’Education is key to breaking glass ceiling’

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Dianne Curtis, international president of Zonta International, says, the more obstacles are thrown at her, the more determined she becomes. Such unwavering personality brought her success in both operating a transportation company in California and leading international projects supporting women across the globe at Zonta International.

Previously Curtis was a ballet dancer and traveled with the Royal Ballet Company of Canada. She settled down in California after getting married and opened a dance studio there. When she first joined Zonta, she was classified under art.

"I joined Zonta for its international aspect. I had many options to join local organizations, but I wanted do something outside of my community," Curtis said at an interview with The Korea Times Thursday. She is visiting Korea to attend the local Zonta conference. "Zonta is an international one and it would give me the benefit of mentoring and helping other women all around the world."

Zonta International is an organization of professional women dedicated to advance the state of women through education. There are more than 31,000 members in 65 countries and Zonta has a consultative status to the United Nations and its entities UN Women, UNESCO and UNICEF.

One day her life took an unexpected turn when her husband, who runs a family mining business, complained to her that there are not enough trucks to deliver materials.

"I bought a truck with the money my mother left for me. I learned how to drive, got a truck driving license in California and learned exactly what would it take to deliver materials," she said. "After that, I decided that what I was going to get into is the transportation business. It was determination I had."

In the early 1980s, when Curtis started her own transportation company, it was very unusual for a woman to be truck drivers. “I was determined to break the glass ceiling for women in the construction and transportation industry,” the president of Zonta said. It took me a long time to get a good reputation, but it was my determination. I hope I made some contribution to women in the construction industry."

Her little trucking company grew from one little truck to 20 serving the Los Angeles area.

Along the transition from a ballet dancer to a transportation company president, Curtis admitted that Zonta made her stronger and helped her with decision making.

She emphasized the importance of education. "Everything we do in Zonta is based on education. Women don't want hand outs. They don't want something for free, but they want you to educate and train them, or assist them in helping their families," the Zonta president said. "I think education will help women break the glass ceiling."

The members in Zonta are relatively few, compared to other international organizations. "We maybe small, but we are mighty and strong," Curtis said.

Though Zonta as an organization aims to improve women's status in legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional fields, it is open to men as well.

Curtis said District 32, the district in Korea, is one of the leading districts in accepting male members. "I see that Zonta is going to open up more and more. We realize that women can't advance the status of woman unless we do it jointly, hand in hand with men," she said.

According to Curtis, the Korean district has advanced in advocacy for women, considering that it is a relatively new district. "Service and advocacy go together," she said. "You can provide service to women by helping them. But if you don't advocate or teach them how to maintain the lifestyle, then they will go back to their old ways."