planned parenthood and author of no excuses. nine ways women and change how we think about power and former white house dr. connie marino author of white house doctor:my patient for president. .. >> this discussion will last approximately one hour just to give everyone a sense of what's happening, and that will include questions and answers. so dr. mariano and ms. feldt will speak fact 20 minutes even, and both of the women really strongly emphasized to me that they want to hear from you, and part of what they enjoy about this process is having this dialogue. so i strongly encourage you when we call for questions and answers to come forward to the microphones and to speak. it's really important that you use the microphones because we are live right now on c-span so that everyone can hear your questions and the discussion that ensues. their books, dr. mariano's "the white house dr.: my patients were presidents, a memoir," and gloria feldt's no excuses: nine ways we can change how women feel about power, will be in the tent outside, signing area one, tent b. and that's located south and west of the student union. it's truly an honor today to introduce two women whose books and stories can inspire all of us to recognize and embrace and activate our power to make a difference in our communities and in your country. their lives show that pursuing a passion for equal justice and for service can truly change the world. dr. connie mariano is a woman of many firsts. she was the first military woman to be chosen as the white house physician, the first woman directer of the white house medical unit, and the first filipino-american to become an admiral in the navy. but she started her life as an underdog. always being underestimated because of her gender, her ethnic background and her appearance. in her new book, "the white house doctor: my patients were presidents," dr. mariano shares her inspiring scrowrnny of how a little girl from the philippines came to america and became the physician to the president of the united states. her example is truly one of a woman whose achievements were unlimited in the military, medicine and government service. secondly, gloriafelt will speak, and gloria is a leading activist, a best selling author of four books, a commentator, a sought after after speaker on topics such as women, politics, power, health and can the media. her front line experience as to how to unlock intention and ambition in order to embrace the power to make a difference about what we believe in is, truly provides her with a unique perspective, and she shares that in her book, "no excuses: nine ways women can change the way we think about power." she's currently a professor at arizona state, and previously, and i know a lot of people in this room know her and we're very excited to have her return to ads, because she brought -- arizona, because she brought phenomenal growth to the planned parenthood affiliates in west texas and arizona. she was also the president and ceo of the planned parenthood federation of america from 1996 to 2005. and her honors include "vanity fair" magazine naming her one of america's top 200 women legends, leaders and trailblazers, and texas monthly naming her to its texas 20, describing her as part den mother, part businesswoman and part mae west. [laughter] so, please, join me in welcoming dr. connie mariano and gloria feldt to the festival, and we will begin with dr. mar yang owe's presentation -- mariano's presentation. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, becky, and thank you all for being here today. this is a challenge because i like to be unlimited physically, and i'm sort of limited right now physically as my colleague will agree, but we're going to handle it the best we can. in about 12 minutes i want to share you the journey which i outline in my book and encourage you to look at. one of the joys of being first or is you, obviously, get all the attention of being the first in a particular field, but the sadness is, number one, that you had to be the first in that particular field. but the other is the hope that people will follow you so you won't be the last. let me share with you a story. we're all here because we like stories, books are about stories, and we're going to talk about leadership. and in a lot of ways my life, my story, my journey is one about finding that i am a leader and becoming a leader. i live in arizona, i live in scottsdale. i moved here in 2001 after leaving the white house, but before then for nine years i was in washington, d.c., and this is where i lived and worked. actually, i felt like i lived there, i was there all the time. it's a nice piece of government property on 1600 pennsylvania avenue. [laughter] you all pay for it with your tax money. it's the 18 acres of the white house, and for nine years i was the house call doctor, the doctor on call there where i spent wonderful times and some sad times as well there. but before i wound up at the white house, my journey really began in a very far away place in another country, and that was in the philippines. this picture was taken in 1957. i was 2 years old. i'm the little girl, second from the left. those are my cousins. the two girl cousins on each side of me live in toronto, canada, and my cousin on the right -- the only boy -- is a retired navy serviceman in pensacola, florida. my father had received orders to the united states, and it was in pearl harbor we were stationed. so i first set foot in america in pearl harbor. and so i arrive inside the navy housing at pearl harbor, the daughter of an enlisted serviceman who was a valet. that's what you wanted if you were a filipino, to be a valet or steward in the homes of the admiral, and i began my american journey. here i am on my fifth birthday with my other class mates there, the girls in the neighborhood and my little brother who's rather confused where he fits in, but he found his way. [laughter] so that really began my ethnic journey. one of the things i struggled with was trying to fit in. your height, your size, your color, et, et, don't set the stereotype of what's typically american. you constantly struggle to find a place where you really fit in. i learned to resolve this by saying, you know, it's not so bad being the underdog. first of all, you know, you look different, people remember you, right? and you're also hungry for opportunities because you want to move out of your condition. you don't want to be poor again. you don't want people to underestimate you. you don't want to be undereducated. you realize there's only one way out, and it's got to be out and up. so that in my case set the drive and the desire to get out of my condition of which i was born into. and so you really had that, in my case, the drive to move on. what really helped me was education. okay? and i tell women, i tell everybody over and over again, your education is something nobody can ever take away from you, okay? you worked hard for it, you earned your degree, you earned your studies, and for me it was through education that i got my bachelor's of arts degree, my medical degree, it got me into the military, so i owe so much in terms of that. the other fact, it informs me in terms of a leader, as a woman leader, was really the military, the u.s. navy. i joined the u.s. navy in 1977 when i matriculated at the medical school in bethesda. my parents continue afford to send me, the only way to do it was a full scholarship, you just pay them back 12 years of your life, and i stayed on for 24 because it was that exciting. i learned a lot from the military. it really allowed me o become the person i am. and the things i really learned about was focusing on what the mission was about. what was our job, what was our mission, and that supersedes somebody's ego, supersedes whatever's going on. the other thing it taught me was respect for authority. and looking at my leaders and the people i served under, i was really fortunate to have wonderful role models and mentors who believed in me and guided me along and promoted me along the way. also taught me to be understanding and look out for my troops, the people who served with me and under me because you really, you're only as good as the people you work with and work as a team. i learned about camaraderie, but i also learned about not burning your bridges because sooner or later you're going to need help from one of those people you served with out in the field, so you're really going to reupon that. but in the end it was serving a higher purpose, and that's what gave me the courage to do the things that i did, was i believed in something higher that i had to do in this life. what did i learn from my nine years at the white house? you know, people ask me what's it like taking care of the president of the united states? it is a very humbling experience. it is one of the first -- it's the only job this america as a doctor that the present secretary calls you and says, doctor, the president will see you now, okay? [laughter] it's all about what happens in the lives of the president and the first family. you're there to serve them. you always know when a president's having his annual physical at bebethesda. you look in the waiting room, and there are doctors waiting there, and i bring them one by one to see the president. so you see a different perspective into the life of your patient. i travel with them everywhere, with the first family. you're with your patient 24 hours a day in sixness and in -- sickness and in health. you can see what kind of stresses go on, what kind of food he eats. you can see about some of the secrets he keeps that eventually get i -- divulged later down the line. [laughter] there are secrets that patients hide from us. it gave me a glimpse into the dynamics of any family, and really, and one of the secrets is this: if president refuses to listen to you, your advise, you appeal to higher authority, you go to the first lady, okay? [laughter] the presidents here are all standing behind their bosses. and one of the things about being a white house doctor is you can't have that job unless the first lady endorses you because it's really about making sure she's comfortable with you taking care of her family. she's protecting her family. and i look at that in my daily practice as well. when i talk to my patients, if first lady of the family isn't buying into this, it's not going to work. so you have to convince them this is in the best interests of their family. you take care of the organization again. it isn't all about me. people think, oh, you're or powerful, you've got connections, but in a lot of ways you're helpless because so many people work with you that if one person does something wrong, you're responsible. somebody asked me, they go, i how do you know who's taking care of the president? if i said, very simple. something goes wrong with the president's health, the press is going to nail you. you're the person they're going to bring on capitol hill and grill you. so you know you're in charge because you're the person they're going to blame. you ultimately are responsible for that, so you have to take care of what you do and how you groom them and grow them as well. my white house lessons were multiple. i learned about shattering glass ceilings before i even knew i was capable of doing that, and i think gloria talks about shattering glass ceilings, and i read her book which is a wonderful read. had i read your book, i would have gone further in my life. [laughter] but it really shows the things it takes. i was always a very shy, quiet person who sat this back of the classroom. i never imagined myself speaking on television, being on shows, never -- speaking in public. it takes courage that you pull within you and finding the conversation within your -- comfort within your own skin. because once you do that, you have no fear. you have no intimidation because you're speaking your own inner truth. one of the funny things i did learn was if you want to succeed, follow somebody who messed up. some of my greatest successes i followed guys who really messed up. one of the guys i followed, the very fact that i was sober was a huge success in that job. [laughter] i showed up sober, i was sober. the organization got better. and in that case i learned what not to do and always learn, obviously, you know what to do from good bosses, but from bosses who aren't great, learn what not to do and make sure you follow that so you don't make the same mistakes. and don't be afraid to create change. one of the things about people like me who always stand out in the some way is if you're going to stand out, i always tell people, make sure you're outstanding. they're going to remember you. it's your time to shine, so now's your time to stir it up. if you passionately believe in something, make change happen. it takes at least one person to start a revolution, and part of that is believing so much in your own voice that you believe it needs to be done and others will follow you because you are so passionate about what you believe in. here are my simple lessons that i share. in a lot of ways they overlap with what gloria is going to share with you today. demonstrate stuff over fluff. i look at a lot of people's resumés, and it's like, come on, show me the really substantial stuff that they did. not the pretty stuff but, but the hard core stuff that you really did something that impacted lives. i tell people over and over again, be honest, be forthright. you know, don't be deceptive. especially when dealing with the press. never deceive then, never lie. as a woman who's always been in jobs such as the medicine and the military and the government where you have more men than you and you, obviously, see a lot of politics going on, tonight let them overrun you. you know? patient, you're trying to educate them about being professional. you step up the standards. but you are also, you don't cower, and you don't back off when they try to push their way. the other thing i found is really having advocates, both male and female, to be supportive of me and find a voice. i was very fortunate to have hillary rodham clinton, what a great mentor there. when i needed help, i went to her. it got done. whatever needed to get done, got done. i tell women, don't play games, okay? if you're stressed, don't cry. don't engage in that, you know? you know, if you're going to play in the boys' world, don't do games that they accuse us of playing. so really you're elevating your standard to above sexual politics to make it work. and then again, seek people who enrich your life, who make you grow and mentor you, but also friends and very close friends whose shoulders you can cry on. i've had a lot of women friends who were very supportive. one of the things that kept me sane was once a month i had high tea with a friend of mine who happened to be a psychiatrist. she didn't have to give me medications, but the fact i got to talk to a friend i respected and mull thing over and share meant so very much to what i did. what would i prescribe to young leaders? number one of all, be true to yourself. my form of leadership may be different than yours, your daughter's, your granddaughter daughter's or somebody else, they have to find their own voice and be comfortable in their own skin. stand up and stand out. about people who are uncomfortable with the way i look and what i stand for, you know what? i tell people as my kids say, get over it. you know, i'm not going to die on you. i'll outlive you. what we have to do is keep the people who aren't as enlightened and as educated. so hope flow, you know, it -- hopefully, it's not a big deal to have a woman white house doctor anymore because we've had many of them which is my hope one day. leave those doors open and hand off the hammer to the other woman to hand it next. in other words, don't just be the first. promote others to be following in your path. that's part of the hope. but amidst all these thicks that we achieve -- things that i believe in achieving, you still have to maintain your humanity. one of the things i talk about is my secret for success is i grew up with the mantra you're never good enough, you're never good enough, you know? and that could be a dangerous thing at times, but in a lot of ways it keeps you grounded. your head doesn't get bigger than your heart or your brain. it keeps your feet on the ground and keeps you working hard because you really want to do good things in this life. and in the end, you know, i look at what i do, and it doesn't mean anything unless the people whose lives i touch and the organizations i'm involved with are better because i pass this way. so with that, i want to end my brief presentation and turn it back to you, and my esteemed colleague will continue. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you. and now i'm very happy to have a presentation from gloria feldt, and we're just going to get the presentation up, and we'll be ready to go. just a moment. >> almost never use any audio/visual equipment. [laughter] if something can go wrong, it will. >> [inaudible] >> which is chaos, that's right. we will be carpe-ing the chaos, and we will mistake it all work. >> [inaudible] >> yeah, either way. east way. all right. either way. all right. you are brilliant. thank you. applause for the i.t. department. [applause] hi there. i am so happy to be here. this is the most amazing book festival i have ever seen. it is fabulous. fabulous, congratulations to all of you. [applause] i loved reading your book, connie, and when i did and from having met you and talked with you and now having heard your story in a little more detail, i just have to say that there is one thing that seems to be a thread between your story and my story even though we have had very, very different lives and very different experiences. and that is that we both felt different. we both felt very different. and what i have learned from that is that sometimes what you think is your liability in life turns out to be the greatest asset that you have. what you need, the resource that you need to do almost anything is right there in your hands if you can see it and if you can have the courage to use it. now, those are big, brave words, but let me assure you, i did not start from a place of power. a 16-year-old new mom does not start from a place of power. i was born in temple, texas, that is, where there was no temple. [laughter] my family was one of the very few jewish families there. my grandparents, all four of them, had immigrated from eastern europes. my father was a big, blustery guy, and my mother of all things in the 1940s and '50s, my goodness, she went to work every day. other mothers all stayed home and took care of their families. we were different, we were so different. it just, i just thought that was the worst thing in the world. and so i did what the culture told me to do. you got married, you had babies, you got the picket fence, you didn't have aspirations beyond that. if you went to college, it was to get your mrs, and above all you were not to be smarter than the boys. and -- oh, i hear some murmurs of yes. people understand this, right? [laughter] so this is me with my first born, tammy. bless her heart work had to put up with me going through my own growing and learning process. because what happened was that after the third child was born, i was 0, and an amaze -- 20, and an amazing new technology came along. oh, yes. [laughter] the birth control pill. and it changed my life, it saved my life in a way, it let me know that there was an opportunity for me to actually think beyond that picket fence as much as i loved my children and as much as at that point i still bought into the traditional susie homemaker version of womanhood, i knew that i could think a little bit more, a little bit