I know rebels when I meet them. This is a vital pattern in “Don’t Bring It to Work”. They love to ask “Why not” rather than just “Why”. Even better are those who can flip rebel to its positive opposite behavior, that of being a community builder. Meet Carla Calizaire, Regional Business Director at Novo Nordisk. Carla has an aura, a presence that immediately makes people … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons: When Truth is Discounted
In my new book in process, “GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change” I had to stop writing and take the temperature of my own “GUTSINESS”. Here is the story: I have always been a rebel, rebel who wants to see positive change and is willing to stand and be counted. I have done this in many instances when the risk has been to my career, reputation, and even the financial bottom … [Read more...]
How Childhood Follows Us
We have all been children. Many of us have children. At some point we have been told to put away our childish ways and become all grown up. Not as easy as we would like. In “Don’t Bring It to Work”, I discuss the fact that when stress hits the hot button we all revert to behaviors we learned in our original organization, the family and they show up at work and need to be … [Read more...]
What is Your Leadership Vision?
I have just finished reading “The Female Vision” by Sally Helgesen and Julie Johnson. It is worth the time. And the time is now. We are in such a powerful, yet vulnerable position in leadership in the workplace at this time when everything seems upside down and inside out. I will get back to The Female Vision in a minute. First, I digress to make a point. Last week I watched … [Read more...]
Leadership and Feminism
In our recent GUTSY WOMEN LEADERS retreat I showed a video of Isabel Allende when she was a presenter at a TED conference. She is one of my favorite authors; her novels are filled with the depth of what life is all about; love, sorrow, misunderstandings, and the courage to change. She mentions a conversation she had with her daughter who stated emphatically that feminism is … [Read more...]
Super Women Leaders: GUTSY or NUTTY?
She got on the elevator in her full length mink coat. She had a Gucci scarf around her neck. Almost six feet tall and model skinny she looked ready to pose for Vogue. She smiled at the other tenants of this posh New York condo, all ready to brave the streets of Manhattan. They returned her smile. No one said anything yet wondering why she was wearing a fur coat in the heat … [Read more...]
GUTSY Leaders: “I Owe It to a Horse”
When I interviewed Sam Horn, I knew it would be a dialogue filled with quick and clever verbiage. You see Sam has written some fun and fascinating books about communication skills that take leaders through the roof; able to get their points across. How about this title “Tongue Fu”? It gives great guidance for diffusing verbal conflict. And her book “Pop” helps you find the … [Read more...]
What it Meant to be a Girl?
She was a precocious, spunky, creative little girl who roamed the halls of an exotic Manhattan hotel and learned about management at the young age of six and could become the CEO of just about any multi-national company. Her name was Eloise and she delighted kids and parents with her antics to the point that people would visit the Plaza hoping to catch of glimpse of her. There … [Read more...]
GUTSY Is As GUTSY Does
As I continue to research for my book about GUTSY WOMEN LEADERS have such a sense of pride looking the progress we have made to stand and be counted. Our revolution has, at times, been angry; yet, it has maintained dignity and a deep desire for continued dialogue. If you have not yet read “When Everything Changed” by Gail Collins grab a copy and take the journey back to the … [Read more...]
Gutsy for Important Reasons
The following is super powerful. If you ever wonder if one individual can make a difference read on. Think about the courage it took to think and act beyond the nature of the times. For me, one of most important aspects of Irena was her ability to see from such a large vantage point, considering the entire circle of life. Use this story as an anchor for you when the world seems … [Read more...]