On March 12, Gustavus Women in Leadership (GWiL) hosted a leadership seminar entitled “How to Manage Career, Family & Self.” Alumna Ruthanne Vos ’83 and her daughter Stephanie Vos visited Gustavus to share their insights on how to juggle numerous aspects of their lives.

Ruthanne was an archetypal Gustie and an active member of the Gustavus community. She graduated magna cum laude in 1983, studying pre-law, psychology and business.  Upon graduation, she held administrative positions before climbing up the ladder to become the president of Travel Graphics International.

“I was leading a busy life, juggling a family, work, and social life when I realized I didn’t have any time for myself,” Vos said.

As a result, she quit her position as president of Travel Graphics International so she could pursue other interests and spend more time at home with her family.

Junior GWilL co-president-elect Courtney Harbeck, received helpful advice from the session.

“It’s really important for college students to maintain balance in every aspect of their lives. Learning these skills in college can be translated when you have a job, family, and even more responsibilities as an adult. Ruthanne showed us that it is important to maintain a balance even as you grow older,” Harbeck said.

“I learned that it is better to take your best option at the time and make the best out of it rather than wait for a perfect opportunity to come along.” —Maddie Rennke

Joining Ruthanne was her daughter, Stephanie. Only 27, Stephanie has led a diverse life that has taken her to places like California and even Paris.  Stephanie is a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN where she is also a part-time yoga instructor.

“I never really knew what I wanted to do long term. I wasn’t one to have a five-year plan. Instead, I focused on doing what the next right thing felt at that moment,” Stephanie said.

For her, the next right thing included attending Luther seminary and also joining a monastery in Paris for six months.

“Stephanie’s presentation was amazing. It took on a new perspective I had not thought about. I learned that it is better  to take your best option at the time and make the best out of it rather than wait for a perfect opportunity to come along.” Sophomore Maddie Rennke said.

The mother-daughter duo was a hit and students came out of the seminar with new information to apply to their own lives.

GWiL coordinator Liz Strom liked the way the speakers tied into GWiL’s annual conference.  This year President Rebecca Bergman will be the keynote speaker at the 4th annual GWiL conference: “Drive, Thrive, Revive: Setting Your Pace through the Journey of Life.” Strom invites students to attend the conference on April 16 at 8 a.m. in American Swedish institute in Minneapolis.

Mark your calendars and register for the conference online on the Gustavus website. Deadline is April 1.

-Nusla Mohamed