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Women and Leadership: Creating the Future of Business

It may not seem like things are changing for women in leadership roles very much. At least it may not seem that things are moving very fast. However, things are changing!

by Dr. Barbara Mark, CEO Full Circle Institute

We have come a long way from the requirement that women show up in pin-strip suits with a pink bow and learn the rules in business that men have created. We are creating new opportunities for ourselves and for the young women who will stand on our shoulders.

by Dr. Barbara Mark, CEO Full Circle Institute

Women have More Influence than Ever

You must be hearing from some of the many women’s groups, organizations and individual women’s voices of leadership that this is an amazing time for women. In many ways, it may seem like miracle and wonder. It is certainly a long distance call from a future that we are creating.

Women have more influence than they have ever had. This is a product of the efforts of the generations of women who have been pioneers.

Men have been the most visible and prominent gender in business, and so the rules of business have been created and influenced by men. These have become “the rules of business.” However, they are changing as a result of the modernization of business practices, the influence of women and the influence of the younger generations.

Women and Men will Evolve the Future Rules of Business

The future of business will be created and evolved by you. Yes, you – you personally, along with your female and male colleagues who are in support of the collaboration of women and men in influencing a world that is rapidly changing – your world.

As more women move into positions of leadership in influence, there are more roles models, more opportunities for even more women to contribute in their chosen way. Not everyone wants to be a Senior Vice President, not everyone wants to be a CEO. You have the opportunity to envision your future, seek the experience that you need in order to get to what and where you want to be.

In order to be successful, you must take action to seek out information, training, mentoring, confidence building, personal development and professional development. You must learn how to be an excellent and strategic networker to ensure that a valuable number of the professional relationships you are building are with those people who can help you co-create the career path that you desire. Ask for projects, volunteer projects, and find out what kind of projects you have to do in order to get to the position you want to hold.

Know that work and life don’t ever balance – they integrate, and it is different every day.
Barbara Mark, Ph.D. is the CEO and Founder of Full Circle Institute. FCI is a leadership development company for female executives. Dr. Mark is a thought leader in the area of Women in Leadership and Leadership for the Future. She has been working with women in business for nearly three decades and is committed to the advancement of women for the good of all. You can learn more by visiting Full Circle Institute.

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