The Best of Leadership Tuesdays 2015!

To mark the end of this year, we are posting our most popular ‪#‎LeadershipTuesdays‬ features today on Twitter:

Check them out here: @womenatliberty or http://ow.ly/WqGwa

Thanks for your support and Happy New Year!!

#‎WomenMakingHistory | ‬ Admiral Michelle J. Howard, 38th Vice Chief Of Naval Operations

I was on my way to catch the metro in downtown Washington, D.C. on Tuesday evening and came across a U.S. Navy Band Concert at the Naval Memorial. They were really good and I stopped in my tracks to hear them play and sing several songs. 

But guess what else happened? I met Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the 38th Vice Chief Of Naval Operations, a four-star Admiral. What an honor! Even as a civilian, I am very proud of her and her accomplishments. She is the highest ranking woman in the U.S. Navy and the first African American woman to become a four-star Admiral. 

We talked briefly as I told her how proud I was to meet her and that I had profiled her for the Women Making History Project. She was so gracious and took the time to ask me about my interests and background. That's the mark of a great leader. Genuinely interested in people. You can't fake that. ‪#‎LeadershipTuesdays‬

Nona O. for @womenatliberty/Women Making History

For a complete bio on Admiral Howard, see: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=394

The Likeability Factor

"Too many people seek to establish trusting business relationships centering on likeability. I’m not suggesting that likeability isn’t good, only that it isn’t sufficient." --Scott Edinger

This SmartBlog on Leadership article by Scott Edinger, "Harnessing the power of your hidden leaders", really focuses on how executives can harness the power of these individuals in an organization. Hidden leaders are individuals who do not have a title or position of authority, but they are effective at getting things done because they know the right people or have great relationships within the organization. 

The aforementioned quote offers an important point to remember for those who are seeking to move up in an organization or business owners/entrepreneurs/sales people who are pursuing clients: Likeability is not enough to excel in an organization or get a client to make a business deal with you.

As I was typing this sentence, I stop mid-sentence to question whether this was really true.  Admittedly, this is not true for everyone in an organization, there are always some exceptions to the rule and some people do get promoted or get great assignments just because people like them. (Half-hearted reference to "The Wolf of Wall Street" movie) But for most of us, even with great technical skills and education, in order to excel in an organization or get people to buy from you, somebody in power has to like you. 

If you are the person looking to move up in leadership or attract new business opportunities, read the following article for advice on how you need to be perceived by managers/executives and clients. 

Nona O. (@womenatliberty)  
 

Harnessing The Power Of Your Hidden Leaders

By Scott Edinger

http://smartblogs.com/leadership

Patriots Deflategate: How You Play The Game Matters! by Nona O.

Tom Brady playing in the AFC Championship Game: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
January 18, 2015, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro,MA

I was fortunate enough to see Tom Brady, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, play in college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1998. Going to a Michigan football game was very memorable for me. I left the game singing the few words of the Fight Song I could remember, “Hail….Hail….Hail!” Truthfully, I think I was more excited about ‘cursing on the sly’ than anything else. However, a few things I will never forget about that experience are: 

1. How big the stadium was. It seated well over 100,000 people and I believe it was at that time, and still is, the largest football stadium in the U.S.
2. Michigan fans are super FANatical. They’re really into their football.
3. Tom Brady was a very talented college quarterback.

I was in Detroit for an MBA conference and met some guys who were going to the Michigan game that weekend. I suddenly remembered that a young man who attended my church in Washington, D.C. was a freshman running back on the Michigan team. Walter Cross was the 1997 offensive player of the year as a senior at Oxon Hill High School and with 5,227 rushing yards, he set a Maryland Public Schools’ record as a running back. I called back to Maryland got his number and made plans to tag along with my new friends to support Walter at the game. (I’m happy to say that Walter is married now and a very successful IT professional working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.)

It was at that game that I got a chance to experience Big Ten Football. Having grown up watching the NFL on TV and rooting for the Oakland Raiders, I was not prepared for the atmosphere at the game, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even as an undergraduate at Howard University, I did not attend many football games and when I did it was more so to check out the marching band. I just wasn’t a college football fan. At that time, I was a basketball fan.

Anyway, back to Tom Brady. He had an outstanding college career and he has lived up to the hype with the Patriots. With three Super Bowls wins under his belt and six trips to the “big show”, in my opinion, he is already in the category with some of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks of my era like Joe Montana, John Elway, Steve Young, and Peyton Manning. That’s being said, I am not only disappointed with the latest scandal, “Deflategate”, but I am also weary of the persistent reports of lapses in judgment that have followed the Patriots and Coach Bill Belichick over the last few years. The term “professional” is supposed to mean something. One of the definitions found in Webster’s Dictionary states that a professional is “characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.” Professionals don’t get a spot in their respective sport’s Hall of Fame nor their names mentioned in the rarefied stratosphere as some of the game’s greatest players by cheating. Shadiness is not cute!

Now, I’m not accusing Tom Brady of cheating. However, I will say that as great of a player as he is, he does not have to cheat. Further, he has worked too hard and played too long at such a high level for there ever to be an asterisk besides his name.  

How you play the game matters, just like how you earn your living means something. Time and time again with the scandals that have plagued cycling and Baseball, we know that integrity matters. At the end of the day, we, the fans, want players to win fair and square.  We want them to be ethical in how they conduct themselves. I can’t say that I am rooting for the Patriots on Sunday. My team is not in the Super Bowl. But, I have to acknowledge the comportment of the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback, Russell Wilson. He’s a class act! I will say this, should the Patriot’s win, it would be sad if we have to always footnote this game or their record with Deflategate.  Or even wonder in the back of our minds if the Patriots really earned all of their wins. From watching him play over the years, I think Tom Brady deserves a better legacy than that. 

What do you think?

#LeadershipTuesdays: Essential Qualities for Young Female Leaders

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today we feature an article, "One quality all young female leaders should have", Fortune magazine (Online, 1/22/15) written by Sandi Peterson, Group Worldwide Chairman at Johnson & Johnson.

Below is a quote from the article that rang true for me: 

"Leaders who make things happen have both confidence and courage. Many view these traits as innate, but they can be – and they need to be – cultivated. Confidence comes from doing your homework – you need to to know your business and your market. And courage is the constant willingness to go beyond your comfort zone. Doing so will help you gain deeper insights and analysis."

Did this quote resonate with you? Please feel free to leave a comment below.

To read the rest of the article, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, click here.

Nona O.
WOMENATLIBERTY.com

Happy 2015!

Happy 2015 from Women Making History and @womenatliberty! May your year be filled with joy, enriching experiences and love. Thanks for your support!

http://womenatliberty.com

Still Committed To Impacting The Lives of Women And Their Families!

Today is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Women Making History is sending a SHOUT OUT to all survivors of breast cancer and domestic violence and those who give them unconditionally support and love!!

Since 2001 FOR THIS CAUSE, Inc., parent organization of Women Making History, has been bringing together a diverse community to address the profound physical, psychological, social and economic effects breast cancer has on the lives of women and families. For more information on past programs, go to: http://www.forthiscause.org. 

To make a donation or buy a T-Shirt to support our current efforts to help women live better lives and develop women leaders, go to: http://www.womenatliberty.com. Thank you!

Would You Notice If Half Of The Fans Of Your Favorite Team Did Not Show Up To Cheer For A Playoff Game?

#Healthcare fact: 45,000 people die in the US every year due to a lack of health insurance?

That's like more than 50% of the Cowboys fans suddenly disappearing during a game with Washington's NFL team. Or 2/3 of the 67,000 fans known as the Seattle Seahawks' beloved "12th man" not showing up to cheer for their Superbowl Champs. A few weeks ago, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Richard Burr (R-NC), Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Primary Health and Aging Subcommittee (Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee), held a Hearing on "Access & Cost: What the U.S. Health Care System Can Learn from Other Countries".

Now before you dismiss the premise of this Hearing thinking that the United States has the best healthcare system in the world, think about this: The United States has the highest per capita health care costs of any 1st world country, but it lags far behind these countries when it comes to health outcomes. In fact, France, which spends 1/2 of what the U.S. spends per capita in healthcare costs, has the highest longevity for women. Only Japan ranks better in this measure. Infant deaths per 1000 live births are almost 50% less in France than the U.S. France, Denmark, Canada, & Taiwan offer universal health insurance coverage. On par, their health outcomes are significantly better. And again, their costs are less.

One substantial complaint about health care in the previously mentioned countries is the wait times for treatment. During the Hearing, one witness testified that her mother died of colon cancer because of a late diagnosis. She attributed that to the fact that the doctor was unwilling to order the necessary tests because of her mother's age. The fact that anyone would die because they did not receive available care that would have prolonged their life is sad and regrettable. While it's true long wait times can adversely affect health outcomes, overall Canada has better health outcomes than the U.S. 

The Affordable Care Act (#ACA) gets us closer than we have ever been to providing universal coverage. According to News reports today, if you try to sign up by the deadline of March 31st and you encounter problems, the Obama Administration will extend you additional time to complete the process. (Check healthcare.gov for further information.) Let's make sure we take advantage of this opportunity to ensure we not only have access to healthcare, but also have access to screenings and advanced diagnostics tests like MRIs. 

Leadership Tuesdays: Global Mentoring Walk hosted by Vital Voices

In celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, 2014, Vital Voices, headquartered in Washington, D.C., hosted a Global Mentoring Walk in several cities including Washington, D.C. Leadership Tuesdays was on location talking with Gigi Scoles, Human Rights Director, about the event and their organization. See the video below. 

   

 Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and our recent features please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

@womenatliberty #LeadershipTuesdays: What Women Should Know...Ann Fudge

Ann Fudge is the former CEO of Young and Rubicam (Y&R) Brands, a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, and digital and social media, etc. A trailblazer, Ms. Fudge was the first African American to lead a major advertising firm. She led the global company, then worth $3.4B, from 2003-2006.
Before coming to Y&R, she was President of the $5 billion Beverages, Desserts and Post Division at Kraft Foods.  She managed many familiar brands including Maxwell House Coffee, Kool Aid, and Crystal Light.  Currently, Ms. Fudge serves on the Board of several companies and organizations.

In this brief video, she gives advice to women who are leading in today's business environment. "Be authentic" is one of Ann Fudge's core messages. In fact, she directs her advice to both men and women.

       

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and our recent features please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Black History Month...Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March On Washington

Listen as Ms. Novella Williams, of Philadelphia, PA, who attended the 1963 March On Washington, shares her reflections on the current civil rights needs at 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington in Washington, D.C. on August 24, 2013.

Leadership Tuesdays: Michelle D. Freeman, "Leading People" and Covenant House Charity Event

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In this final segment of a four part series, Nona Ogunsula (Founder of WOMENATLIBERTY.com/FOR THIS CAUSE, Inc.) and Michelle D. Freeman conclude their leadership conversation by discussing what characteristics are important to her when she looks to hire employees or to seek business partners. Ms. Freeman also talks about whyCovenant House of Washington, D.C.'s Executive Sleep Out Charity Event is close to her heart and why she chose to sleep outside on a cold November night in solidarity with homeless teens.

Ms. Freeman is the CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, a real-estate development company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. She is also a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment which owns the WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. She sits on the Board of Directors of several Washington, D.C. area non-profit organizations. Most important to her, Michelle is the proud mother of three children.

To view today's video click here. If you missed any or all of the first three parts of this series where Michelle talked about finding renewed life and purpose after experiencing a tragic loss and her leadership style, click here. To view some of her inspiring quotes from this video series, use the "Blog Archive" menu on the right of this page and go to December 24, 2013, January 7, 2014, January 21, 2014, and January 28, 2014. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Leadership Tuesdays: Michelle D. Freeman, Leading In Non-Traditional Industries For Women

Michelle D. Freeman is a female executive in several businesses that are not traditionally known for women or women leaders. Ms. Freeman is the CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, a real-estate development company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. She is also a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment which owns the WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. In this third segment of a four part series, she talks about some of the things that have made her successful as a woman in areas where her voice is in the minority.


If you missed part one or two of this series where Michelle talked about finding renewed life and purpose after experiencing a tragic loss and her leadership style, click on the links. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Begin Again In A New Way...Happy New Year!!

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way.

--Unknown

Leadership Tuesdays: Healthcare...A Conversation with Karen Dale of AmerihealthDC

Do you have questions about choosing a health insurance provider? Listen as Karen Dale, Executive Director of Amerihealth District of Columbia, explains what to look for in a provider and the impact of the Affordable Care Act in the Washington, D.C. area. 

The goal of Leadership Tuesdays is to provide a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Dr. Myles Munroe put it best in his book, Becoming A Leader (2009), "...there is a leader in everyone waiting to serve his or her generation." Women, get ready... get set...let's lead!!

May Our Lives Honor Your Sacrifice

To the victims of September 11, 2001:  because your lives were changed on that day, our lives were changed and are continuously changing.  We will endeavor every day to live lives that honor the tremendous sacrifice that each one of you and your families made. God Bless your memory...*

9/11/01 Victims
Never Forget!!

*Reposted from Motivational Moments, (daily motivation to inspire you)

Power To The Peaceful...Vanessa Hudgens

Prayers for 9-11

Today we pray for the families of those lost on September 11th eleven years ago. We pray that today the memories of your loved ones brings you greater joy than the grief of their loss.

We also pray for those heroes who responded to the emergencies associated with the tragedies in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania whose lives are forever changed.

We will remember you and never forget!

Are Your Grandparents Special? Tell Us Why for National Grandparents Day!

Are your grandparents special? Tell us why!

    

Contact us at info@womenatliberty.com, @womenatliberty (Twitter) or Women History Makers-DC, MD, VA.

How Do You Feel About The New Universal Health Care Law?

By now you know that the new Health Care Law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. There has been so much tension and debate on both sides of this issue, and now conspiracy theories are beginning to be reported in the media about why Chief Justice John Roberts, who it seems was the deciding vote, may have voted the way he did.  But, the real question is, how will this law affect you and the average American?  If you want to get a quick (cliff notes) summary of the law,visit the Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA Facebook page and see yesterday's (6/28) posting. To get news directly from the horse's mouth, go to the White House's Blog. If you want to read the Court's entire decision, click here.

Here's my take: Seniors seem to be already benefiting from the law's prescription drug provision and covered wellness visits including mammograms, colonoscopies, and other preventive health screenings. Tiffany Lindquist, AARP Maryland Associate State Director, stated that “overall, AARP believes the new health care law vastly improves health care for older Americans”. College students should be happy because they are allowed to stay on their parents/guardians' policy until age 26. Also women will not be charged a premium because they require different health services than the services provided to men. Lastly, but not least, insurance companies can not refuse to cover you because you have a pre-existing condition. Carefirst (one of our sponsors) said in a statement that they were extremely pleased that the Court decided in favor of the Act. They also said that they "have implemented all provisions required in the law and now look forward to implementing the full extent of the law".

YOUR TURN: So what's you're opinion? Have you or do you know someone who has been positively or negatively impacted by the new Health Care Law? Leave a comment here or post a message on our Facebook page here. You can also email info@womenatliberty.com