A Great Moment for Women in Leadership

I have to admit I’ve never met Carly Fiorina but I’m still not over her leaving the top post at HP. It’s just that there are so few women who are both driven to get to the top and who are accepted, supported and cheered on into that role. But corporate isn’t the only place for women leaders. That’s why it was such a thrill to read about Cathy Scott, AFSCME DC 47’s new leader, in this morning’s Philadelphia Inquirer. She replaces the retiring Tom Cronin, who led the the union for 27 years, just at the time Philadelphia is replacing its mayor, most likely to be Michael Nutter, who was quoted thus: “I think she’s a very smart, sharp person who is certainly going to be a strong advocate for the members of her union, but I also know she cares a great deal about the city and our challenges going forward…we’ll have serious and frank discussions.” And she says: “We think there are areas where we can work in a very positive way with Mr. Nutter.”

It gives me hope. I live and work in this city and it sorely needs the kind of leadership that is serious, frank, positive and collaborative. Here are two people with Vision. I am making that assumption about Michael Nutter, whom I’ve never met, based on what people who do know him have told me. But I know Cathy because we at The Gabriel Institute worked with her as leader of Local 2187, helping her develop her board’s leadership. I know she is a woman with a Vision – from her Role-Based Assessment and from watching her grow in that very responsible position. As I emailed Cathy to share my best wishes for her, I reflected on how far she had come from when I first met her, working tirelessly, ceaselessly, intensely, so faithful to her constituents. And how responsive she was to input that respected her Vision and helped her shaped and communicate it. She is not a woman to waste words. And so when I read her response, I took it as the highest compliment about what we do that this is what she said:

Working with Gabriel really helped focus me on Vision.

Thanks for encouraging and supporting a fellow woman in leadership. May our numbers increase!