Susan Deison joins us now.
She is CEO, president, and founder of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.
She and her team just down here at the Big Board a few moments ago, ringing the closing bell.
It's really nice to see you.
Just so exciting to be here.
I mean, it's just like a dream come true.
It's been on my bucket list and to have it right here and celebrate our 19th anniversary this year, the 20th anniversary of the dream of, of founding the church.
So it's a great opportunity for us to celebrate.
That's amazing.
We were so excited to have you here, not just doing the bell, but especially for me selfishly to have you on the show.
What does ringing the closing bell and recognizing companies who support so many women, so many young girls out there, what does this moment mean to you personally?
Well, we would not exist without those companies believing in women and giving them opportunities to lead.
It's just been an amazing, um, ride for us, and we are going to launch the Texas.
Women's chamber now, so we're going to announce it here, so it has to happen.
You're going to make it happen now.
That's awesome.
Texas growth.
We'd love to see it.
Um, correct me if I'm wrong, the founder, uh, excuse me, the chamber was founded in 2008, 2008, 2008.
Since then, where do you think women have made the most progress and where are still some of the biggest gaps of work left to be done?
Yes, well, we're seeing more women serving on corporate boards.
We're seeing those numbers rise.
We still have a ways to go.
Entrepreneur women are being very successful too, you know, Texas is a 2nd to California as far as entrepreneurs, so we're very proud to be part of that equation and uh we look forward to helping more, be successful and be independent.
What are still some of the biggest barriers that female entrepreneurs face today?
Is it funding, connections, opportunity, or a little bit of all these challenges?
I think it's all, but of course access to capital for the entrepreneurs and startups, that's. a big challenge, but sometimes, you know, our biggest challenge is ourselves.
Sometimes, you know, we think, oh, we have to have, you know, 99% of whatever we're going to do.
But, but really, you know, we have the, the means and the knowledge, you know, to do anything, but we just need to believe in ourselves.
Why does getting more women onto corporate boards matter?
And what does that process actually look like?
So I'm, I'm sure where you're situated so much more difficult than the rest of us simply see in the headlines.
Yeah, well.
I think the statistics speak for themselves.
The boards that have women and diversity on their boards perform better.
So I mean that just nothing else I could say except that, of course, uh, here on Wall Street, obviously we contend with, we talk about on this broadcast all the time, the ways that artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce.
Why is getting more women, more girls into, we used to call them STEM careers, now they go by STEA because we include arts as well.
Why is that so crucial to your.
Yes, because I think it's just showing them the opportunities that are out there and showing them role models, you know, too, as well is so important, and we've just come so far.
I know I, when I started the chamber, I had 6 granddaughters and saw the role models that were out there and just knew there needed to be something, something done that give them more opportunities and so it's working.
And all these years later as it continues to work, as you continue to see that real-time progress, what most excites you, not just about where the chamber is today, where you.
Most hope it could be tomorrow because we're influencing the world.
We now have chapters in Mexico.
We have, uh, France, soon to be in Italy and of course the UK.
So, uh, we're spreading our influence and you know their, their challenges and successes from every and we learn from each other.
So it's just been an amazing experience.
And before I let you go, where can people go if they want to find out more?
They want to find ways to get involved after hearing this interview.
Thank you for that the GHWCC.org.
There you go.
We got the branding right down here on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
You and your team, you're welcome to come through anytime.
Please come say hello Susan.
Oh, well, thank you so much for all you do to give visibility to women.
Of course, Susan Dyson, CEO, president, founder of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.
Thanks a lot.
