It struck me that for my first 16 years in the Navy, I was relatively successful, but I didn't enjoy being who I was. That's because I was the person the organization told me I should be, not the person I am. I think that the most important leadership characteristic is authenticity. Because you all know the score, and you know a fraud when you see one. If you're trying to be somebody you're not, your people will notice, and you will lose all credibility with them.
Jemison: Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, creativity, or curiosity. If you're just like all the rest of them, what's the point of being there?
Never ask for permission to lead. Never ask if it is okay to take a step in a new direction. Don't try to fly below the radar screen. They know you're there. Your decisions should not rely on other people's comfort levels. Your decisions should emerge from your needs and judgments. Find the courage to step out, and do it your way.
Biro: The worst advice I ever got was "Stick with me, babe." And it usually came from a male mentor who treated me like a jewel locked away in a closet. I could always feel the imprint of his foot as he stepped on my back to climb that ladder. This happens to women all the time when they think they're being helped. My advice: Seek out mentors that motivated by your best interests, not theirs.
Keeth: Don't be afraid to ask for advice. Don't be afraid to tell the people whom you supervise that you don't know all there is to know. That you need them as much as they need you. And allow them to grow. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. And when you make it, admit it, learn from it, and move on.
Weddington: Leadership is about asking, "Where can I make a positive impact?" Maybe it's something that deals with kids. Or maybe it's something that deals with health or government issues. There are just so many things that need to be done. Leadership is a willingness to leave your thumbprint.
Schneider: If somebody won't give you power, you just need to take it. Being a leader means nobody is going to tell you what to do. You have to tell other people what you think they should do or what you think should be done in a moment of crisis, and you just have to do it. Sometimes it's more difficult for women to understand that it's okay to wield power when they have it.
Mike Abrashoff
Founder
Grassroots Leadership
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Abrashoff has served numerous tours of duty, including Operation Desert Shield in southwest Asia. In 1997, he served as commander of the USS Benfold, which was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of contingency operations with Iraq.
Kathy Biro
Cofounder and vice chairman
Digitas
One of the most powerful women in technology, Biro rose to prominence at Strategic Interactive Group, the Internet powerhouse she cofounded in 1995. As vice chairman of Digitas, a $288.2 million marketing and technology services firm, she is a chief architect of the transformation of big business in the Internet Age.
Chip Conley
Founder, chairman, and CEO
Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Conley is the chief visionary within Joie de Vivre, which operates 27 hospitality businesses in the Bay Area, including 20 boutique hotels -- which makes it northern California's largest independent group of hotels. Conley is also the author of The Rebel Rules: Daring to Be Yourself in Business.
Liz Dolan
Cohost
Satellite Sisters
Dolan is cohost with her four real-life sisters of Satellite Sisters, a public-radio talk show that is heard on 70 stations across the country. Liz in also coauthor of Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses, which was published by Riverhead Press in October.
Susan Estrich
Professor, author, and legal/political commentator
University of Southern California
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
