As we wrap up Women’s History Month, we say goodbye to Madeline Albright, a lady who was a true pioneer for women in leadership. From an era where the only way to get to the table was to play like the boys, she did. But better. And smarter. And with class.
Albright broke barriers when she was named U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She changed what was possible for women when President Bill Clinton appointed her Secretary of State in 1997. I remember this event well. Still early in my career, I was trying to break glass ceilings of my own and found her presence and her achievements empowering. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say she was my first professional female role model.
As Secretary of State, Albright accomplished a ton, most notably promoting the expansion of NATO into former Soviet countries and pressing for military intervention during the 1999 Kosovo humanitarian crisis.
The road of a trailblazer is never easy or comfortable. Albright often shared that it was common for her to be the only woman in the room. Well, at least the only one with a vote at the table. “When I walked into my first meeting of the United Nations Security Council, there were 15 seats and 14 men—all looking at me…I thought, well, I don’t think I’ll talk today… [then] I looked down at the table and saw a plaque that read THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I thought, if I do not speak today, the voice of the United States will not be heard.”
Madame Albright was intelligent, diplomatic, and courageous. A class act, she gave professional women a model for what leadership could look like and how to gain a seat at the table. It’s because of examples like hers, that the number of female CEOs and leaders continues to rise. In true female fashion, she saw the way forward through cooperation, not competition.
“We need to be more supportive of each other and not so judgmental,” she said. “The best thing is to have more than one woman in the room… so there really is some way to support each other, because that’s what men do.”
While female leadership is on the rise, there is still much improvement to be made. Currently, only 32 women hold CEO positions at S&P 500 companies. And yet, it’s statistically proven that companies with a higher percentage of female leaders are more profitable. McKinsey & Co. research shows that when an organization’s executive team is diverse, they are 33% more likely to see larger profit margins compared to those that aren’t. Equalizing the numbers of female executives and their pay shouldn’t be a business priority just because it’s fair, but because it makes business sense.
The good news is that many companies are trying to figure out how to navigate towards equality, yet it’s not always easy. Identifying leaders early, supporting female leaders, supporting them with the coaching, mentoring and development they need to succeed in roles traditionally filled by men in STEM, manufacturing, finance, etc. Getting the right leaders into c-level roles is always a priority, and with equal sponsorship and development half of those leaders can be women. Leaders who are courageous, intelligent and diplomatic…just like our trailblazer, Madeline Albright.
Excelerate specializes in the development of senior and c-level leaders and we have an exceptional track record of successfully grooming women and men for the highest levels of leadership. Click here to learn more about how we can help your organization inspire and grow your own trailblazers.
