We all want it…to feel loved, admired, needed, relevant and successful. The influence of media, school, work, peers and parents can create expectations that drive many of us to meet their expectations, rather than our own. How often do you look in a mirror and tell yourself how great you look, versus finding fault? Do you feel the pressure to … Continue reading
Author Archive
Revisting the Past
At The Leading Women Project, we talk about how people can come in and out of our lives. Some stay for a long time, others are more short term. What happens when someone or something has moved out of your life – can you ever reclaim the past? I was recently in Colorado and a few days into my trip … Continue reading
Big Girls Do(n’t) Cry?
This year’s Olympic coverage has a strange twist and a different feel. Turning on the news after the US “Fab 5” won the gymnastics team gold, the media quickly turned their focus to the other competitors, sitting on the sideline crying. The reporters were celebrating the US victory as well as how they crushed the other girls to the point … Continue reading
Nurture or Nature?
…a personal story The role of our environment and upbringing versus individual/genetic composition is an ongoing debate. Knowing several sets of twins, each with markedly different personalities, interests and vocations, most people agree that both nature and nurture play a role in our persona’s. Family structure and early influences set us on life paths that typically require us to … Continue reading
Offensive Leadership
All of us have had to act on the offensive, protecting our interests, principles and people in our lives. In writing about offensive leadership, it shouldn’t be lost on anyone that the word, offensive, can also be used to describe someone or something that is repulsive or degrading. The duality of meaning describes what many of us have had to … Continue reading
Dual Career Dilemmas
I recently rendezvoused with a 20-something friend, Eileen, who lives in Washington, DC. Our conversation are always energizing as we exchange personal and professional updates and talk about what each of us are striving to achieve. Eileen is finishing up a 2-year gig and will be applying to graduate programs in various geographic hubs. Why? Her significant other, who lives … Continue reading
Finding Your Voice
As a leadership coach, I have worked with numerous women and men at transition points, as they take on new responsibilities or when they hit a leadership bump along the way. While most coaching occurs in a one on one setting, it can be especially helpful to provide feedback and guidance real time. Leadership Bumps A few years ago I … Continue reading
‘Major’ Decisions
College is an exciting time when a person can explore particular interests and discover personal passions. At least this is what I recall from my undergraduate liberal arts education. While I focused on science, my program encouraged taking classes and seminars in all areas ranging from art history and philosophy to social sciences and nutrition. I was encouraged to go … Continue reading
Self Confidence and Women
When my daughters were young, parents were inundated with the notion that we needed to build our children’s self-esteem at every opportunity. This spilled over to youth sports, where it became the norm to distribute trophies to every child on every team at the end of the season. At last count, we still have over 3 dozen trophies stored in … Continue reading
