Founders’ Story

My Journey to Quorum

Meg Sullivan, Founder and CEO, Quorum Initiative

Like so many, the first 15+ years of my professional career were filled with really hard work. My head was down, and I was very serious. I did not carve out enough time for family or friends. I made poor choices in terms of my love life. And I advanced professionally.

The road was not easy. I was always the only woman in the room. I had to perform and prove myself triple-fold. I was exhausted by the regular microaggressions in the workplace and in complete shock that someone like me could be so ‘talented’ (the male leader’s words, not mine). I was dismayed by the number of obstacles I had to overcome to ensure my place and I was disappointed in how many sacrifices I made just to stay in the game.

When I turned 40, a big moment of reflection for me, most people would say that I had succeeded professionally. I had made it to the C-Suite, had a serious seat at the table and my voice was considered. However, when I reflected on it, I realized I was exhausted, lonely, and frustrated. It shouldn’t be this difficult. Why is this professional path so hard?

My perceived success did not feel like enough. I wasn’t personally fulfilled, and my life was completely out of balance. I had become a symbol in my organization that women can make it to the top, but I paid dearly for that senior spot. I had lost a true sense of myself in the struggle. I was great at what I did and so what?

I decided I should join an organization of my peers, cross industry and focused on taking action to change the current inequities. There were tons of notable women’s organizations but none at the time that fit the criteria I was looking for. So, in 2011, I launched Quorum with the hope of creating a safe place for executive women to come together, evolve leadership skills, broaden their contacts, and be inspired to make change for themselves, each other, and society more broadly.

I wanted to surround myself with other women willing to support each other professionally as well as personally. I knew there were other smart, dynamic, like-minded women out there who believe women not only have enormous value to contribute but are fantastic leaders. My goal was to find these kindred spirits and get them in the same room. By doing so, who knows what magic might transpire and how many women could be positively affected. If we lock arms and move forward together, imagine the power of our voice and the potential for action and change.

More than ten years later, what started as a safe haven for reflection, a community of support and a place for inspired action, has both continued and evolved. Quorum was already focused on creating accessibility, ensuring inclusivity, growing leaderships skills, and pushing for change, well before the #metoo and #timesup movements created greater awareness about inequities for women. With the arrival of COVID and all the challenges that presents, Quorum’s sense of community and commitment to each other has strengthened. Our belief has remained steadfast – our future needs outstanding female leadership because we have already seen what happens when our presence and our voice is absent.

Quorum has been the best gift I have ever given to myself. I’ve met so many amazing women. They have become my friends and my inspiration. I have had the privilege of hearing from so many female leaders who are making a difference in what they do and have encouraged me to forge forward. I have done some deep reflection about what success means to me and what matters most. I have evolved my strategic leadership capabilities to include not only great skills but compassionate, forward-looking, change making leadership. The Quorum movement and its incredible community have given me all of this. I am forever grateful.