ROGERS -- Sanya Richards-Ross, four-time Olympic gold medalist, shared her struggles on her journey to success in hopes those at the NWA Business Women's Conference would push and challenge themselves in new and exciting ways, she said at the conference.
Richards-Ross, a professional runner, was the keynote speaker at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce's annual NWA Business Women's Conference on Tuesday. The all-day event was held at the John Q. Hammons Center.
AT A GLANCE
Award Recipients
• Susan Duke, philanthropist, received the Athena Award at the 2014 NWA Business Women’s Conference. Duke has served more than 10 area nonprofit groups during the last 20 years including the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter and the Walton Arts Center. The Athena Award Program recognizes individuals for providing service to their community and assisting women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills.
• Meredith Brunen, executive director of development for NorthWest Arkansas Community College, received the NWA Young Woman of the Year Award. She’s also involved in the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Bentonville/Bella Vista chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Council for Resource for Development.
Source: Staff Report
Richards-Ross is also a five-time world champion in the 400-meter sprint and 4x400-meter relay, the fastest American woman by running 400 meters in 48.7 seconds and has the most 400-meter races under 50 seconds at 45 races.
"The ride to success is not a rocket, it's a roller coaster," she told the 1,300 women.
Richards-Ross recounted her running career that began in her childhood. Her father asked her while she was in high school if she wanted to continue to just run or if she wanted to be great.
She knew to be great would require a "tremendous amount of commitment" and began running stadium stairs on her own, pushing harder in practice, studying film and doing 1,000 sit-ups a day -- a practice she continues.
Richards-Ross broke national records and went undefeated in her senior year of high school, she said.
She made the U.S. Olympic team in her first two years at the University of Texas and competed in Athens, Greece, in 2004.
"I was all that, a bag of chips, some purple Skittles and a Coke," Richards-Ross said with a laugh. Coca-Cola sponsored her speaking engagement.
A rare autoimmune disease interrupted Richard-Ross' success streak in 2007. With the support of family and friends, she was able to persevere and have not a great, but a good season, she said.
Richards-Ross was the favorite to win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but cramped coming around the final bend and placed third. The bronze medal felt like an "epic failure" and a "huge missed opportunity," she said.
She came back strong in the 2009 season only to end the 2010 season early because of an injury. The 2011 season ended up being her worst after being sidelined for year, Richard-Ross said.
Without losing sight of her childhood dream of winning Olympic gold in an individual event, Richard-Ross continued to train with intensity and took home the gold medal in the 2012 London games.
"It was magical," she said. "Winning Olympic gold in the individual 400 was everything I had dreamt of and more. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was an 18-year dream realized."
Richards-Ross left attendees with three principles she's learned: discover one's true dream, realize the power of perseverance and stay focused.
"Ladies, you were all created to be great, now it's time to claim it," she said.
The concept that success isn't a straight line resonated with Cheryl Falkenstein and Christon MaGee, both with Mom Brands.
"I think it looks easy on the outside, but people go through a lot and have to expect to go through a lot to reach their goals," Falkenstein said.
MaGee said Richards-Ross was one of the better keynote speakers she's heard at the conference.
Christine Cashen, author and motivational speaker, spoke in the morning with humorous stories to illustrate the importance of thinking positively and finding the good in every situation.
"It doesn't matter what happens to you," she said. "It's what you do about it."
Cashen also used audience-participation activities to demonstrate how negative thinking affects people mentally as well as physically.
The conference also included two periods of three breakout sessions each, covering topics such as nonverbal communication, the power of personal storytelling, workplace etiquette and the value of women in business.
The event is all about networking, said Krista Khone, vice president of special projects and leadership at the chamber. Attendees included Walmart employees, vendors, small business owners and nonprofit leaders.
"It's an opportunity for women to talk about the commonalities that they share, the struggles, the successes," she said.
NW News on 09/17/2014