The short answer is “yes” and “no.” For years there has been great discussion by both men and women on this topic. It is one that is near and dear to my heart and to the core culture of our leadership business, because we create events that specifically address topics that support women in roles of leadership.
It is not that men don’t need support – far from it – but what I have found in my own work as a woman who is a leader of several companies, is that women do not have a tremendous amount of role models for leadership in business.
The paradigms and distinctions of today’s global economy driven by internet based businesses and social media, did not exist for our mothers and grandmothers.
Like myself, many of my peers have been successful in business, but have recognized the costs by ignoring or not knowing how to embrace our femininity in business. By adopting communication structures and behaviors that traditionally were categorized as masculine, we led in ways that seemed like the best way to be seen and heard at the time.
Today we are not having the same conversation about what is masculine and feminine in business. As we all move into new ways of being related and connected in business, new definitions of success and leadership for both sexes are being defined.
The YouTube video my daughter shared with me this week,where Emma Watson addresses the United Nations had me thinking about gender equality and the word “feminism” in ways that had never occurred to me before.
In the video Emma makes compelling arguments that we cannot expect change in the World if fighting for women’s rights is equated with man hating. We cannot expect lasting results if only half of the population is invited to the conversation.
She also talks about the horrible losses that men face when gender equality does not exist. I invite you to watch the video and then look into the movement she refers to in the video http://www.heforshe.org/
I believe we will always have our differences – not only between the sexes, but across cultures, and experiences. What I have found in business working with both men and women, in countries around the globe, is that we are much more alike than we are different. Equality and respect for one another’s differences engenders not only communication, but also stimulates growth and creativity.
Send me your thoughts after you watch the video. I would love to hear your insights.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
All my Best,
Laura
