Oct. 5, 2013

Sedgwick Women's Forum meets for tea

More than a hundred women gathered for tea at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Francisco Tuesday evening to hear Joyce M. Roche, the retired president and CEO of Girls Inc., discuss her new book, "The Empress Has No Clothes ... Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success." Formerly president and chief operating officer of Carson Products Co. and vice president of global marketing for Avon Products Inc., Roche told the audience about her experiences growing up in the segregated South and attending a traditionally African-American college before attending Columbia Business School, where she was one of the few minority students and women in her class. As she climbed her way up the corporate ladder, she repeatedly faced the feeling of not belonging. She spoke broadly of the experience of "imposter syndrome" — feeling that you're a fake in your environment — and shared tips about how to overcome self-doubt. Roche currently sits on the boards of directors of AT&T Inc., Macy's Inc., Tupperware Brands and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. She also chairs the board of Dillard University in New Orleans, which she attended. The event was put on by Sedgwick LLP's Women's Forum, which hosts regular events on issues women face in the workplace. — Jill Patton