Lidia Szczepanowski-Goldsmith
Mrs. Corporate America 2013
I am rarely at a loss for words…either
written or spoken. I can typically pick
up a pen or a microphone and the
words just seem to flow from my brain
right onto the paper or to my mouth. But
when I sat down to write my Mrs. Corporate America “farewell message”…
nothing. Where was I supposed to
start? What was I supposed to focus
on? Should I discuss my childhood
and growing up in suburban Long Island as the daughter of two Polish immigrants who survived WW II…or maybe my personal challenges including a
victimization as a young teen? Perhaps
I should share information about my
personal jubilations like being married
to my soul mate for over 20 years and
giving life to three of the most beautiful
children in the universe…or should I
just spotlight my professional successes of becoming an attorney, founding
a charity, and being an entrepreneur?
“So many” emotions, “so many” experiences, “so many” things I want to say
to “so many” people!
And then came the light bulb moment…Voila! Problem solved...I had
just written a majority of my message.
This time is indeed bittersweet for me.
My year as Mrs. Corporate America
was truly extraordinary and as I write
my farewell message, I still cannot believe that it has been an entire year
since the honor of holding that very
special title was bestowed upon me.
Although I am somewhat melancholy
that I will no longer be wearing my elegant crown (at least not in public), I
do find comfort in knowing that another
remarkable business woman, my successor, will soon be enjoying all the
honors, benefits and privileges of this
special title.
During my reign, I learned that the
MCA pageant and organization are truly like no other. It is the only pageant
forum where “beauty and business
collide” and professional women are
afforded a platform to not only promote
themselves and their business, but to
enhance their self-confidence, accomplish new personal and professional
goals and create friendships that will
last a lifetime. The pageant upli