Gustavus President Rebecca Bergman was among 84 women to receive recognition from the George Family Foundation in their first “Celebrating Twin Cities Women Leaders” event on Sep. 16.

According to the George Family Foundation website, the organization celebrated women serving as CEOs, presidents, and board chairs of large corporations, educational institutions, and other organizations in the Twin Cities region.

United States Senator Amy Klobuchar and City of Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges also received recognition at the event.

“I was so inspired by all these other women who are making a difference in their own way with their own talents in organizations that are fantastic, so the whole event was very inspiring to me,” Bergman said of the recognition.

Bergman noted that she had the opportunity to work with Bill George who served as CEO while she was involved in corporate level strategic planning at Medtronic.

“It’s a privilege for me to know them both outside of this event,” Bergman said of Bill George and his wife, Penny.

According to Bergman, those honored at the event were asked to share what serves as their greatest inspiration as leaders.

“As a leader I’ve been inspired by the people I work with and the opportunity to make a difference, and so I’m very grounded in the importance of relationships. It takes people to move an organization forward. An organization itself is nothing without its people, and if you organize the people to be inspired to move an organization forward, there is an enormous power in this,” Bergman said.

Economics and Management Professor and Faculty Advisor for the Gustavus Women in Leadership organization Kathi Tunheim, expressed the significance of Bergman’s recognition.

She also expressed that Bill and Penny George are well-respected leaders in the region, and that their organization has been successful in supporting and promoting leadership through philanthropic efforts.

“When [the George Family Foundation] selects our new president to be one of the 84 due to her past record at Medtronic and now her position at Gustavus, it just speaks volumes to me as a women in leadership researcher,” Tunheim said, adding that she believes Bergman has been recognized in the company of some of the best women in the Twin Cities region.

“If you organize the people to be inspired to move an organization forward, there is an enormous power in this.”—Rebecca Bergman

Bergman reflected upon the translation to her leadership efforts onto the Gustavus Campus, and offered advice to others seeking to serve in leadership roles.

“It’s people who inspire me and the opportunity to make a difference, and I think all of us need to find that place where our passion, and our talents, and the need of an organization come together, because where those three come together you can make a real difference.”

-Libby Larson