This week we learn:
- The importance of feminine values in shaping modern leaders
- The “100 Natural Laws of Cliteracy”
- Why it’s important to practice courage, vulnerability and authenticity
- Why admitting your struggles may save your startup
- Overcoming the real issues immigrant women face when pursuing their dreams
- Caroline Ghos’s take on Marissa Mayer’s recent controversial feature in Vogue
At the end of this post, we encourage you to join us for a conversation. Please leave your comment below.
What is it that makes you feel deeply vulnerable?
1. “Feminine” Values Can Give Tomorrow’s Leaders an Edge via Harvard Business Review
Today’s work requires a new leadership paradigm. This article, a study based on 64.000 people around the world, reveals that both men and women leaders should incorporate more feminine values.
“If people have grown cold on male-dominated structures and leadership, they offer a solution: Two-thirds of survey respondents felt that “The world would be a better place if men thought more like women”, including 76% of the French and Brazilians and 70%of Germans.”
2. Cliteracy 101: Artist Sophia Wallace Wants You To Know The Truth About The Clitoris via Huff Post Women
New York artist Sophia Wallace wants everyone to be cliterate. Wallace’s project entitled “Cliteracy” includes “100 Laws of Cliteracy,” street art about the organ, as well as a “clit rodeo” that involves an interactive installment of a giant golden clitoris. Her artwork has a much broader focus than sexual pleasure.
“It is a curious dilemma to observe the paradox that on the one hand the female body is the primary metaphor for sexuality, its use saturates advertising, art and the mainstream erotic imaginary. Yet, the clitoris, the true female sexual organ, is virtually invisible,” Wallace told Creem magazine earlier this year.
3. Brené Brown On Why Courage, Vulnerability And Authenticity Have To Be Practiced via Huff Post
Brené Brown champions the feminine virtues of authenticity and vulnerability. Her work gives people permission to be themselves, and that’s probably the greatest gift anybody could give.
In the interview, published in Origin Magazine, and picked by Huff Post, we talked about taking risks. Brené exposed the painful ways we “say ‘yes’ when we mean ‘no’, and say ‘no’ when we mean ‘hell yes.’” She invites us to get in the arena and “get (our) ass kicked on occasion” — all in the name of living our truth.
4. Can honesty save a startup? via Forbes Women
This article tells the moving story of two women entrepreneurs who decided to be honest and acknowledge the difficulties, challenges and frustrations of starting your own business. Jessica Lybeck and Erin Hopmann, founders of Dabble, created a blog called “30 Days of Honesty” where they allowed themselves to be vulnerable, authentic and admit their day to day struggles. Stella Fayman, a serial entrepreneur, believes that their decision is a bold and inspiring move: “I applaud them for their integrity and authenticity in sharing such a harrowing time with the public. If only we could all be a little bit more honest, we could help each other and solve our own problems much more quickly.”
5. The Women Who Do it All but Don’t Have it All via Washington Post
In this article, Georgeta Dragoiu, managing director and co-founder of MDC Strategies, talks about the cruel realities immigrant women have to face when trying to pursue their dreams. She explains:
“While money isn’t always the solution, it is certainly a key part of the problem. For many women, believing they can lean in to a career, rather than multiple low-paying jobs, starts when they’re exposed to alternate realities. They need a sense of community that extends beyond others who sound or look like them, and that can help them see new opportunities. That’s why we should make sure the debate on women’s empowerment doesn’t leave out those who can’t afford the same set of choices.”
6. Dear Marissa Mayer Critics: It’s Time To Rally Around Great Leaders Everywhere via Fast Company
Caroline Ghosn discusses the recent controversial appearance of Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, in a feature in September’s issue of Vogue. Caroline explains:
“At the end of the day, perpetrating this culture of intense scrutiny–especially as it is applied to unconventional-looking leaders–makes us all the poorer. All we are doing is continuing to validate the noxious benchmark that leaders need to look and act a certain way.”
This week’s Juicy Bites question for you, dear emerging women is:
What is it that makes you feel deeply vulnerable?
