Ten "different" female execs leading with their own authentic style
“I don't have leadership skills" and “I'm not a traditional leader.”
^^ I've heard this from multiple clients recently. As they advance in their careers, they WANT to be a leader, but don't fit the typical command and control stereotype we all know too well.
The word stereotype in that last sentence is important.
We all want to believe that women can be successful leaders with their own unique style, but that can be hard to believe when the examples we see most often are tall white men making authoritative declarations.
You all know that I'm a huge fan of Expanders, or people who are doing what you want to do, helping you "see to believe" that what you aspire to is possible.
They're role models on steroids.
I figured our community could use some female leader Expanders who are extremely successful AND fully embrace their unique traits and journeys. Use these as inspiration and proof that you can be a leader no matter what your style or background is.
I sourced these examples – female leaders who are introverts, neurodivergent, soft skill masters or have non-traditional backgrounds – from my network and desk research.*
Suffice to say, this list is NOT exhaustive.
Without further adieu, an initial list of Expanders –
Tiffany Pham: An introvert who founded and leads a late-stage AI-driven recruiting platform.
Charisse Conanan Johnson: CEO, investor + author who leads with her heart and unwavering values (my former boss + mentor, so I'm biased!).
Melissa Bernstein: Co-founder of Melissa & Doug toys, Melissa built a creative empire while managing depression.
Stephanie Morimoto: Founder + CEO of Venus Williams-backed wellness start-up and self-proclaimed introvert.
Rep. Cori Bush: A former nurse who is now Missouri's first black female Congresswoman.
Sarah Jones Simmer: Experienced CEO + COO, known for her exceptional soft skills and candor about her battle with cancer.
Giselle Mota: Senior tech leader who has used her dyslexia as a professional mission to create inclusive tech + product design.
Jenny Dearborn: Another tech leader who credits her ADHD for fueling her creativity.
Barbara Corcoran: A real estate mogul who transformed a $1,000 loan into a $5 billion empire while managing dyslexia.
Erin Grau: COO, people leader + outspoken advocate for those working with cancer and working mothers.
It goes without saying that this list is not complete. I encourage you to find expanders who resonate with YOU.
While you may not aspire to be a real estate mogul or a toy company founder, who has a similar disposition or background to you and is crushing it? Those are your Expanders.
Find them so you can see to believe!
And, lastly if you're looking for a reminder on why female leaders are so great, take a peak at HBRs take on ‘7 Leadership Lessons Men Can Learn From Women.’
Note: This newsletter has several external links (making it as easy to learn about these women as possible!) so it may have gotten filtered out of your main inbox. Please take a second to drag this back into your main inbox so you see these notes easily.
*Huge disclaimer that I don't know most of these women personally, so can't speak to their leadership style and day-to-day work. However, I hope they provide inspiration for you.“
