Leading Life

After having our women in leadership class for over 2 months, I have absorbed an immense amount of knowledge and experience on leadership. From each panel I have gained a new perspective on everyday life. I have learned to follow my passion, whether I am supported by my peers or not; if I know my calling and have faith in myself I should start a career in doing what I love. Also, each woman on the panels has spoken about work, life, balance. We as a class have learned the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to become leaders. Leaders are not workaholics. Leaders are the people who do their best when they're at work, love their most when they're at home, and balance themselves everyday. I also learned that one of the most important aspects of being a leader is being yourself. Do not change yourself just because you think you will be labeled; as women in leadership, this is often a threat. We don't want to wear too much makeup because then we'd come off as a slut, we don't want to voice our opinion too loud because we may be called a bitch. Where is the line between aggressive and assertive? What piece of clothing differentiates a professional business woman and a successful young adult? As long as I am myself I won't have to worry about these things. We have also learned much about networking. While networking, you should be learning more about the person you're meeting, not their business. Business is not the first priority, at least not just yet. It is crucial to get to know your potential client and express that you care about their lives, just as you want them to care about yours. If there was one leadership tip that stood out to me the most it was from the panel we heard while at President Krendl's home. This panel spoke to me the most because each woman talked about being yourself. Of course we all are promoting women in power and each of us is a powerful woman leader. But this speech was different. Rather than waking up and saying to yourself, "I am strong and beautiful, I am a powerful woman" say this: "I am strong and beautiful, and I am Hannah." When I'm making a difference I don't want to be recognized as that woman who did this. I want to be recognized as Hannah, the woman that made a difference. And that's how I am living my life in leadership. I am not being generalized, I am making a name for myself, and I am promoting the one true me.