What we owe to women in leadership…
Early in my career, I thought leadership was about having all the answers. Then, I worked alongside women who showed me something different. Leadership is connection.
I’ve been fortunate to coach and collaborate with incredible female leaders. Women who challenge assumptions, navigate complexity with grace and refuse to shrink themselves to make others comfortable.
Leadership is about impact. And the impact of women in leadership is undeniable.
Women who:
↳ Speak up in rooms where their voices weren’t always encouraged
↳ Lead with resilience and grace in the face of adversity
↳ Lift others as they climb, bringing them along with them
And I’ve learned this: The best leaders aren’t just the loudest in the room. They’re the ones who elevate others, create space for difficult conversations, and lead with unwavering integrity.
On International Women’s Day, I want to recognize the women who continue to push boundaries:
‣ Jacinda Ardern, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
“One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”
‣ Rosalind Brewer, former CEO of Walgreens and Sam’s Club
“I think about: Have I been bringing enough people along? You can help a peer become a CEO … This is not a competition or a race. We’re better when we move in herds. This is a time for leaders to really evaluate themselves and say, ‘Have I really been the servant leader that I thought I was?’”
‣ Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland
“My background influenced how I see society, how I see equality between people. But it’s not because I’m from a rainbow family that I’m in politics. I’m in politics because I thought that the older generation wasn’t doing enough about the big issues of the future. I needed to act. I couldn’t just think, "It's somebody else’s job.”
‣ Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks
“I want to make sure I do a good job, be a good role model, and show that it shouldn’t be unusual for a Black woman to be in a job like this. We are capable. I want to make sure I’m working and others are working to cultivate the second, third, fourth, and fifth one that’s coming. I want to make sure I’m not the last. I can’t be the last, and I won’t be the last. I know I won’t be.”
Who is a woman who has shaped the way you lead? Let’s give them the credit they deserve!
