center of those conversations."
Last year, the Women’s Watermark Conference was all about #MeToo. This year, we asked attendees how the movement has affected their environments since.
NBC Bay Area's Jessica Aguirre and Laura Garcia were also special guest speakers at the event.
The conference has been named a Top 100 event in the San Francisco Bay Area by BizBash for its "buzz, innovation, and prominence," the Conference offers an unmatched spectrum of speakers on topics including gender equity and inclusion, pay parity and social media strategy.
