While exploring the nonprofit ecosystem in Delhi, I was introduced to Ladies Who Lead, a members-only community of women leaders that empowers, engages and encourages women to do more with their careers. With an overarching objective of “co-creating the future together”, this community was created as a safe space for women to express themselves, share ideas and challenges, gain knowledge and build valuable relationships.
Being a female entrepreneur with a passion for supporting other women, this mission really resonated with me. Which is why, when I was offered a chance to host a learning session for Ladies Who Lead, I was more than happy to oblige!
On 5th April 2023, I presented Leadership to 12 members of Ladies Who Lead. The group encompassed female leaders, directors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, professionals, and aspiring leaders. The objective of my session was to communicate key concepts of modern leadership, as illustrated in the most recent scholarship and publications on management.
I specifically drew several lessons from A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), the Project Management Institute’s flagship publication and a fundamental resource for effective project management in any industry.
I also shared my own real-world learnings, gleaned from decades working with corporations and from the leaders I have coached over the past two years. The realities of coping with the pandemic have made it abundantly clear that, going forward, leaders will need to master a new set of skills!
My Leadership session was meant to be a starting point for conversations — and I am glad to say that it succeeded. Very quickly, participants requested further explanations on some of the concepts and began discussing how they have been trying to apply them in their organizations.
Their questions ranged across so many pertinent topics. How can we implement modern management in a family-owned, traditionally run company? How can we apply 21st century leadership when some aspects don’t align with our culture, community and values? What is the best way to handle the failure of a team member — and does their failure mean we failed as leaders?
Since the session was held in a safe and welcoming environment, the participants were eager to ask questions and learn more, to bounce around new ideas, and to share their challenges and obstacles. Afterwards, we had coffee and snacks together, giving the ladies an opportunity to continue talking in small groups and practice networking.
Networking, by the way, is often perceived as a skill and practice that is lacking for women leaders, since traditional networking forums can still be quite difficult for women to access. Ladies Who Lead fills this gap admirably, enabling aspiring and accomplished women leaders to build their networks. Think of it as productive yet pleasant mingling!
From my side, I was delighted to meet so many wonderful women leaders from the local business, nonprofit and startup communities. I was invigorated by their energy and humbled by their cheerful welcome. Truly, ladies who lead bring their own unique perspective, expertise and charm to the world of leadership!
