After 18 years teaching in a high-school classroom, I moved to a new school and a new—much higher profile— position. I had navigated the choppy waters of politics and power dynamics many times, but never to the degree required at this new job. And while I had a myriad of experienced, supportive women in my life, none had solutions to the issues I faced.
I read, researched, dug deeper, and saw that there were a dearth of practical, easily accessible women’s leadership classes either informal or formal. Sure, there were conferences in exotic cities with famous key-note speakers, but nothing on my doorstep. And nothing that addressed my specific dilemmas.
I was, however, sure about three things:
One, Other women were confronting similar issues;
Two, There were women who had successfully addressed these issues, and
Three: These were the women I wanted to speak with.
These were the first steps of Ripple Out—a forum for women to share their experience—the sort that is garnered in the real world, day by day, through success and failure—and a forum to learn.
Since then, the concept has well, rippled out. In a burst of inspiration, I designed a course on the topic—lesson plans are the poetry of educators—and serendipitously was offered the opportunity to teach a college course on leadership.
Working with aspiring leaders in the course and in my day job, I saw a difference in what women and men needed to lead. The male path to leadership is thousands of years old and forged by men. It is vertical and direct. Women lean toward a community-based, horizontal model. And given that women in positions of leadership never exceed 18% in any industry, it is clear that the traditional models and structures of leadership aren’t working for the majority of women.
I was stymied at this point. Conversations are powerful; learning is powerful, but a bigger picture was still missing. One sunny day I walked into my bedroom and stopped in my tracks. Women needed an holistic support system for leadership that recognized a myriad of complex factors from reproductive rights to naming limiting unconscious cultural beliefs. The Women’s Framework for Leadership designed itself.
This winter, I stood at the crossroads of two corridors at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and time travelled. The portal was the confluence of exhibits of Michelangelo, Rodin and Hockney. I whooshed through centuries of men in front of canvases and clay. Surrounding the artists were women moving wordlessly, carrying water and babies. And I wondered. Where did all their ideas go? Their questions and connections? Were they stored up somewhere deep in a well, or did they dissipate into the universe? Where was all that energy?
Women Power is the original natural resource. Organizations with 35% female leadership show an increase of 15% in profits. Women in politics create community, not division. We need to be intentional and steadfast in stepping into leadership. Our world needs everyone’s ideas at the table.
Thanks for coming to Ripple Out. I look forward to learning together.