The Power Of A Dream and A Vision

"You can't be what you can't see."*

--Marie Wilson, Founding President, The White House Project

 

Check out this video that discusses images of women in the media and what those images tell us about how women are viewed in popular culture:


Feel free to leave a comment below!

*Quote from the "Miss Representation" Trailer, a documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. View it here: https://youtu.be/W2UZZV3xU6Q

#LeadershipTuesdays: What Do You See?...Virginia Satir

We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us.
 
--Virginia Satir (1916-1988), Author and Psychotherapist

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Gloria Steinem said in a New York Times article that, "it's hard to think of anything except air, food and water that is more important than the media". Given the importance of the media, what do you believe that the images of women we see on television and in film are telling us about the value and worth of women in our society?

Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence of the 14th District of Michigan recently hosted a forum at the Congressional Black Caucus' 45th Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. to discuss this topic. Entitled "Miss Representation: How Women Are Portrayed In The Media" (based on a documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newsom), panelists from the national and local media as well as women from national advocacy groups and public relations professionals led a discussion that helped the audience understand their power to change how women are currently being portrayed in the media.

Today's Leadership Tuesdays features a video commentary and a few interviews from the seminar as well as an excerpt from actress Viola Davis' acceptance speech at the 67th Emmy Awards where she made history by winning Best Actress In A Lead Role In A Drama Series. 

To see the video, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. To view the trailer from the documentary, click Miss Representation.

The Real Value of Dreams...Sonia Sotomayor

“. . . But experience has taught me that you cannot value dreams according to the odds of their coming true. Their real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire. That will, wherever it finally leads, does at least move you forward. 

--Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court, Author of My Beloved World

 

Working Together...Cesar Chavez

"From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and strength."

--Cesar Chavez

Advice For Women...Hilda Solis

"The best advice I can give women at all levels is increase training. There are still areas where we have to break through that glass ceiling."

--Hilda Solis, 25th Secretary of Labor (2009--2013), U.S. Department of Labor

Your Health...Dr. Elmer Huerta

We are great in treating conditions. Our health care system in the United States - and most of the world, I would say...is great in treating, because the center of this universal health care is disease and illness. Once the illness comes, oh, my God, we're great. We can operate, we can any part of your body give you treatments for this, for that. Why? Because the center of this health care universe is the illness, the disease. Wouldn't it be great if we kind of change that health care universe towards preventive and - to prevention, early detection, what we call health promotion? Can you imagine people going earlier without symptoms? Exactly the same way you take your car to the shop for the tune-up.

--Dr. Elmer Huerta, Physician, Executive, Author and Talk Show Host
 

Don't Ever Give Up...Adrienne Bailon

"Don`t ever give up. Believe in yourself or no one else will. My personal saying is: `I`d rather die knowing that I tried to do what I love."

--Adrienne Bailon, Actress, Singer and Talk Show Host

http://thereal.com/page/2013/06/25/adrienne-bailon/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Using Power For The Collective Good...Juana Bordas

“Leaders who function as community stewards serve the collective and use power for the collective good.”
 
--Juana Bordas*, Principal--Mestiza Leadership International, Best-selling Author and Leader

http://www.juanabordas.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 is the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and #LeadershipTuesdays is featuring a quote by Hispanic business woman Juana Borders*. Bordas is a expert in leadership and diversity. Her quote reminds us that leaders who will have an impact on their community must use their power to improve and build the community and not selfishly use resources to only enhance their position and wealth.

Bordas quote is a perfect way to introduce today's article: "Leadership Styles: Transactional and Transformational" by Jannike Ohsten. The "Transactional" leader's role is to maintain the status quo and primarily supervise. This may be the best leadership style for a organization or division that has well defined processes and only needs to improve efficiency. Transformational leaders focus on employee engagement and connecting the employees' values and self worth with the organizations' core values so that they can maximize growth both the individual and the organization. A key aspect of transformational leadership is the use of motivation to effect change and improvement.

Given the problems we are facing today in our communities and business organizations like unemployment, a lack of racial diversity, income inequality, skills gaps in our workforce and rising costs and competitive pressures, we need transformational leaders who can create positive and lasting changes in their communities and companies by motivating people to use their talents to create solutions for the collective good. 

To read today's article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 
 
*Juana Bordas is the principal of Mestiza Leadership International in Denver, Colorado. Mestiza provides training and organizational services that demonstrate the benefits of collaboration, diversity, and effective leadership. She works with corporations, nonprofits, government and educational institutions integrating the best practices and model from these diverse sectors. For more information on Ms. Bordas, click here.

Work On Your Goals Every Day...Holly Mosier

“Perfection of effort is not required, by the way. It is the consistency of attempting to work these tools that brings the progress. It’s like anything else. If I want to tone muscle, lifting a ten-pound weight a few times every day will move me toward my goal much quicker than hoisting a fifty-pound barbell once a week. Yes, it really is true: “Slow and steady wins the race.” Just try a little, every day. You’ll see.”

--Holly Mosier

 

Running Your Race...Priscilla Shirer

"Disciplined runners consistently clear their heads and focus fully on the journey ahead.. .because their passion and zeal for the goal supersedes the strain. The goal beckons them onward. Passion doesn't negate weariness; it just resolves to press beyond it.”
 
--Priscilla Shirer, Author, Speaker and Bible Teacher (Gideon: Your Weakness. God's Strength - DVD Series)

www.goingbeyond.com
Priscilla Shirer is currently starring in War Room,
a movie about the power of prayer.

How Deep Is Your Love...The Bee Gees (Song - video)

I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You're the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You're my savior when I fall
And you may not think I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And it's me you need to show

How deep is your love, how deep is your love
How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me

Written by Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb

New Day!...Michael Ealy

"Forget the week and enjoy the weekend! New day! Respect and cherish the time we have that's in front of us!"

--Michael Ealy, Actor 

*Check out Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan and Morris Chestnut in "The Perfect Guy" opening 9/11/15

Don't Let People Box You In...Lucy Liu

You have to look out for becoming trapped in a place where people want to see you all the time doing one thing.

--Lucy Liu

What Could You Accomplish If You Really Believed In You?...Holly Robinson Peete

Still, I wonder if more women artists, musicians and writers aren't household names because we don't have enough faith in our own pursuits to give ourselves the time we desperately need to be transformed by a creative vision.

--Holly Robinson Peete

http://hollyrobinsonpeete.com/

#LeadershipTuesdays: How Do You Define Success...Diane von Furstenberg

"So the first thing that success gives you is financial independence. That’s great. The second thing that success gives you is a voice. You have a voice. All of a sudden, people listen to you, pay attention to what you say. And what I feel is that if you acquire that, it’s your duty, responsibility and also privilege to use that voice for people who have no voice. That’s my description of success."*

--Diane von Furstenberg, Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer

http://www.dvf.com/about-diane-von-furstenberg.html

 
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 features an interview and article by Adam Bryant from his New York Times Corner Office column on Diane von Furstenberg entitled, "Diane von Furstenberg: The Key to Success Is Trusting Yourself"*. In the mid 1970s, she created the iconic "wrap dress" that would be known for decades as a must in the wardrobe of the confident and elegant woman. She discusses in the article how she does not consider herself a great leader. But, that has not stopped her from doing what few women have done: creating a multi-million dollar global diversified company. Through some successes and failures, she has expanded her global brand into a company of fashion and luxury items that are sold in 55 countries with annual revenues estimated at $500 million.

True to her quote above, giving back is important to Ms. von Furstenberg. Her family foundation, The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, provides grants to organizations with missions in the following areas: Community Building, Education, Human Rights, Arts, Health and the Environment. She is also a director of the Washington, DC based Vital Voices, a non-governmental organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs around the world. (See a brief Leadership Tuesdays' interview on Vital Voices and their work.)

To read today's article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 

Sources:
1) About Diane, DVF Corporate Website
2) 2015 America's Richest Self-Made Women,#31 Diane von Furstenberg, Forbes.com 
2) Diane von Furstenberg. Wikipedia.org

Our True North...Elizabeth Dole

"We believe in the dignity of every life, the possibility of every mind, the divinity of every soul. This is our true North."

--Elizabeth Dole

 

 

Embracing Grace...Joshua DuBois

“Dear God, thank you for pursuing me. I’ll let your grace overtake me. I accept your rest in my life.”
 
--Joshua DuBois, The President's Devotional: The Daily Readings That Inspired President Obama

 

Ode To Love...Nona O.

From a pure and quiet place
Or even in the midst of chaos
With truth and grace
I love you 

When all alone
I am there
And no matter what happens
I will always care

--Nona O.  

Be Open To Collaboration...Amy Poehler

"As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."

--Amy Poehler, Award-winning Actress, Comedian, Director, Producer, and Writer

Meredith Walker, Amy Poehler, and Amy Miles
Amy Poehlers Smart Girls

 

An Example Of Faith and Grace...Jimmy Carter

When asked how he felt about his recent cancer diagnosis, former President Jimmy Carter stated:

"I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes. I do have deep religious faith, which I'm very grateful for, and I was pleasantly surprised that -- that I didn't go into an attitude of despair or anger or anything like that. I was just completely at ease. I have been very grateful for that part of it. So I'm -- I'm ready for anything and looking forward to a new adventure."

--Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States

Comparing Yourself To Others...Idris Elba

"I'm an ambitious person. I never consider myself in competition with anyone, and I'm not saying that from an arrogant standpoint, it's just that my journey started so, so long ago, and I'm still on it and I won't stand still."

--Idris Elba

#LeadershipTuesdays: Inspiring Leaders...Condoleezza Rice

"Truly remarkable leadership is not just about motivating others to follow, it's about inspiring them to become leaders themselves and setting the stage for even greater opportunities for future generations."

--Condoleezza Rice

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. There is no new feature today.* However, please see our blog archives of recent features by checking the right side of this page.

For other Leadership Tuesdays' features on leaders like Ruth J. Simmons (former President of Brown University), Denise Morrison (CEO of Campbell's Soup), and leadership expert John Maxwell, go to the Leadership Tuesdays' section on our website here: womenatliberty.com. You may also visit our Facebook page, Women Making History, for additional postings on leadership and other topics of interests to women.

*A new Leadership Tuesdays' feature will be posted next week, September 8.