Jane Fonda: ‘Have Each Other’s Backs’

(Jane Fonda, left, and Marcia Davies; Image by Anneliese Mahoney)

DENVER–“I hope all of you will have each other’s backs and stick together.”

That was the beginning to the toast that Jane Fonda gave to close out the last session at the mPowering You Summit for Women in Real Estate Finance Oct. 26.

“By the way, one woman on a board is very lonely and not very efficient. So be sure that when we get women on boards, there’s more than one, so that they can support each other and have each other’s backs,” Fonda concluded.

Fonda engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with Marcia Davies, Chief Operating Officer for the Mortgage Bankers Association and founder of mPower, that touched on everything from Fonda’s history of political involvement to self-care and showing up as one’s authentic self.

Ever the activist, Fonda spoke about her passion for the environment–noting that there’s even a connection to mortgage banking.

She implored the attendees to support mortgage banking and real estate finance-related issues that are relevant to climate change and equity–such as first-generation homeowner mortgage assistance programs, the financing of alternative properties like accessory dwelling units, fighting discriminatory practices in housing, advocating for density and more.

One theme of the discussion–apt for an event that puts strong value in female community–was the importance of female friendships.

Davies showed a clip of Fonda with her Grace & Frankie (among other works) co-star and close friend Lily Tomlin.

In the clip, Fonda states, “I have my friends, therefore I am.”

“I exist because I have my women friends. They make me stronger, they make me smarter, they make me braver,” she continued.

“I’ve learned some interesting things about friendship,” Fonda told Davies in reaction to the clip. She described female friendships as more face-to-face and engaged than male friendships.

“This is one of the great strengths that women have, is that we ask for help, we give help,” Fonda said, saying she’s surrounded herself with a “posse” of women.

“We help each other heal because of the way we are with each other, and it’s so different from men,” Fonda said to Davies. “We live longer than men do, and I think it partly has to do with this fact that we have these kinds of friends.”