According to Joey Adler, founder of ONEXONE, there is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. Adler was the special guest speaker at the IAMCP Women in Technology charity luncheon I attended last week as part of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto.
ONEXONE is a non-profit foundation committed to improving the lives of children in Canada, the United States, Haiti, and around the world. You may have seen actorMatt Damon talking about it recently. It was founded in 2005 on the principle that every life is infinitely precious and that each person can make a profound difference in someone else’s life one by one.
Adler provided the more than 100 women and a few men, including Microsoft channel chief Jon Roskill, with a sobering message that “life can turn on a dime.” Adler told her personal story of loss. She lost her husband around the time of 9/11 tragedies in New York. Those events, she said, redefined her. Adler had an epiphany when the twin towers went down. “There is no value in life. I realized that the value of life is zero,” she said in a keynote presentation. She decided to spend her life to value one person and not to make economic decisions on whom to save based strictly on money.
As for women in technology, Adler said that it could not be easy for women to be interested in IT which is a geeky man’s job. But she added that this is the case for many other industries. There are not enough women in all fields of business, not just technology.
And women do not help other women, according to Adler. “Women are their own worst enemy,” she said. But she said she is an optimist and believes that the future of the world belongs to women.
More needs to be done, however. And ONEXONE is trying to educate more children in developing countries. Adler’s strategy is to feed them properly. She believes that kids can’t be educated without food.
ONEXONE's mission is to improve the lives of children with programs dedicated to five fundamental pillars: water, health, education, play and food.
IAMCP Women in Technology Charity Luncheon set a target of $10,000 for this cause. To kick-start the effort, both Microsoft and Robert Half Technology awarded cheques for $5,000 and $2,500 respectfully to ONEXONE.
These cheques were presented by Roskill and Lara Dodo, Vice President of Robert Half Technology and the Chairperson in Canada for International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP) Women in Technology.
Roskill said that the dedication and commitment of ONEXONE is an inspiration to us all. This campaign heightens the value of our partnership with IAMCP’s Women in Technology to motivate women to make a difference both in the IT and global community. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise awareness for this notable global cause for change,” Roskill said.”
Dodo echoed Roskill’s comments: “We are thrilled to be able to spearhead donations for this very important cause and look forward to similar contributions from our fellow IAMCP members.”
IAMCP members have the opportunity to continue to support ONEXONE through online donations at http://www.onexone.org/donate-now.php
Adler ended the luncheon by saying everyone can make change in one person. “Do you know how powerful that it?”
