The Most Difficult Leadership Goal...Bill Hybels

"You are the most difficult person you will ever lead." --Bill Hybels

http://www.willowcreek.com

Can You Create A Winning Team?...Roosevelt Thomas

For future business leaders, the state of business, and our country, we need to get beyond seeing diversity as just achieving the desired profile-whether it be racial, a gender balance, or even a certain age mixture. We assume that if we get rid of all of the "isms" -racism, sexism, and so forth-that everything will be okay. Wrong. If you don't know how to manage a diverse workforce, you won't move your company forward. The challenge becomes: Can you, as a manager, create an environment that allows you to access talent, however it comes packaged?

--R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., Subject-Matter-Expert, Diversity Management

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This blog is Part III of the series, "Are We There Yet? My Climb and Journey". In this blog, I talk about a few bumps in the road or incidences at AT&T that occurred while I was getting my MBA in an Executive Education program at the University of Pittsburgh.  These incidences became a turning point in my career.  

A conversation with John T. Delaney, PhD., Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, about the current state of women in executive leadership and why women do not choose to get advanced business degrees at the same rate they obtain professional degrees in other areas, like law and medicine, was the catalyst for this series.

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As a company, AT&T was committed to diversity. First of all, they had a company statement to support diversity and denounce discrimination. They also provided diversity training for their employees. In fact, across all of their divisions, AT&T had implemented by the late 1990’s all of the steps referenced in Frank Kalman’s recent article on Diversity-Executive.com, “Five Steps to Embed Diversity and Inclusion Into Organizational Culture”.[i]  (See below for the “Five Steps”) Personally, I saw their support of my business education at the University of Pittsburgh as a demonstration of this commitment. However, two specific incidents that occurred during my MBA program with my local division’s leadership left me with a very negative impression of my local management.

Let me start off by saying it was the company’s policy that once they decided to support an employee in an Executive Education program, they would be fully funded for the duration of the program.  However, my division, without cause, tried to re-nig on certain parts of its financial commitment to my Executive Education program. While I was completing my MBA program, I along with several other employees in my group was moved into a new division because of the dissolution of an international only government marketing team. As time drew near for the capstone class trip that would include travel to Prague in the Czech Republic, Italy, and France, my new division...

To read the rest of the story, click here. For more on Leadership Tuesdays,click here.

Traits of A Great Leader...Nona

Vision, education, intelligence, compassion, accountability and integrity with a strong sense of history are the traits of a great leader. --Nona

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week, a special issue of  Leadership Tuesdays is presented to recognize a major milestone of the oldest African American singing organization in the United States. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) was founded in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey who is credited with creating the genre of black gospel music. On August 6, 2012, the organization inaugurated its first woman as president. Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry was installed at NCGCC's Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. from August 4 -- 10, 2012.

Dr. Gentry talked about the organization's rich history and tradition, the legacy of leadership that was imparted to her, and her vision for the organization. She is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a retired educator who worked in the St. Louis Public School system for 32 years. After her installation services, she graciously agreed to an interview with WOMEN AT LIBERTY/Women History Maker-DC, MD & VA's founder, Nona Ogunsula.

To read the article about Dr. Gentry, click here. 

Also, this past May, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. John T. Delaney, Dean of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, regarding the women empowerment and leadership program I launched in March 2011, Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA and Leadership Tuesdays. (See womenatliberty.com for more information.)

As a Pitt Alum, I was interested in finding out how Katz was addressing this problem in its Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Education programs. Further, I wanted to know if Katz was involved in any partnerships and/or research to 1) explain the cause for the lack of women and minorities in leadership positions; and 2) improve the status quo.

To read about the premise for our discussion and my corporate work experience and background, see "Are We There Yet? My Journey, My Climb".

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.



How To Be A Successful Servant Leader...Marabeth Gentry

 "You have to have the organization at heart...to really want it to succeed. You're not there for what you can pull out. You have to want to put in more than you get out.”

--Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry is the first woman to lead the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc. (NCGCC) as its President.

http://www.ncgccinc.com

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today, a special issue of Leadership Tuesdays is presented to recognize a major milestone of the oldest African American singing organization in the United States. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) was founded in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey who is credited with creating the genre of black gospel music. On August 6, 2012, the organization inaugurated its first woman as president. Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry was installed at NCGCC's Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. from August 4 -- 10, 2012.

In today's Leadership Tuesday, Dr. Gentry talks about the organization's rich history and tradition, the legacy of leadership that was imparted to her, and her vision for the organization. She is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a retired educator who worked in the St. Louis Public School system for 32 years. After her installation services, she graciously agreed to an interview with WOMEN AT LIBERTY/Women History Maker-DC, MD & VA's founder, Nona Ogunsula.

To read her article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Motivational Moment: Servant Leadership...Marabeth E. Gentry

...to be a leader you must first be the servant to the people. To be the servant doesn’t mean subordinate. It just means that you take the people and their welfare, their [well-being] first. And then you consider yourself.

--Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry is the first woman to lead the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc. (NCGCC) as its President.

http://www.ncgccinc.com

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today, a special issue of Leadership Tuesdays is presented to recognize a major milestone of the oldest African American singing organization in the United States. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) was founded in 1932 by Thomas A. Dorsey who is credited with creating the genre of black gospel music. On August 6, 2012, the organization inaugurated its first woman as president.  Dr. Marabeth E. Gentry was installed at NCGCC's Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. from August 4 -- 10, 2012. 

In today's Leadership Tuesday, Dr. Gentry talks about the organization's rich history and tradition, the legacy of leadership that was imparted to her, and her vision for the organization.  She is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a retired educator who worked in the St. Louis Public School system for 32 years. After her installation services, she graciously agreed to an interview with WOMEN AT LIBERTY/Women History Maker-DC, MD & VA's founder, Nona Ogunsula.

To read her article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Leadership Tuesdays: Think You're All That...Toni Blackman

"We don't want people to think that we think we're all that. And I say, 'think you're all that'!"

 --Toni Blackman, Artist, Cultural Ambassador, Founder of Rhyme like a Girl & Freestyle Union, and A Dove® Real Woman Role Model

http://www.toniblackman.com

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today, Leadership Tuesdays presents Toni L. Blackman, a poet, rap artist, and self-described "international champion of hip hop culture." Her commitment to use her craft to create cultural change led the United States Department of State to select her as an American Cultural Specialist. Ms. Blackman travelled around the world lecturing, conducting workshops and performing works that challenged and condemned violence against women and promoted self esteem among women and girls. 

Blackman founded the Freestyle Union, a New York-based organization for hip hop artists and rappers that uses free-style rapping to promote social responsibility. As an artist, she has shared the stage with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Roots, Wu Tang Clan, GURU, Bahamadia, Boot Camp Clic, Me’Shell NdegeoCello, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Jill Sobule and Rickie Lee Jones.

As a scholar and educator, Toni developed and lauched a program called, "I Rhyme Like A Girl" to build self esteem and empower young girls by using creative tools such as poetry, lyrics and performance. Further, this Echoing Green and Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) Fellow has done an extensive amount of work with the Girl Scouts of America and was instrumental in launching “The Girls Hip Hop Project” at the Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland, Maine (a program that provides workshops for teen girls from the Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and many other places). Her latest efforts are as a teaching artist at Brooklyn Communication Arts & Media High School (BCAM) where she teaches “The Art of Emceeing”.
 
In 2012, Toni was selected as a Dove® role model. With a goal of promoting self esteem and inspiring women and girls to reach their full potential, Dove® is highlighting real women role models who "should be famous". To see her powerful and inspiring story, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Fear Not...Katharine Jefferts Schori

We live in a world that is desperate for relief from fear. People in the United States are afraid of losing their jobs and home. Others are afraid of not being able to feed their children or themselves. Many of our politicians are afraid of being chucked out by their constituents if they don't answer their small-mindedness by prompting fear in others.

The fear all around us cries out for succor and comfort, and if we bear the image of God, we are also meant to be messengers of the holy one--fear not, God is with you. (Excerpt from the recently released book, "Gathering At God's Table, The Meaning Of Mission In The Feast of Faith"

--Katharine Jefferts Schori, 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is featured. She is the first woman to be elected as the chief bishop or the highest leader of the Anglican Church in U.S. She was elected in 2006.

Bishop Jefferts Schori is responsible for initiating and developing policy for the Episcopal Church and speaks on behalf of the church regarding the policies, strategies, and programs of the church. Before her calling to the priesthood and subsequent ordination in 1994, she was an oceanographer. She has a B.S. in biology from Stanford University, an M.S. and Ph.D. in oceanography from Oregon State University, an M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

In today's video, Bishop Jefferts Schori talks about managing change within her church denomination, how she dealt with discrimination within the church, and the positive use of power. To view the Leadership Tuesdays' feature, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, see here.

Appreciating Men Who Appreciate Women In Leadership...Ursula Burns

"There’s something to be said for the men who’ve known that we [women] can do what we do without becoming them."*

--Ursula Burns, CEO, Xerox

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Our last Leadership Tuesdays for this Women's History Month's of 2012 features Stephanie Cole Hill of leading defense industry contractor, Lockheed Martin. An engineer by training, Ms. Hill was recently promoted to President of Information Systems and Global Solutions-Civil where she leads the 10,000 employees of this multi-billion dollar business unit. Presently, Ms. Hill is the only African American President at Lockheed Martin and she reports to Ms. Linda R. Gooden, Executive Vice President of Information Systems and Global Solutions and the other African American woman in executive leadership at Lockheed Martin. (Ms. Gooden was profiled and featured in Leadership Tuesdays in September 2011.) 
 

In March 2012, Ms. Hill had the distinct honor of being profiled for Women's History Month in The Root by her prominent older sister, Harriette Cole, a best-selling author, Today Show/MSNBC contributor, president of her own media company and former editor at Essence Magazine. To view this Leadership Tuesdays' feature on Ms. Hill, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

*Quote via Jenna Goudreau, @jeanna_goudreau, Forbes

You + God...Vashti McKenzie

"You + God is greater than any crisis you are facing. Believeth thou this?" 

--Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie, Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church

http://www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com

Twice a month on Tuesdays, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In celebration of Black History Month and its 2012 theme: Black Women in American Culture and History, this week we feature Reverend Dr. Vashti M. McKenzie who is currently a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. 

Mckenzie is responsible for leading the 13th Episcopal District (Tennessee and Kentucky) and she holds the distinction of being the first woman to be elected to the office of Bishop in the A.M.E. Church. Her leadership accomplishments include leading large church organizations in both the U.S. and South Africa, creating entrepreneurial business projects, starting over 35 local churches, growing a church congregation from 330 to over 1700 members, and managing multi-million dollar church real estate development projects. To view her story, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

Butterflies in Your Stomach...Kathleen L. Flanagan

“You’ll always want to have butterflies in your stomach. Plan for success. Create your goals and your strategy, and go with your gut. Have confidence in yourself."  --Kathleen L. Flanagan, CEO of ABT Associates, speaking of the advice a mentor once gave her. 

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today, we present an article written by Adam Bryant from The New York Times' column, Corner Office, on Kathleen L. Flanagan who shares some important advice a mentor once gave her about taking on challenges.   To read "Kathleen Flanagan: Want To Lead? Nurture The Butterflies" and an introduction, click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

Leadership Tuesdays | Leadership Is...Jane Harman

"Leadership is inside out."  --Jane Harman, Former U.S. Congresswoman

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In our last edition for 2011, we are featuring former U.S. Representative Jane Harman who gives great advice to women who aspire to leadership. To see her message, click here.  For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

Leadership Tuesdays: B. Smith on Determination

I have stood on a mountain of "No's" for one "Yes".  Determination really is a big part of whether you succeed in any business that you're in.
--B. Smith, Restaurateur, Author, Lifestyle Expert, Entrepreneur, Talk Show Host and pioneering Fashion Model

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For a feature on former fashion model and enterpreneur B Smith and also, more information, see Leadership Tuesdays.