So, let’s say you were assigned to create a think tank/symposium of important contemporary individuals who would meet periodically (annually?) to discuss the Great Issues of the Day. You’d presumably want a cross-section of disciplines (the fields of law, business, academia, science, politics, humanitarian work, etc.), ages, philosophies, and geographical representation. The only criteria are that:
(A) They must be women
(B) They must be alive/non-imaginary (etc.)
© They must be U.S. citizens or residents.
So, who would be on your short (or not-so-short) list? Let’s say we’re talking 2 to 3 dozen individuals.
Let’s now add another component. Let’s say that this group is committed to having its efforts affect (and presumably benefit) the larger world, so in addition to those listed above, there would also be included an additional collection of women who not only could contribute to this group’s efforts, but who also have high visibility and influence. While not a lot of the above group of women may be household names (except perhaps in their specific fields), this additional collection probably would be–women of letters, art, media, sport, or any other field that gives them an easy public platform to serve as ambassadors or outreach representatives for this group.
So, if you were a fly on the wall of one of their first meetings, who would you expect (and hope) to see? Which picks would be no-brainers, and who might you choose that’s a provocative, off-the-beaten-path choice that would add something unique, unexpected, or dynamic to such an organization?