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Washington. One of my absolute favorites is the small, be ones where mutual respect is present and it is recogtwo-acre Bartholdi Park that was created in 1932. It’s a nized that one party has the ability to guide and counsel stunningly beautiful site with the magnificent Fountain the other professionally, from both a strategic perspecof Light and Water surrounded by elegant gas lamps tive and also tactically. Mentoring and sponsorships are and rising some 30 feet into the air. The park is a small, two examples of such bonding relationships; they serve secluded wonderland tucked away in one of SW DC’s different purposes but they’re equally valuable, dependlittle corners, providing glorious refuge from the inten- ing on the needs of the individual. sity of our capital city. Another favorite pastime is attending For me, personal development music concerts in the National has been critically important. Gallery of Art, West Garden It’s a life-long quest that helps Court. The lush and verdant me gain greater insight into setting provides the perfect amhuman behavior—my own and biance for listening to highly others’. Most people need help acclaimed musicians entertain in developing self-awareness. the audience with music from Some people never develop in various genres, cultures and this regard and the consequenccountries—for free. We also take es for themselves and those advantage of the many jazz and with whom they come into conblues concerts played by accomtact are usually neither positive plished musicians and vocalists nor productive. I would strongSharron P.A. Levine and her husband attend their in a variety of locations, again, ly advise women to embark on daughter’s college graduation. gratis. It’s just amazing to be a journey of discovering who able to take in so many incredthey really are, understanding ible performances for little or their potential to be effective nothing, a stone’s throw away leaders, and how to take their from our home. What a treat! careers to the next level. That could involve embarking on NAWRB: You started as an the study of leadership models; associate at multiple high-levgaining greater understanding el firms and transitioned into about what makes a person tick increasingly advanced job titles and what’s important to them; as your career progressed. What articulating their values and advice do you have for women goals; and learning or refining who want to climb the corpodialogue skills that become rate scale? How can women even more critical in leadership seek the necessary opportunipositions. There’s no blueprint ties to advance their careers? that’s uniformly applicable to everyone so it’s incumbent on Sharron P.A. Levine: the individual to seek out opAside from one’s technical competence, which is a given, portunities that resonate with their interests or needs. the one constant that I think everyone would agree has to occur is building relationships. This isn’t always easy, You need to seek out challenging opportunities; that is especially among attorneys whose focus generally tends the only way one can grow and develop. If we stay within to turn inward as they drive for greater technical com- our comfort zone, growth will never occur. That process petence sometimes without understanding the need to does and can create a feeling of unease and discomfort develop ‘strategic’ relationships that will support career but that’s when you know you’re rising above your fears advancement. These could occur either within the same and paving the way to becoming a more well-rounded organization or externally, but the relationships should leader and professional.
“ I would strongly advise women to embark on a journey of discovering who they really are, understanding their potential to be effective leaders, and how to take their careers to the next level. ”
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