The Co-Co Lunchtime Conversation: Women’s Leadership
The Co-co creates inviting spaces where women come together, share their experiences, and support one another on their journey to success. Recently, we hosted a Lunchtime Conversation with a dynamic panel of women leaders: Barbara Garcia, U.S. Supply Chain Lead, Pfizer; Christine C. Gilfillan, President of The MCJ Amelior Foundation; Liz Miller CFA® & CFP®, Founder and President, Summit Place Financial Advisors; Sonia Pulgar, Vice President of Global HEOR & Market Access, Humacyte; and Monica Richter, Board Director/Strategic Advisor with dPrism/Former Chief Data Officer.
A key takeaway from the conversation - the importance of building a strong network. And that's exactly what we aim to provide at The Co-Co - opportunities for you to grow through listening, learning, collaborating, and mentoring.
Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? Check out our members’ top leadership tips below, and let's grow together!
9 Leadership Tips From Our Members
Emphasize your purpose: Ensure that every member of your organization understands the why behind everything you do, and how their work contributes to achieving the bigger mission.
Human connection is key: Take the time to get to know your people on a personal level, which will create a trusting environment where your teams feel comfortable taking risks, failing, and being their authentic selves.
Surround yourself with a supportive network: Seek out mentors or friends who inspire you and help you overcome your fears. These individuals should be people you trust and respect to provide you with honest advice. Take it a step further and establish your personal board of directors, a group of trusted advisors who will provide you with valuable insights and feedback, even if it's difficult to hear.
Assert yourself and advocate for your growth: Don't hesitate to speak up for yourself, ask for opportunities to learn and grow, and step out of your comfort zone. Even if you're introverted or reserved, pushing yourself can help build confidence and open up new possibilities.
Shift your energy towards creating solutions: Instead of focusing on things beyond your control, channel your energy towards creating solutions and seizing opportunities. For example, during the pandemic, Barbara Garcia’s team at Pfizer focused on developing and distributing the Covid vaccine, rather than being overwhelmed by the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Inspire bold thinking: Challenge the status quo and push your teams to go beyond their limits. Be supportive of their efforts, even when they fail, and encourage them to take risks.
Adopt a democratic and power-sharing leadership style: Advocate for your teams, promote a culture based on outcomes, and highlight the contributions of your team members over individual achievements.
Soft skills and emotional intelligence are essential: Developing these skills can be a competitive advantage, especially for women leaders.
Find a sponsor in hierarchical organizations: Identify someone who will advocate for you during promotion and review conversations, even when you're not present. This sponsor should have your back and be willing to vouch for your abilities and potential.
About The Co-Co Lunchtime Conversations
Lunchtime Conversations are inviting co-learning spaces where you can achieve your goals by learning from and educating each other. We've discussed websites, money, parenting, health and wellness, style, effective meetings, podcasts, real estate, and more. Recordings of these events can be accessed in the Event Library, which resides in the Member Exclusive section of The Co-Co website.