Application open for New Leadership America Program

Taking from the survey results from 2008, Leadership America announces the new 2009 programming. Three stand-alone session in Chicago, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C.(adjunct trip to Beijing, China) all encompass the theme "Agile Leadership in an Ever-Changing World." The New Leadership America is dedicated to providing the skills needed to stay ahead in this rapidly changing world. Follow the link to learn more details for the sessions and to apply online... http://www.leadershipamerica.com/women_lead/program/program.asp . If you have any questions, please call 214-915-0865.

Can America be agile?

As President Obama was sworn in this morning, my collegues and I huddled around a TV in the permanent exhibits of our Museum. And, although we are a small, yet loud group, we were all silenced by the President’s inaugural address. You could feel the weight of the words he spoke, and whether or not everyone in that room voted for him, there was a sense of respect and willingness to follow. I heard murmurs of “America needs this change,” and “wow, Aretha can really sing!” For me, the parts of the speech that inspired my thoughts the most were his thoughts on change. President Obama said, “for as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.” What a strong statement that attests to the personal commitment we all have to make a change. Can we continue this surge that started with the elections and continued with the masses that showed up today? That is what is so interesting about change, it only occurs when one makes it happen.

I think about change in my own life and work, which seem to meld together a lot. We have to be agile and accept change or we will suffer the fate of being passed by. Learn new ways of performing your tasks, keep your minds and actions agile and open to new thinking. For some, this is a hard task. Many have preached change, but how many have followed through to make the change permanent? This is one of the many challenges our President and other political representatives are charged in accomplishing. They, as well as ourselves, must use our talents, skills and tools to begin this process.

As President Obama eloquently, yet pointedly charged in his inaugural address:“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”

Alumnae Alcove

With Leadership America having so many alumnae throughout the US, it is hard sometimes to keep everyone in contact with each other. Starting in 2009, we will have an Alumnae Alcove sharing good news about our alumnae. Starting with Martha P. Farmer, founding director and interim executive director of Leadership America, Martha is helping ensure the NEW Leadership America's success. Stay tuned, and see what these amazing women are up to in 2009. If you would like to send us your stories, please email haley.curry@thewomensmuseum.org.

Connect with other Leadership America alumnae

We are up to 60 alumnae members on our Linkedin Leadership America group! It is a great way to stay in touch and network with other alumnae from across the United States. Find us by searching out group at www.linkedin.com.

The National Women Leaders Summit Series Online Survey is up and live. There is no better way to help us map out the new programming for Leadership America's 2009 class than by taking a few minutes to fill out this survey and send it to your fellow female coworkers and friends. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PgkvJpo9bC6rD8OToCwGZg_3d_3d

Key competencies of the next President of the USA

One question we posed to the room full of women execs and aspiring women execs was, what are the key competencies critical to the success of the next President of the U.S.? As an open-ended questions, the following were the top competencies that women found important: Integrity, the ability to influence, collaboration, global awareness, the courage to lead and a clear vision for the future.

What are some key competencies you find important?

ONLINE SURVEY OPEN

Thanks to many of you, the National Women Leaders Summit Series were a resounding success! We heard from women from all over the United States, from many diverse ethical and professional backgrounds.

See what some of these women had to say! Visit our News & Resources page.

To continue in our endeavor to build new and influential programming for the 21st century executive women, we are launching our Online Survey component. This is a chance for the women who were unable to join one of the summits, to share their knowledge and opinions on what is needed for the next Leadership America class’s success.

Your opinion is important to us. Please take the time and complete this survey by clicking on the link below, and forward this to ALL your fellow women leaders and aspiring leaders to make sure we hear everyone’s voice.

REMINDER: The information gathered in this survey will remain anonymous and will be used to develop Leadership America’s programming. It will also be shared with the the six other collaborating organizations. Results will be announced in early 2009.Thank you for your time, we and the future classes of Leadership America thank you in advance.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN SURVEY.

D.C. summit participants take a "Minute at the Microphone"