Love Yourself As If...Aberjhani

"Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends."


--Aberjhani, Author and Poet, "Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry"

You Can!...Donna W. Martin

"I don't consider myself a trailblazer but I do want young women to look at me and say, 'anything is possible'. I think that if you work hard, and you really believe in yourself, you can achieve anything that you absolutely set your mind to."

--Major General Donna S. Martin, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood U.S. Army Installation, Missouri

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today we feature a quote by military trailblazer, Major General Donna W. Martin, who made history as the first woman to take Command of one of the Army's premier training installations in the U.S., Fort Leonard Wood U.S. Army Installation. Based in the Ozarks region of Missouri, the military base welcomes 80,000 military personnel and visitors each year. In addition to managing its day-to-day operations, she will also oversee the construction of a $100 million hospital in the next 2-3 years that replaces the current General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.

Read our complete profile of Major General Martin by clicking here . Then follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter to view our daily #LeadershipTuesdays posts for resources that will help you develop your leadership skills. We post videos and articles on trailblazing women and men who are successful leaders. Check us out!

Update: 

Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin
The 67th Inspector General, 2023

LTG Donna W. Martin assumed responsibility as The 67th Inspector General of the United States Army,  Sept. 2, 2021

https://ig.army.mil/About/Leadership/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Modeling Achievement...Donna W. Martin

“My wish, my desire is that at some point in our history there won’t be a ‘first woman’ doing anything, it will just be somebody doing something..."

--Major General Donna W. Martin, Commanding General, Fort Leonard Wood U.S. Army Installation, Missouri

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today we feature military trailblazer, Major General Donna W. Martin. She is one of 71 women generals and admirals serving in active duty in the military. Women in these type of senior leadership positions represent 7.5% of the total 939 active duty generals and admirals, so she is in a rarefied group. Although she has broken the glass ceiling by being named the first woman to assume command of the Fort Leonard Wood Training Installation in Missouri, she doesn't consider herself a trailblazer. Hence the quote above. She wants other women who desire a career in the military to see her as a model of the opportunities and possibilities that are available to them.

In August 2018, Martin was promoted from Brigadier General (One Star) to Major General (Two Star) in a ceremony at Fort Leonard Wood. The Army training base includes engineering, chemical and military police specialities and the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, a facility that will be replaced by a new $100 million modern hospital in the next few years. Major General Martin will oversee the new hospital project as part of her command duties. The 60,000 acre Fort Leonard Wood installation welcomes over 80,000 service members each year.

Martin is one of six children born to a close knit family headed by a single mother who worked as a nursing assistant in Yorktown, Virginia. Isn't it prescient that her mother worked as a nursing assistant and now she will oversee the building of a $100 million hospital? The General began her career with the military in ROTC 30 years ago at Old Dominion University as an undergraduate. She graduated with a criminal justice degree and later received a Master's degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. She rose through the the ranks of the Military Police Corps and her career has also included deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

General Martin is a model of achievement for all women especially women who are serving this country in the military. For more information on Major General Donna Martin, read "First Female Commander at Fort Leonard Wants Women To Know What's Possible For Them In The Military" by the St. Louis Dispatch. Click @LeadershipTues to follow #LeadershipTuesdays on Twitter. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders. 

You Were Meant To Be Here...Thich Nhat Hanh

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet."

--Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Photo: Shane Aldendorff

#LeadershipTuesdays: Are You Learning New Things?

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. 

John Maxwell, an author and guru on leadership, defined leadership as influence. So if leadership is influence, every leader must be willing to grow and learn new things in order to increase their knowledge and ability to influence those around her/him through their leadership. 

Betsy Beers said in a Shondaland article posted on Twitter at @LeadershipTues that we can't be afraid to admit our knowledge gaps. (see Career Advice from Betsy Beers) good leaders are constantly learning. Tell us, how are you growing yourself as a leader and what resources are you using?

Follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter for resources to develop and strengthen your leadership skills. You'll also learn from others who are successful leaders.

Look Around And See The Beauty...John Calvin

"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice."

--John Calvin

Make Up Your Mind...Rosa Parks

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."

--Rosa Parks, Seamstress and Civil Rights Activist

Rosa Parks bronze artwork depicting her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on 12/1/1955; Rosa Parks Children's Museum, Montgomery, AL


Today we remember Rosa M. Parks who was arrested on December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama for her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus. Her courageous act and arrest became the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott which lasted 381 days. 381 days African Americans and allies did not ride the bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

On December 21, 1956 the Montgomery Bus Boycott ended after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal lower court's ruling in Browder vs. Gayle that local and State laws segregating seats on public buses were a violation of the 14th Amendment and therefore unconstitutional. Although the lawsuit did not include Rosa Parks but six other individuals who had to give up their seats to white passengers, Parks' act on December 1, 1955 was the catalyst for the lawsuit and the subsequent boycott which would be led by a young, then somewhat unknown pastor, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today we celebrate Rosa Parks, the mother of the Civil Rights Movement and the other unnamed over 40,000 participants in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 

For more information on Rosa Parks, go to: http://www.rosaparks.org

Pursue What Matters!...Tim Hiller

"External actions are evidence of internal beliefs. Our deeds are what show our creeds."

--Tim Hiller, Strive: Life is Short, Pursue What Matters

Shalane Flanagan (second from left) competes during the 2017 New York City Marathon.

Picture credit: Wired Magazine, "DO NIKE'S NEW MARATHON SHOES ACTUALLY MAKE YOU RUN FASTER?"
https://www.wired.com/story/do-nike-zoom-vaporfly-make-you-run-faster/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Call Me Chief!

"People want to know, 'What do we call you?', like ‘chief’ is a man’s word."

--Glenna Wallace, Eastern Shawnee Chief

Chief Wallace served for years as the Eastern Shawnee tribe’s secretary. In 2006, she replaced her brother as chief making her the first woman to be elected chief of a Shawnee tribe. Wallace holds Bachelor and Master degrees from Pittsburg State University in Kansas as well as a specialist in Education degree from the University. She also completed post graduate work at Tulsa University, Arkansas State, and Southwest Missouri State University.

Meet Eastern Shawnee Chief Glenna Wallace as describes the scope of economic development projects her tribe engages in and the historical role of leadership that women played in the Shawnee tribe.

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today in honor of Native American Heritage Month, we feature Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma. For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, go to @LeadershipTues on Twitter. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders.

A Courageous Thinker Acts!...Oscar Wilde

"An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all."

--Oscar Wilde

Picture:  Stefan Krause, Germany

Are you Trustworthy?...Robert Tew

"If you're going to trust one person, let it be yourself."

--Robert Tew

#LeadershipTuesdays: Leaders...Past, Present, & Future

"All of us stand around the fishing net as equals. Sometimes one person pulls harder than another. Sometimes a person pulls for another. Leadership is like that. Leadership moves around the circle."

[Everyone in the circle should be treated with equal respect because everyone in the circle is a leader, past, present, or future.]

--Bay Mills Indian Community Elder

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today in honor of Native American Heritage Month, we look at how leadership is viewed within Native American cultures and communities.

Martha McLeod, Ed.D researched and wrote a dissertation on leadership in the Native American Culture after serving the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan for many years. She is the founding president of Bay Mills Community College in Brimley, MI. She was also the President of Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, New Jersey where she retired in 2013 after leading for 10 years.

In 2002 while still president of Bay Mills,  President George W. Bush appointed her to the Advisory Board of the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU). The Board's purpose was to make recommendations to the President and the Secretary of Education regarding expanding and providing resources to tribal colleges and universities to ensure that they offered high quality programs and technologies to the communities they served.

As a part of her doctoral work, Dr. McLeod designed a leadership development program for Bay Mills Community College. The quote above comes from an article she wrote about what she learned during her research and provides some insight into how the Native American leaders in the Bay Mills Community perceive leadership. This is not to say that Native American culture is a monolith; it is not. There are over 500 federally recognized tribes. And not all tribes lead in the same way. However, there are a few common distinctions and one of those distinctions is that "Native Americans envision life as one great, interconnected web". This makes top-down leadership somewhat inappropriate for them. When leaders are viewed from a perspective of connectedness and in a continuum as the quote above intimates, they are either being prepared to lead, leading, or passing on wisdom to future leaders and modeling leadership for those behind. What a valuable way to view members of the community.

Click "Keeping the Circle Strong: Learning about Native American leadership" to read the article by Dr. McLeod. For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, go to @LeadershipTues on Twitter. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders.

Wake Up and Live!...Simone Elkeles

"If there's one thing I learned, it's that nobody is here forever. You have to live for the moment, each and every day . . . the here, the now."

--Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

Be All In...Jeanette Berson

“Don’t drink at the water’s edge, throw yourself in. Become the water. Only then will your thirst be quenched.”
--Jeanette Berson

#LeadershipTuesdays: Stand Up and Be Counted...Robert F. Kennedy

“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man [woman] stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he [she] sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

--Robert F. Kennedy, 1966

Make Your Own Choices...Amitabh Bachchan

"Because you are women, people will force their thinking on you, their boundaries on you. They will tell you how to dress, how to behave, who you can meet and where you can go. Don't live in the shadows of people's judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom."

--Amitabh Bachchan

What Are You Doing?...Raheel Farooq

"We talk what we think but do what we believe."

--Raheel Farooq

Your Beauty Shines Through...Suzy Kassem

"When the heart is beautiful, its light shines though the eyes, vocal tones and actions of its owner."

--Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun

The Decisive Factor...Theodore Roosevelt

"Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike."


-- Theodore Roosevelt

#LeadershipTuesdays: Your Example Teaches More than Your Words

"The only way to mold moral people is to stand up ourselves and be counted for what we believe in, and to have the courage to hold ourselves and others accountable . . . 

We cannot legislate morality. . . . we teach morality by personal word and example."

--R.A. Stratton

Moral leadership is neither Democrat nor Republican. It is not relative or based in public opinion. Moral leadership is based on a set of values and principles that guides our behavior toward others. We are in need of ethical leaders who will set an example.

Vote for candidates whose morality is not based on or influenced by campaign donors or contributions. Don't just listen to their words, hear their heart and check out their past actions because actions speak louder than words. Do not just vote for individuals because of their party affiliation because no one party has a lock on morality.

Please do your civic duty and vote. Your vote is important. If you are a minority and or a woman, people died so that you could be enfranchised and vote. Honor them with your vote.

You can see a sample ballot for your state or county/district by going to ballotpedia.org and clicking on your state. By viewing a sample ballot, you can see the candidates and issues on the ballot before you vote. You can also "google" this information.

According to Pew Research, the vast majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind and 77% own smartphones. Use your smartphone to google your sample ballot and be informed.

Early voting is open right now in a lot of states, check your State Election commission to see where you can vote early. If you can't vote early, plan today how you will get to the polls next Tuesday. You voting demomstrates your leadership in your community, so do your part to change America for the better by voting. 

Vote America!

Nona Ogunsula, Founder
womenatliberty.com

Who Am I?...Catherine Pulsifer

"Your character defines who you are by the actions you take." 

--Catherine Pulsifer

She's On Her Way To Change A Few Things

"She packed up her potential and all she had learned, grabbed a cute pair of shoes, and headed out to change a few things."

--Anonymous

In Pursuit of Success...Asad Meah

"Peace of mind is of utmost importance in your pursuit of success. Let there be peace within you so that you can accomplish your dreams."

--Asad Meah

Showing People What Is Possible...Indra Nooyi

"As a leader, I am tough on myself and I raise the standard for everybody; however, I am very caring because I want people to excel at what they are doing so that they can aspire to be me in the future."

--Indra Nooyi, Chairman, PepsiCo

*Indra Nooyi recently stepped down as President/CEO of PepsiCo after serving from 2006-2018. 

Feed Yourself Positivity!...Steve Maraboli

"Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action."

--Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

#LeadershipTuesdays: Why not me?...Geisha Williams

"It's the power of influence and having someone that you look up to tell you that they think you can do something that you don't think you can do yourself. I didn't know I was going to become CEO. At that point, I doubted it, but I thought, I'm going places. I'm going to work hard and I am going to be a leader."

--Geisha J. Williams, CEO, PG&E

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Geisha Jimenez Williams immigrated to America from Cuba with her parents at five years old in the mid 1960's. Fleeing as political refugees, they started out with virtually nothing but the clothes on their backs. Her parents eventually became successful business owners and she grew up to be the first Latina CEO of a fortune 500 company.

Her story is an amazing example of success. Even more interesting is how she, an immigrant who spoke no English, prepared herself to be in a position to lead a major corporation and make history? She gives a lot of credit to her parents, her work ethic and her mentor.

After leaving Cuba where her father had been held in jail for three years because of his political views, her family migrated to Minnesota. But because their initial sponsor died within a month after their arrival, they had to move again. They eventually settled in New Jersey where her father worked in a factory during the day and washed dishes in a restaurant at night. Her mother worked out of the family home. They saved their money and were soon able to buy a modest grocery store in New Jersey. After school Geisha would come to the store, do her homework and then relieve her mother who also worked at the store so that her mother could go home and start the family dinner. Seeing her parents work hard, gave her a strong work ethic that has followed her throughout her career.

Williams also credits an early mentor at her first job at Florida Power and Light, Clark Cook, with helping her question her limited view of what she could achieve in her career. He said to her, "Geisha, somebody has to run this company some day. Why not you?" She refers to him as a role model for diversity and inclusion.

That question and his belief in her abilities stayed with her and helped her to ask herself, why not me? 'Why can't I be the first Latina President of a large company'. An unimaginable dream for any Latinx at the time.

She believed, work hard, and prepared herself. She earned an engineering degree at the University of Miami and later an MBA at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She took on a series of work assignments in customer service, marketing, external affairs and electric operations to make sure she was prepared and had a broad base of experience. Today, after 30 years in the utilities industry, she is the President and Chief Executive Officer of PG&E, a position she was promoted to in March 2017.

Williams is a shining example of excellence and achievement. She and her husband, Jay, have raised two daughters, Carolyn and Anne, whom she is very proud of. Check out her talk with Poppy Harlow at Fortune's 2017 Most Powerful Women Summit.

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, go to womenatliberty.com. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders.

They Did Not Win Today!

"Sing your favorite song today. Even if you don't know all the words or you don't like the way you sound. Sing to let all the forces trying to silence you know that they did not win today." ☺

Don't Let Them Box You In...Victoria Pendleton

"Isn't it funny how people want freedom for themselves, but they want you to be a captive of their perception of you? Don't let any one put you in a box."

#LeadershipTuesdays: Prepared & Ready To Make A Difference...Cynthia Marshall

"I'm blessed with a good brain because I got a good education. Faith. And I know people. I know how to lead. I've made mistakes, so I know how to deal with those, too."

--Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today we are highlighting the leadership of an organization who is making changes to transform a workplace and culture that has negatively impacted the lives of women who worked for it.

Cynthia Marshall has been in news headlines recently for successfully completing a 100-Day plan to change a toxic workplace at the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks. In early 2018, it was widely reported that the 2011 NBA Champions' front office operations were plagued by complaints of sexual harassment, domestic violence, and a culture that is unfriendly to women. The owner, tech billionaire Mark Cuban, known to many from his role on the Shark Tank TV show, was subsequently cleared of any involvement or complicity by an independent investigation. To fix the crisis in the basketball operations side of the house, he personally called and recruited Marshall to be the first African American woman CEO of a NBA team.

Cynt, as she likes to be called, is a highly respected business leader and Human Resource professional who has experienced many firsts. She was the first in her family to go to and graduate from college. She was also the first black cheerleader at her alma mater UC Berkeley where she completed a Bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus on organizational behavior and human resources. She brings to the MAVS job a wealth of experience from her 36 years at AT&T where she was considered a "rock star" and was the first African American head of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. She's focused on making a difference and confident that she along with the MAVS staff and employees can do it.

In her first seven months, she has:

• She hired a woman as senior vice president of human resources. 
• She added another woman in a new position: chief ethics and compliance officer.
• Over the past several months, she has increased the ratio of female management in the Mavericks organization to 47 percent female management in the Mavericks organization to 47 percent from ZERO.
• Cynt mandated respect-in-the-workplace training.
• A “zero tolerance” office culture is enforced.And she has put in place a “Mavs Women’s Playbook,” which she says “uplifts, develops, promotes and encourages Dallas Mavericks women.”*

Cuban has given Marshall carte blanche to make whatever changes she needs to transform the culture in the organization and as demonstrated by the results above, her presence and leadership is being felt. She has not only instituted training and programs for her 140 member staff, but also included the players and coaches. MAVS Head Coach Rick Carlisle stated, "It's just a completely different vibe over there. Things have changed so much -- the mood, the atmosphere, the environment, the optics and the people. It's been a great thing to see."** Good luck Cynt!

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, go to womenatliberty.com. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders.

Sources: 

*Rick Smith, "In cleaning up Dallas Mavericks, Cynthia Marshall sets example of equality for all businesses", WRAL TECH Wire
https://www.wraltechwire.com/2018/09/20/in-cleaning-up-dallas-mavericks-cynthia-marshall-sets-example-of-equality-for-all-businesses

**Tim Macmahon, "CEO Cynthia Marshall making quick impact for Mavericks, says" Carlisle, ESPN.com
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24755991/rick-carlisle-lauds-new-dallas-mavericks-ceo-cynthia-marshall

Character...J.C. Watts

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught."

-- J. C. Watts

Live Life!...Osho

No matter how long you live, life is too short to be squandered with things and people who are intent on making you feel unhappy and unloved. Everyday do at least one thing that you enjoy and makes you feel glad to be alive.

A Woman of Hope...Lynette Lewis

"Whatever challenges I face, heartaches I endure, discouragements that come, I choose to be a woman of hope, hope is a choice not a feeling."

--Lynette Lewis, Speaker, Author, Corporate Consultant, and Founder of Stop Child Trafficking Now.org

For more on Lynette Lewis, see http://www.lynettelewis.com/.

Image credits: 

*David Rosen, Women laughing, PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE AND BLOG www.davidrosenphotography.com

*Anwar Shamim, “The Old Lady Trill, the Victory Yell”, The Power of Women in Native Bangladeshi, Literature, woman, costume, poor, homeless, Dhaka, Bangladesh. www.facebook.com/Shamim-Photography

*Anwar Shamim

*Parker Knight

#LeadershipTuesdays: Creating Change That Impacts The Culture...Elaine Welteroth

“…I know from first-hand experience being a young brown girl growing up in a place where I did not see myself represented on the covers of magazines or in the pages prominently featured, it has an effect on your self-esteem. And so the idea that as a journalist you have a responsibility and opportunity to change that is endlessly inspiring and empowering.”

--Elaine Welteroth, former Editor-In-Chief, Teen Vogue

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today we are featuring Elaine Welteroth. 

She is a Northern California native who made history in the fashion and beauty industry as the first black beauty director at Conde Nast and the youngest and only second person of color to be named Editor-In-Chief at any Conde Nast magazine. She is first person in her family to attend college graduating from California State University-Sacramento with a degree in mass communications and journalism in 2007.

A pivotal moment occurred in this young woman’s life when, after contacting Harriette Cole numerous times via letter, email and calls to her assistant, Elaine finally got a chance to speak on the phone with her role model. Harriette Cole, who was then the Editor-In-Chief of Ebony Magazine, was impressed with Elaine and later tapped her to assist with a photo shoot of Serena Williams in Los Angeles California. Her professionalism with that assignment led to an internship and a permanent position at Ebony where she eventually became the Beauty and Style Editor.

Welteroth joined Conde Nast in 2011 as the Beauty & Style editor at Glamour. The company also owns a hosts of other well-known magazines such as Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker and Vanity. In 2012 she was promoted to Beauty and Health director at Teen Vogue. From there she was named editor of the magazine in 2016 and in 2017 she was announced as Teen Vogue’s new Editor-In-Chief.

Known for her commitment to both cultural and workplace diversity, social issues and providing a space for young voices to be heard, one of her most notable accomplishments at Teen Vogue was creating the first ever Teen Vogue Summit in 2017 which featured guests including former first lady and Senator Hillary Clinton, film director Ava Duvernay, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, actress Rowan Blanchard, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, and Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe. 

Welteroth has remained true to her passion even after leaving Teen Vogue this past January. She is currently represented by CAA 
and is expanding her talents into the film and television industry. Click on @LeadershipTues and see our Twitter timeline to view a recent Forbes video where Ms. Welteroth talks about the power of young people to effect change.

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, go to womenatliberty.com. There you'll find resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from others who are successful leaders.

Making Progress vs. Being Perfect...Valorie Burton

"Perfectionism and procrastination are intertwined, so if you let go of the need to be perfect, you suddenly have permission to move forward."

 --Valorie Burton, Author, Life Coach, and Motivational Speaker

valorieburton.com

It's Your Journey!

"Our lives are a reflection of what we say, what we believe, what we choose, what we do, and our struggle to change these things. If there is anything that life teaches us during our journey, it is that our focus should be on acquiring knowledge, being confident in who we are, and adding value to our life and the lives of others."

-- Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com

Show Love!

Likes and Followers do not equal real love and friends. It matters what you do offline. Don't forget to show love.

Sometimes easier said than done, but no less essential for a good life. Love never fails.

You Have What It Takes...Tyra Banks

You Have What It Takes Within You. Now cultivate, nurture, and release it. Are you ready? Let's go!

Your Life, Your Movie And...Diana Rose Morcilla

"Your life is a movie. You are the main character. You say your scripts and act to your lines. Of course you do your lines in each scene. There is a hidden camera and a director who you can ask for help anytime up above."

--Diana Rose Morcilla

#LeadershipTuesday: Yes, You Can Make The World Better...Wilfred Peterson

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it…”

--Wilferd Peterson

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Click this link and follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter for today's feature on Stacy Brown-Philpot. As a young girl who was raised along with her brother by her single mother in Detroit, she did not know she would make a difference by being one of the few African American CEOs in Silicon Valley. Today, she is an example of what is possible. 

Ambition Is Not A Bad Word...Priyanka Chopra

"Ambition has no color. It has no language. It has no border or country. Ambition is pure and I have it. I wish for the women of the world to not be afraid to have it because we have been told for such a long time that ambition is a bad word for a girl. It is alright to be a fierce female achiever…"

--Priyanka Chopra, Actress, Singer, Film Producer, and Philanthropist

Image: https://www.instagram.com/priyankachopra/

*Quote taken from Priyanka Chopra's talk at the 2018 #ForbesWomenSummit. See the video clip here:  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155602978708354&id=60717818353

May Our Actions Be Based On Truth...Kami Garcia

“We don't get to chose what is true. We only get to choose what we do about it.” 

― Kami Garcia, Beautiful Darkness

Witnessing Miraclulous Love...Elizabeth Gilbert

"To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous."
--Elizabeth Gilbert, "Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage"



Photo credits:
Wedding Couple, Vratislav Darmek, https://flic.kr/p/o9zhED

Black Couple, Ardley Hayward, https://flic.kr/p/XJFZy7

Hands, Kelsey, https://flic.kr/p/P82kRt

Happy Birthday America!

Remember your ideals and strive to be better this year!

#LeadershipTuesdays: We Must Do Better

I do not usually express opinions on the political issue du jour on this platform, however I do want to share this experience. When I was a teenager in high school, I remember my sick young five or six year old cousin having to be admitted to the hospital because she had severe asthma and other respiratory problems. She had to stay there for at least a week and her mother, who was a single mother, had to work and could not be with my little cousin most of the day and night. 

Every day my little cousin would cry and plead with her mother not to leave when visiting hours were over. It was a traumatic experience for my cousin, her mother and anyone else like me who watched the separation process. 

That said, parents should not be separated from their children without sufficient cause. I know that the immigration issues that are currently in the news are complicated and political. However, keeping young children with their families is a human rights issue. Detain them together, process them together, grant them stay together and/or send them back together. 

Don't separate children from their parents. It's not their fault they are in this predicament and it's just too traumatic for them. And even though children are resilient, we should be and must do better than this. 

--Nona O., Founder, #LeadershipTuesdays, womenatliberty.com

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Click this link today and follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter for INC.com article, "4 Impressive Ways Great Leaders Handle Their Mistakes", and gain insight on how you as a leader and/or manager should handle mistakes. 

Happy Father's Day!!

Gun Violence: It Must Stop...Alicia Caraballo

“The impact of violence in our communities is destroying us; the loss of life and the pain and suffering that families endlessly endure is taking its toll and we must do something about it.”

--Alicia Caraballo, Vice Chair, New Haven Board of Education

http://www.cfgnh.org/LeadingOnIssues/LatinoLeadership/CelebratingLatinoLeaders.aspx#1079133-alicia-caraballo

Happy Mother's Day!

"A mother’s love is like an everlasting bed of roses, that continues to blossom. A mother’s love bears strength, comfort, healing and warmth. Her beauty is compared to a sunny day that shines upon each rose petal and inspires hope."

--Ellen J. Barrier

You Have An Obligation To Do Something...John Lewis

"When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to do something."

--John Lewis

#LeadershipTuesdays: Find Your Voice...Melinda Gates

"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult."

--Melinda Gates

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter for resources to help you develop your leadership skills and learn from other others who are successful leaders.

Believe In Your Potential...Mary J. Blige

“The important thing is to realize that no matter what people’s opinions may be, they’re only just that – people’s opinions. You have to believe in your heart what you know to be true about yourself. And let that be that.”

--Mary J. Blige, Grammy Award winning Singer, and Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Actress

Give Yourself Some Credit...Tanya Burr

"Don't overestimate everyone else and underestimate yourself."

--Tanya Burr

#LeadershipTuesdays #MotivationalMoment: Embrace The Possible...Edith Eva Ager

Happy #LeadershipTuesdays! Being assertive and seizing opportunity are not celebrated for women as often as it is for men. However, being assertive is a leadership quality that is essential for success. Believe in yourself, be assertive and embrace the possible.

Follow @LeadershipTues on Twitter for resources to help you develop your leadership skills and follow others who are successfully leading.