Okapi partner on women board members, risks, and courage.

That article links to a Victoria Pynchon article on the real reason why there aren't more women on Boards:

The real reason there aren’t more women on Boards is that there are not enough of us who believe we’re qualified to serve.

I know that feeling. Many of us feel not qualified to serve on Boards.

And many of the people who do feel qualified, really shouldn't serve on Boards.

I love this point of hers:

Stevenson says it’s critical for her to manage her energetic output. If she doesn’t, she can’t assure herself that she’ll be in top form for an event as important and engaging as a working Board meeting. So she skips the late night revelry to conserve her resources.

“Know yourself,” she advised, “both your strengths and your weaknesses. And most importantly, know how to take care of yourself.”

It's more important to manage your energy than to party before a Board meeting.

FINALLY, someone has the guts to say it!

I disagree. People are the kind of animals who are more loyal to their friends. Late-night revelry is a time-honored way of establishing that kind of liking. I've often found that engineers who never go out are the ones who are desperately searching for connections when they need a new job etc. If you don't want to socialize late at night, make sure you schedule lunches all the time... but to think you can just do well in school and not put in the hours networking is against everything we know about social and evolutionary psychology.

Socialize, yes.

But staying out late with Board members the night before a Board meeting seems imprudent.

So I agree with you, but still want to get sleep the night before a Board meeting.

You know... I'm a woman and outdoorsy, so I feel like I can say this... sports analogies are no less laughable when delivered by a female. Especially a "fear" that is caused by something TOTALLY OPTIONAL and rich-person thrill-seeking like whitewater rafting. Worrying about how you're going to pay your bills when you lose your job is a "fear" I can understand. Fear of paddling? Not so much.

Overcoming any fear is still a triumph. I think of rafting, kayaking and paddle-boarding as less sport, more personal challenge. For one, it's you against the elements, not you vs. another team.

Anxiety and fear aren't the same thing. But you have to do something about them, face them, to overcome them. I think anxiety is much tougher; it's pervasive and .... so yeah, I get what you're saying.