Cedar Crest College is dedicated to empowering women through education. As a part of their "Power of Women Leadership" series, the college is holding five seminars with featured speakers and topics dedicated to women meeting their full potential.

The first of the series, a seminar entitled, "The Power and Influence of Leadership Development," was led by Jo Miller, CEO of Women's Leadership Coaching, Inc.

In the sold out session, Miller spoke to over 80 women who are interested in gaining more leadership qualities in their career field.

Miller said women often face roadblocks at a time least expected in life and business.

"You can't get that high level job without leadership experience, but you can't get experience without a job."

Miller encouraged women who feel they are the "best kept secret in the organization" never to wait for permission to lead, but instead emerge as a leader yourself.

To overcome the quandaries, be aware of the organization, office politics and who the important co-workers are to add to your strategic network. Miller instructed the women attending the seminar in leadership building activities: recognizing the rules of office politics, creating goals, drawing a chart of the most frequent co-workers they interact with and listing key people to build relationships with to advance placement within the organization.

Recognizing what the unspoken rules are in the office is key to navigating ethically and effectively in making connections. Miller said to always take advantage of networking opportunities, recognize what everyone has to say and build your sphere of influence.

"It's far more difficult to be a lone influencer," Miller said, saying there are five key types of people to have connections with within the workplace: connector, informational powerhouse, influencer, senior leader sponsor and the mentor.

Having a mentor is especially important for career advancement. Mentors offer advice, share stories, encourage the mentee on their path to success and provide feedback for effective workplace advancement.

Attendees put forth their own ideas, giving examples of having an "open candy" policy in the office to encourage communication with everyone with a sweet tooth, supporting other women co-workers, having lunch with a variety of people within the company and taking all opportunities presented.

Working with others and building your own personal network of connections are necessary tactics to seeing yourself in a leadership position.

Miller was introduced by speakers Arlene Peltola, Women's Leadership Institute coordinator and assistant professor at Cedar Crest, Audra Kahr, CFO and treasurer, Cedar Crest College, as well as Diane Moyer, Pd.D., Cedar Crest College psychology professor and United States Olympian.

"There are going to be many failures before there will be successes," Moyer said, who won a Bronze medal as a goalie on the U.S. Olympic field hockey team in 1984. "My dreams came from support and other people encouraging me."

Moyer said now she has learned to "plant the seed" for others to cultivate.

Upcoming seminars at Cedar Crest include "The Power of Whole Brain Communication" noon to 4 p.m. April 18 featuring Dr. Robi Ludqig, Psy.D., "The Power of Positive Social Change" noon to 4 p.m. July 25 featuring Heather Arnet and Suzanne Weaver, "The Power of a 2-year, 10-year Career Plan" 7 to 11 a.m. Sept. 19, featuring Connie Challingsworth, a certified life coach, and Christine Lombardo-Zuan, Esq., M.B.A., and "The Power of Running High Performance Teams or Your Own Business" 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 featuring Elaine Pivinski, owner of Franklin Hills Vineyard, and Ibolya Balog, M.B.A., chair of Cedar Crest College Business Department.