“I naturally step into a role when there is a dearth of leadership,” says Marie Bober. “It’s just part of who I am – I see the need and think, ‘I got it.’” From captaining sports teams as a kid to speaking up in moments of silence, taking charge has always felt instinctive for Bober. […]
A bucket of gravel does not make a boulder. And yet, consider how many leaders spend their days: back-to-back meetings, two-line email replies, quick notes on a presentation or report. It’s all understandable—the organization’s engine is humming, employees need decisions, and a leader’s job is, among other things, to stay in touch broadly across a […]
“It’s hard to teach determination, but if you’ve had setbacks, and you’ve had to fight to get to where you are, it is built in you to keep going,” says Nicola Free. “It’s how quickly you bounce back, what learnings you take away, that can make you even stronger.” With a career shaped by determination, […]
If you’ve ever felt like the rules of advancement keep changing just when you think you’ve figured them out, you’re not alone. The challenge with “Merit” as we know it is that research demonstrates that people worldwide tend to believe their societies are more meritocratic than they actually are, and this blind spot particularly affects […]
“In this work around gender equity, I know I may never see the full fruits of my labor in my lifetime. But I want to be the one who plants the seed,” says Sam Rapoport. “If others can water it and sustain it, then I’ve done what I came to do, and I’m okay with […]
At the top of the organizational ladder, senior leaders often face a paradox: the higher they rise, the fewer people are willing — or able — to give them honest feedback. Leadership can become isolating. Expectations grow, complexity increases, and decisions carry more weight. Yet the space to reflect, grow, and challenge one’s own thinking […]
“I tell people if you’re about to interview for a job, take our confidence language quiz because it will give you the words to advocate for yourself. You start to have the vocabulary for the conversation, including repositioning your weaknesses. When you understand your superpowers, you should feel seen, valued and heard – and in […]
One power dynamic we rarely speak explicitly about is the one with yourself. Yet it’s arguably the most powerful relationship impacting your work, your leadership, and your life. Are you still perceiving power as the ability to exert control over others – or to be subject to another’s control? What if you began to define […]
“My definition of success has shifted,” says Natalie Runyon. “Fifteen years ago, I wanted to be in the C-suite. Now, my biggest legacy is raising well-adjusted children and having a good partnership to do that.” First profiled in 2013 while Director of Global Security at Thomson Reuters, Runyon reflects on how her mindset of continual […]
Ever wonder why some colleagues check in all the time while others seem impossible to get ahold of? The answer might be deeper than you think. Maria is frustrated with her new employee, Kai. While Kai is talented and personable, he often avoids direct communication, is slow to respond to emails or messages, and seems […]