WOMEN LEADERS
Jónia Presado, Ph.D (hc), Head of Marketing, Communications, and PR MultiChoice Mozambique a Canal+ Company
DR. JÓNIA PRESADO
Editorial
-AlayaBrown
IRedefining the Narrative
naneradefinedbyrelentlessinnovation,shiftingconsumer
behavior,anddigital-firststrategies,marketinghastransformed intooneofthemostdynamicandinfluentialarenasofmodern business.Attheforefrontofthistransformationstandexceptional womenleaders—visionarieswhocombinedata-drivenintelligence withcreativeinstinct,strategicforesightwithauthenticstorytelling, andpurpose-ledleadershipwithboldexperimentation. Most Dynamic Marketing Mavericks: Women Leaders to Follow celebratesthese pioneerswhocontinuetoelevatebrands,redefineengagement,and influenceglobalmarketswithunmatchedagility
Today’smarketinglandscapeisnolongeraboutvisibilityalone—itis aboutresonance,relevance,andrealimpact.Thewomenfeaturedin thiseditionhavemasteredtheartofconnectingtheseelements.Their journeysreflectanextraordinaryabilitytodecodeconsumer expectations,buildemotionalconnections,andadoptemerging technologies—fromAI-drivenpersonalizationtoimmersivedigital ecosystems—tocreateexperiencesthattrulymatter Theyarenotjust shapingcampaigns;theyareshapingconversations,cultures,and entireindustries.
Whatdistinguishesthesemarketingmavericksisnotonlytheir professionalacumenbuttheirunwaveringcommitmenttoauthenticity andpurpose.Theychampioninclusivenarratives,nurturecreative diversity,andelevatetheirteamswithaleadershipstylerootedin empathyandempowerment.Theyunderstandthatsustainablebrand successisbuiltontrustandtransparency—abeliefthatguidestheir boldchoicesandbreakthroughstrategies.
Thisspecialfeaturepaystributetoleaderswhohaveturnedchallenges intoopportunities,competitionintocollaboration,andinsightsinto meaningfulaction.Fromrevitalizinglegacybrandstobuildingdigitalfirstpowerhouses,frompioneeringcommunity-drivenmarketing modelstoarchitectingglobalbrandtransformations,theirimpactis bothprofoundandfar-reaching.
Asyouexploretheirstories,expecttouncoverawealthof inspiration—lessonsonresilience,creativity,innovation,andthe couragetothinkdifferently.Thesewomenremindusthatmarketingis notmerelyafunctionofbusinessbutacatalystofchange.Their leadershipcontinuestoinspireteams,influenceconsumers,andpush theboundariesofwhatbrandscanachieve.
Weareproudtospotlighttheseextraordinarywomenwhosebrilliance continuestoshapethefutureofmarketing.Theirjourneysreaffirma powerfultruth:whenvisionmeetsstrategy,andcreativitymeets conviction,remarkablethingshappen.
The Empathy Engine: Leading Brands with Soul How a Marketing Visionary is Redefining African Excellence Through Authentic Storytelling and Purpose-Driven Service
T E H IV E S F U R L O C N X T E P E A G
Beyond the C-Suite Women Shaping Policy, Innovation, and Progress Across Sectors
The Inside Story of Leadership What Drives Today’s Most Resilient Women
Editor-in-Chief
Managing
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Technical
Most Dynamic Marketing Mavericks Women Leaders to Follow
THE FRONT PAGE EXCLUSIVE
The Empathy Engine: Leading Brands with Soul— How a Marketing Visionary—
DR. JÓNIA PRESADO
is Redefining African Excellence Through Authentic Storytelling and Purpose-Driven Service
Ph.D (hc), Head of Marketing, Communications, and PR MultiChoice Mozambique a Canal+ Company
Marketingisthelanguagethatconnectspeople acrossboundariesbycreatingarealitythat matchestheirhopes.Itisalanguageof compassionthatcreatescuriosityinthemindsofconsumer aboutthebrandsthatpromisetosolvetheirproblem,fulfil theirwishordesire,orservethempersonallyinaway expectedbythem.
—an Award- Dr.JóniaPresado,Ph.D(hc) Winning Marketing & Communications Leader, Top 50 Women in Management Africa, and Top 100 Influential Black Personalities in Portuguese-Speaking Countries—hasmasteredthatlanguageofmeaningful brandcommunicationinherprofessionalcareerofnearly two-and-a-halfdecades.
Especiallyinaworldwheremarketingoftenobsessively focusesonmerenumbers,astheHeadofMarketing, Communications,andPRatMultiChoiceMozambiquea Canal+Company,Dr.Presadochoosestoleadwith meaning.Sheexemplifiesgenuineandpurpose-driven leadershipinthedynamicmediaindustrywithinAfrica. Leveragingher24yearsofexperience,herauthorityis complementedwithacademicrigour,includingaDoctorate inLeadershipandBusinessManagement(honoriscausa) fromtheVeridianChristianUniversity(USA)anda Master'sinMarketingfromtheinternationallyrenowned UniversityofSalford(UK).
ConnectingPeople'sRealitiestoTheirAspirations
Dr.Presadohasestablishedalegacythatisan amalgamationofcreativity,significantsocialimpact,and unrelentingexcellence.Heresteemedroleisrecognized aroundtheworld;shehasbeenrecognizedforbeingoneof Africa'sTop50WomeninBusinessManagementandhas receivedaccoladesforbeingoneoftheTop100Most InfluentialBlackPeopleinPortuguese-speakingnations.
“I've learned that marketing is less about persuasion and more about understanding people — their hopes, emotions, and identities.”
Toher,theseawardsweremorethanapersonal achievement—itwasareminderofresponsibility.It reaffirmedthatleadershipisnotabouttitlesbutaboutthe abilitytocreateimpactandopendoorsforothers.
“Thisrecognitioninspiredmetoleadwithevengreater authenticityandempathy.”Itreinforcedherbeliefthat communicationismostpowerfulwhenitconnectspeople's realitiestotheiraspirations.Today,hervisionistoshape narrativesthatnotonlyelevatebrandsbutalsocelebratethe richnessandresilienceofAfricanstories.
PoweringAPurpose-drivenStrategy
Drivenbyherloveofstorytellingandanaturalstrategic vision,shecurrentlyleadsMultiChoiceMozambiquea Canal+Company,attheintersectionofbrandauthenticity, audiencediversity,andsocialimpact.Duringhercareer, consideringsheisenjoyinggreatsuccess,shehasdedicated hertimetodevelopingandimplementingstrategiesto developcommunity,advocateforcorporatesocial responsibility,andfacilitatesocialchange.
Receivingtheawardfor Outstanding Community & Social Responsibility isrepresentativeofthiscommitment;she doesn'tviewitasjustbeinganimportantcomponentof communitydevelopment,butrather,animportant componentofsustainablebusinessdevelopment.Asa leader,Dr.Presadodrawsideasfrominnovation, inclusion,andcollaboration.Shetakesincrediblejoy indevelopingandmentoringfutureprofessionals;she advocatesfordiverserepresentationinallofherwork, andshecreatesworkingenvironmentsthatempower herteamstodotheirbestwork.Hercommitmentto impactfulandresults-drivencampaignshasnotonly hadasignificantimpactinbringingawarenesstomany brandsbuthas,withoutadoubt,shiftedthelandscapeof influenceacrosstheentireregion.
FromStoriestoStrategy:TheEvolutionofPassion
AsDr.Presadotracesherpathfromachildhoodfascination withstorytellingtohercurrentroleasaleader,shereflectsa personalitythatanchorsglobalbrandsinlocalauthenticity anddeepemotionalmeaning.Herjourneyintomarketing wasadestinyrootedinherlovefornarrative.Herearly fascinationwassparkedbythesheerpowerof communication—fromthe“storiesmygrandparentstold me”andthemoviesshewatched,tothe“advertising radiospots”ofherchildhoodinMozambique.She recognizedthatmarketingwasthenaturalnexus wherecreativityandpurposeconverged.
Herpassionhassinceundergoneaprofoundtransformation. Itevolvedfrommerely“craftingmessagestocrafting meaning.”Sherealizedthatthedeepestimpactcomesfrom ahuman-centeredapproach.
“I'velearnedthatmarketingislessaboutpersuasionand moreaboutunderstandingpeople—theirhopes,emotions, andidentities.”
Thisfundamentalshift,valuingempathyovermeresales tactics,continuestoguideeveryfacetofherwork,both withinthecorporateenvironmentandinherphilanthropic endeavors.
AnchoringtheBrand:StrategiesofBelonging
Inhercurrentpositionofmarketingandcommsleadership, Dr.Presado'sdefiningstrategyhasbeentheunwavering commitmenttolocalrelevanceandauthentic representation.SheunderstandsthatMultiChoice's missionisfundamentallyabouttellingstoriesthat “reflectthecommunitiesweserve.”
ThePowerofLocalContent
Oneofhersignatureachievementshasbeen theactiveparticipationinthecreationand promotionof Maningue Magic and Maningue Magic Kool,channelsentirelydedicatedto localcontent—”producedbyMozambicans, forMozambicans.”Thisstrategicfocusfosters apowerfulsenseofownershipandcultural prideamongtheaudience.
Beyondlocalcontent,herteamhasdelivered award-winningcampaignsthatresonate emotionally.Campaignslike“Aonde”(DStv) and“TxekaLá”(GOtv),alongsidethe internationallyrecognized DStv Kids Campaign, werebuiltonafoundationofinsight-driven creativityandpurpose.Theresultisanaudiencethat connectsnotjustwiththeentertainmentofferedbut withthevitalsenseofbelongingthattheseauthentic campaignssuccessfullyevoke.
TheActofRespect:WeavingAuthenticNarratives
ForDr.Presado,storytellingtranscendsamere marketingtactic;itisfundamentallyan“actofrespect” thathonorspeople'slivedexperiences.Herprocess beginswithadisciplinedfocusonlistening.
“I encourage my teams to find truth first, creativity second. That's how we build campaigns that are not only memorable but meaningful.”
Shebelievesthatwhenyou“listendeeply,storieswrite themselves.”
OperatinginMozambique'sintenselydiverseculturaland linguisticlandscapedemandsthisrigorousauthenticity.For herteams,thismeansreflectingdiversityhonestlythrough locallanguages,relatableexperiences,andvisualsthat perfectly“mirroreverydaylife.”Sheimposesacrucial prioritywithinherdepartment:
“Iencouragemyteamstofindtruthfirst,creativitysecond. That'showwebuildcampaignsthatarenotonly memorablebutmeaningful.”
ThiscommitmenttosincerityensuresthatMultiChoice's brandnarrativesaredeeplyrootedinthecommunitiesthey serve.
LeadershipasService:TheSocialImpactImperative
Dr.Presadorejectsthenotionthatsocialimpactisa peripheralconcern;forher,itisacorestrategicpillar.She leadswiththeconvictionthat“brandsthatthrivearethose thatcare,”effectivelymergingcorporatestrategywith genuinecompassion.
Thisethosisdeeplypersonal,inspiredbyhermother's communitysupportandtheenduringlessonthat“empathy iswhatmakesushumans.”Beyondhercorporatework,she isintenselyinvolvedinhealth,education,andgenderequity initiatives,activelysupportingorganizationslikethe SPROWTFoundationandAACOSIDA(supporting childrenaffectedbyHIV/AIDS),andlendingherinfluence totheGirlMoveProject.
TheProudestMetric
ReceivingtheOutstandingCommunity&Social ResponsibilityAwardfromtheAfricaSilentHeroes (Nigeria)wasahighlightofhercareer,validatingher approach.
“Itremindedmethatleadershipisalsoservice.”
Thisrecognitionconfirmsthathercommitmenttothe communityisnotsecondary,butcriticaltoherdefinitionof excellence.
CuriosityandInsight:TheDriversofInnovation
Inthefast-evolvingmediaandentertainmentindustry,Dr Presadoensuresherstrategiesremainrelevantby cultivatingacultureofperpetualcuriosity.Shedrivesher teamtostayaheadoftrendsbyobserving,experimenting, andlearningcontinuously.
Herstrategyreliesonasophisticatedfusionofdataand humaninsight.Whilethey“analyzedatarigorously,”they alwaysbalanceitwithunderstanding“notjustwhatpeople watch,butwhytheywatch.”Thiscrucialhumaninsight allowsherteamstoanticipateaudiencebehavior,keeping theirstrategiesrelevantevenasdigitalplatformsredefine engagementacrossAfrica.
ChampioningtheSpectrum:TheInclusivityCore
Dr.Presadoaffirmsthatinclusivityisatthecoreofher professionalidentity,understandingthat“Representation shapesperception.”Whenaudiencesseethemselves reflectedinstories,theyfeelinherentlyvalued.Within MultiChoiceMozambiqueaCanal+Company,she championsthisidealbyactivelyensuringthatwomen, youth,andunderrepresentedvoicesareintegratedintoboth thecreativeandstrategicprocesses.
“Diversityinideasalwaysresultsinricheroutcomes.”
“Leadership is about service, not status. Most importantly, lead with heart — because empathy will always be your greatest strength.”
Externally,hercampaignsaredesignedtoshowcasethefull spectrumofMozambicanlife—urbanandrural,traditional andmodern—believingthateverystorydeservesanequal spotlight.Thiscommitmentensurestheircommunications areauthentic,resonant,anduniversallyaccessible.
TheCriticalSkills:IntelligenceandEmpathy
InviewingAfricaasamarketthatis“young,digital, andfullofpotential,”Dr.Presadoarticulatesthe criticalskillsrequiredforfuturemarketingleaders. Theymustmasterablendofexpertise:strategic thinking,culturalintelligence,data-driven decisions,andtechnologicalfluency
Morethanjusttechnicalskills,shestressesthe necessityofempathytounderstandgenuinehuman needs,agilitytoadaptquickly,andcourageto innovateresponsibly.Sheassertsthatthebalance betweenmoralityandanalysiswilldefinethefuture ofmarketingleadership.
“Ialsobelieveethicsandemotionalintelligencewill beasimportantasanalyticsindefiningtomorrow's marketingleadership.”
Collaboration:TheHeartbeatofCreativity
LeadinginMozambique'smulticulturalenvironmentisa complexchallengethatDr.Presadomeetswith sensitivityandrespect.Sherecognizesthatthenation's linguisticandculturaldiversitymeansthereis“noonesize-fits-allapproach.”Sheseeseverychallengeasan “opportunitytolearn,”ensuringthatallcommunicationsare inclusive,relatable,andculturallyrespectfulthrough empoweringlocalvoices.
Collaboration,shenotes,isthe“heartbeatofcreativity.”No successfulcampaignistheworkofoneperson.Internally, herfocusisoncreatingaunifiedteamwheremarketing, PR,Sales,CVMandCustomerExperiencemovetowarda singlevision.Externally,thisextendstoagencies, communityorganizations,andmediapartners.Campaigns like“Tásaver”and“Brincandoeaprendendo”are powerfulillustrationsofwhatcanbeachievedwhen innovationflowsfromcollectiveeffortandsharedpassion.
TheCompassofIntegrity:AuthenticLeadership
Dr.Presadodefinesauthenticleadershipastheseamless “harmonybetweenwhoyouareandwhatyoudo,”leading alwayswithintegrity,compassion,andpurpose.Her fundamentalbeliefissimpleyetprofound:“peoplefollow sinceritymorethanauthority.”Throughouther24-year career—spanningbanking,advertising,and media—authenticityhasservedasherunwavering compass.
ThehonorofreceivingaDoctoratehonoriscausain LeadershipandBusinessManagementservedasvalidation notjustofherachievements,butofhercorephilosophy: “leadershipisaboutservice,notstatus.”Thiscommitment ensuresherinfluenceisbuiltongenuineconnectionrather thanhierarchicalpower
LeadwithHeart:TheAdvicetoEmergingWomen
Toyoungwomenaspiringtoleadinthecompetitivefields ofmarketingandmedia,Dr.Presadodeliversan empoweringcharge:“Believethatyoubelonginevery roomyouwalkinto.”
“I envision an Africa where marketing is defined not by imitation but by innovation — where we tell our own stories, rooted in our values and realities.”
Sheemphasizesthenecessityofhardwork,continuous curiosity,and,crucially,neverlosingone'sauthenticity.In momentsofdoubt,sheremindsthemthattheirunique voice,perspective,andstorymatter.Herultimatepieceof adviceencouragesamentorshipcycleandheart-driven leadership:
“Mostimportantly,leadwithheart—becauseempathywill alwaysbeyourgreateststrength.”
VisionforAfrica:Innovation,NotImitation
Lookingahead,Dr.PresadoenvisionsanAfricawhere marketingbreaksfreefromglobalimitationtobecome definedbyinnovation.Hergoalistoseethecontinenttell its“ownstories,rootedinourvaluesandrealities.” RecognizingthatAfricanconsumersaresophisticatedand proud,shebelievesthefuturebelongstobrandsthat successfullybuildfromwithinthecontinent'simmense culturalwealth.
Herpersonalcontributionremainsthesame:“building bridges”—betweencreativityandpurpose,andbetween businessgrowthandsocialgood.
“Iwanttokeepinspiringotherstoseemarketingnotjustas acareer,butasaforcefortransformation.”
ForDr.JóniaPresado,successisultimatelymeasuredby meaning,notjustmilestones.Everyaward,fromTop30 MostInfluentialWomeninMarketingtoBest CommunicationProfessionalbyCOMARPAwards2024, representscommitmentandthebeliefthatpurpose-driven leadershipcanupliftentirecommunities.Sheconcludesthat themostpowerfulstoryanyofuscantell“istheonewe live.”
Women Shaping Policy, Innovation, and Progress Across Sectors
Theimpactofwomeninleadershiprolesisnolonger somethingthatcanjustbeseeninboardroomsor withincorporatehierarchies.Presently,womenare influencingtheworldbeyondtheC-suitelevelby,for instance,initiatingpolicychanges,leadingtechnological innovations,influencingglobaldevelopment,andcreating ecosystemsthatnotonlyredefinethefutureofworkbut alsothesociety.Theircontributionsarenolongerlimitedto theinsideoftheorganizations.Thesecontributionsare spreadingindifferentsectorsandwomenarenowableto influencetheworldwaybeyondtheboundariesofthe organizations.
Onetagofthisnewleadershiperaisnottheoneoftitlesbut ratherthatoftraitslikevision,courageand,aboveall,the commitmenttotheprogress.Womenareenteringspaces wherethechoicesmadetherewillaffectnotonlythe neighborhoodsbutalsotheindustriesandeventhe countries.Moreover,whattheyaredoingisconverting leadershipintoavehicleforcreatingameaningfulchange thathavedifferentdimensionsandinterrelate.
RedefiningLeadershipBeyondCorporateWalls
Leadershipcannotbesolelybasedoncorporatejob positionsanylonger;itshouldratherbemeasuredbythe powerandtheeffectthatonehas.Femaleleadersare crossingsectoralboundariesandareattheforefrontof activitiessuchasendorsingtheimplementationofnew policies,supportingthegreenagenda,facilitatingthe developmentofsocialfirms,andutilizingthelatest technologyinordertosolveworldwideproblems.
Theirleadershipstretchestheoldboundariesofone’s abilitiestoinfluenceothers.Leadershipisnolongeronly aboutguidingcompanies—itisabouthavingthepowerto influencewholeindustries.Italsoreachesbeyondthe makingofdecisionsinorganizationstothechangingof societies.
Womendemonstratethatonecanleadsuccessfullyand purposefullyandthusgeneratesocialchangeonalarge scaleingovernment,healthcare,education,nonprofit sectors,science,technology,andmanymore.
DrivingPolicyThatShapestheFuture
Womenpolicymakersandpublicleadersaresettingthe wheelsinmotionfordecisionswithfar-reachingeffectsnot onlyforthecommunitiesthatareimmediatebeneficiaries butalsoforthefuturegenerations.Equitablehealthcare, inclusiveeconomicdevelopment,climateresilience,digital literacy,androbustsocialprotectionsystemsarewhatthey arechampioning.
Thosearethefeaturesoftheirpolicyleadership.Theyare verymuchalignedwithsensesandontheothersidewith rationalthinking.Theseleadersalwayskeeptheirears open,areverycollaborativeandwhentheycomeoutwith legislationsitiswiththeclearunderstandingofthe experienceofthepeopleaffected.Womeninleadership roleswithinthegovernment,holdaviewthatisquite comprehensive-factoringinthefactswiththeneedsofthe peopleandthelong-termstrategywithsocialresponsibility.
Suchawayoftacklingthingseventuallyleadstothe developmentofpoliciesthatarenotonlyefficientbutalso havethetraitsofhospitality Theyaregivingpriorityto peopleasmuchastoprogress.
InnovatingWithPurposeandHuman-CenteredVision
Women,inthefieldsoftechnologyandinnovation,areat theforefrontofcreatingtheadvancementsthat,among otherthings,putmostofthefocusonaccessibility,ethics, andsustainability.Femaleinnovatorsaretheoneswhose workwilleventuallytransformtheinteractionbetween technologyandhumans,beitthroughthemleadingAI research,startingtechbusinesses,redefiningworkplace platforms,orengineeringthenext-generationsolutions.
Themainreasonbehindtheseinventionsisthefounders' empathy—theyseektoaddresspracticalissuesofthe worldratherthanjusttheoreticalones.Thus,theyput
forwardtheethicaluseofAI,fairaccesstotechnology, securedigitalenvironments,andtechnologythatpromotes healthandwell-being.
Innovationsmostofthetimemovetooquicklyascompared totheregulationsgoverningthem,andthisistheverypoint wherewomenrestoretheequilibriumbyensuringthatthe progressmadeisthoughtful,inclusive,andaccountable.
LeadingSocialTransformationAcrossSectors
Womenareleadingandshapingthesocialimpact movementsthatspanhealthcareequity,educationreform, environmentaladvocacy,andcommunitydevelopment. Theyareactivelydeployingtheresources,formingthe networks,andshapingthenarrativeswhichresistthe existingbiasesandopenuptheopportunities.
Withlessrivalry,morepartnership,andmutualsupport insteadofthecommunitydivision,thewomenhavemarked theirleadership.Womenleadersaremasterminding ecosystems—engaginggovernments,corporations, nonprofits,andcommunitiestotackledeeplyrooted problemswithcross-sectorsolutions.
Thisstyleofleadershipthatisopentoallsectorsservesasa breedinggroundforinnovationsthataresustainableand sociallygrounded.
AFutureFueledbyInclusiveLeadership
WomenrisebeyondtheC-suiteisnotonlyashiftinthe scenerybutratherastructuralchange.Thismarksa revolutioninthewayleadershipisperceived,exercised, andesteemed.
AMovementThatRedefinesProgress
Themovementareredefiningpowernotasdominance,but ratherasinfluence.Thesearenothierarchies,butservices. Insteadofauthority,thereisimpact.WomenbeyondtheCsuitearecraftingafreshleadershipnarrativethatismore real,morepurpose-driven,moreinnovative,andmore committedtoprogress.
Womenarecreatingthefuturebyimplementingpolicies thatraise,technologiesthatliberate,andcommunitiesthat prosper.Theirleadershipdoesnotmerelyhavethepowerto revolutionizethesectors—ithasthepowertochangethe planet.
What Drives Today’s Most Resilient Women
Eachwomanleaderwithastrongholdofresilience hasanarrative-onethatisinitiallypurposeful,gets itsstrengthfromtrials,andisultimately characterizedbyafirmbeliefinpossibility.Nowadays, femaleleadersaregoingbeyondbreakingdownthe barriers;theyarechangingthewholeleadershippattern. Theirwayofgettingthereshowsonemorething:resilience isnotjustoneofthecharactersofaperson-itisthewayof life,thechoicesonemakesandthedecisiontocomeback tothetopagainandagainwithaclearaim.
Inaworldfullofproblemsandwithhighexpectations, thesewomenarestillabletoleadbecauseoftheirinner clarityandemotionalendurance.Whatismore,theyhavea sourceofpowerwhichismuchstrongerthanmere ambition.Thesaidpowerissilentandnotevenverymuch visible;itis,however,verypowerful,asitisstillvisible afteralongtimeandhasitsrootsinhumannature.
StrengthForgedThroughAdversity
Resilienceisthechildofadversesituationsratherthanone ofeasytimes.Inparticular,themajorityofwomenleaders nowadayshaveexperiencedtheneedtoovercomebiases, barriersandingeneraldifferentkindsofexpectationsthat haverequiredthemtoshowtremendouscourage.Whatthey actuallydidistorefusetheideathatadversitymayresultin theirdownfallandinsteadtheytooktheopportunitytobe taughtbyitastogaintheskillsoffocusing,growingone's emotionalstrength,andincreasingone'sconfidencein oneself.
Theygottheskillsofadjusting,goingthroughwithit,and puttingadifferentperspectiveontheissueofdifficulty. Thus,everytimetheyhadasetback,theycouldconsiderit theirfoothold.Everyfailurebecamealessonlearned.Every barrierbecameareasontofindthewayofgettingaroundit ratherthanofcomingback.
Hereisthesecretofresilience:itisnotthestoryabout fightingagainstpressure,butratheroneaboutchangingit.
EmotionalIntelligenceasaCoreDriver
Resilientwomeninleadershippositionsnowadaysknow andeffectivelyapplytheconceptofemotionalintelligence, whichrepresentsthecombinationofself-awareness, empathyandwisdominrelatingtopeople.Theyareaware oftheirownfeelingsandseethemasinstrumentsforgood worktobedoneratherthanasbarriers.
Theirleadershipisfirmlybasedonempathyratherthanon theegotism.Theydothelisteninginapurposefulway, tellingwhattheywanttosayinaclearmannerandmaking decisionsbybothusingthemindandtheheart.Emotional intelligenceenablesonetoskillfullydealwithconflict situations,tobringtrustintotheheartsofothersandto maintainstablerelationshipswithpeopleintheirteams, which,inturn,helpstheleaderscreateharmoniousteams andachievetheircommongoals.
Moreover,italsohelpsthemtobestress-freeandtobeable tohandlesituationscalmly.Resilientwomenareverymuch awareoftheneedforemotionalregulationandthusthey knowthetimefortakingabreak,forreflectingandfor respondingbutnotforreacting.
Suchaskillinhandlingone'semotionsisratheran advantagefromthestrategicpointofviewthana'softskill.'
TheInnerNarrativeThatDrivesThem
Theinnernarrative,thequiet,personaldialogue,that supportswomenthroughdoubt,tiredness,anduncertainty, isperhapsthemostpowerfulaspectoftheresilience.
• Iamabletochange.
• Iamabletogetknowledge.
• Iamabletocomeback.
Thisstoryisnotwithoutdread—ithas,however,agreat dealofbraverywhichisstillthereinspiteofit.Thisisthe narrativethatempowersthemtokeeponmoving,leading, building,andbelieving.
TheLegacyofResilientWomenLeaders
Today’sresilientwomenhavealastingimpactthatgoes waybeyondtheircompanies.Theyaretheleaderswho transformoneafteranotherindustry,thus,becomingrole modelstoanewgenerationthathighlyappreciatesthe principlesofauthenticity,empathy,andpurpose.
Theirleadershipisnotonlyonthewaytothesetgoals,but themaingoalsessentiallyaretochangepeople’sviews, revolutionizethesystems,andhence,leadthewaytothe otherstofollowtheirfootsteps.Thehiddensideof leadershipisthatofresiliencewhichhasitsrootsin meaning,isshapedbycourage,andiskeptalivebyhuman connection.
Theseleadersremindusofthefactthatrealleadershipis nottheoneatwhichyouareunbreakable,butitisrather aboutbeingabletogetupagainwithstrengthofbelief,to leadwithheart,andtoencourageothersbythepowerof yourjourney.
www.x.com/insightssuccess
