#251 I Asked 11 Female Leaders Who Their Female Role Model Is

Who is your female role model? I put that one question to eleven women this week, executives, a professor, a local government councillor, a health coach, a sales director, each of them formidable in their own right, and asked them to answer it honestly, and to tell me whether we actually have enough female role models to choose from. The answers ranged from Dolly Parton to Diana Ross to a 75 year old sprinter with ten state titles. One answer that stayed with me wasn't a name at all: Kirsten Chan pointed to her teenage daughter, who isn't in the rooms with women like the ones Kirsten has been mentored by, and asked how a girl who only sees female leadership on the news is meant to find a role model at all. For me, it was the quieter leaders who stood out most, the mentor at work, the friend who never asked for recognition, the woman running the local athletics club. And the thing that sits underneath all of it: you don't have to be famous to be someone's role model. We all get to be one. We recorded this before the passing of the extraordinary Dolly Parton who we will all remember as wonderful role model for her desire to make an impact on literacy in children.   Key moments: Kelli Hayes on Dolly Parton's focus, authenticity and Dolly's Imagination Program Jen Overbeck's unpublished research finding that the mother was the clearest role model people responded to, and what that says about the gap Kirsten Chan on Ingrid Johnson, the first leader she saw prove that leadership could be warm and still hold a room to account Emma Sinclair on the Put Her Name On It campaign and why unrecognised work looks like a shortage of role models Sally Clifford on Nicola Roxon's decision to know when enough is enough   WORK WITH US: // The Executive Shift: An 8-week intensive for senior women ready to be recognised for judgement, not just delivery.  https://bravefeminineleadership.com/the-executive-shift // INFLUENCE Mastermind: A 6-month peer advisory room for women at the top. https://bravefeminineleadership.com/programs/ceo_mastermind // 1:1 Executive Coaching: Work directly with Melissa.  https://bravegroupco.com/executive-coaching     ----------------------- Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention and are too good not to share! Sign up here: https://www.bravefeminineleadership.com/leadershipinspiration Loving the podcast? Leave us a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds & will inspire like-minded leaders to join the conversation!   Are we friends? Connect with Us. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravefeminineleadership Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave-feminine-leadership