Gutsy Gals Who Speak Up

Several years ago I dove through Vicki Leon's Uppity and Outrageous Women books.  I've always admired anyone who spoke up or took deliberate action to make a difference.  For me, this exploration was a new look at history--one that included courageous women leaders!

                          

New research indicates getting ahead in careers is different for women and men. Guess who all those self-help business books and coaching benefit more? While it is normal for men to be more successful when being proactive in their careers, this is not working well for women. As it turns out women must advertise their accomplishments and take credit for them. That can be difficult when women have been socialized to be just the opposite--and it cuts into actual time to do work, but come on ladies it must be done. Women are also more successful when they network with other influential women. While I am not pleased with this potential organizational inequality, I would like to introduce you to some gutsy gals who spoke up in a silent setting and through their courage brought richness to our world.

Of course we must celebrate the friendship and work of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. 

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton at work

Thank you ladies for ceaselessly advocating for a woman's right to vote! Here were two women who rightly flaunted their skills and accomplishments while bonding together to become stronger as a team and as individuals.

The next gutsy gal I'd like to celebrate is Michelle Peluso who as the CEO and President of her company guarantees she will respond to all correspondence from her 5,000 plus global employees within 24 hours. Ms. Peluso describes the best advice she ever received came from her father's living example: "Even as a little kid, I was struck by Dad’s obsessive interest in and care for the people who worked for him."

Julia Butterfly Hill on the other hand came into her life obsession when she was on her own. After a horrific car accident she asked herself what was she going to do with her life. She is most well known for her courageous stand to preserve and protect Luna--the beautiful ancient redwood tree and the small old growth forest surrounding it. She endured human antagonism, abuse, and a lot of cold, windy nights high up in the loving limbs of Luna. Julia Butterfly Hill has a powerful voice. She is so young but wise. Is it her innate gift to listen and respect the ancients that have blessed this woman?

Luna

Finally allow me to mention the lady who kicked off this series of thoughts which led to this post and celebration of gutsy gals. Christine Maslach. Does she sound familiar? She is an expert on organizational burnout and I highly recommend all leaders listen to her interview which identifies employee burnout indicators and how to avoid it in the organization. But that was icing on the vegan cake for me. Dr. Maslach is the lady who spoke up and whose voice indirectly ended the Stanford Prison Experiment. She recalls "I was sick to my stomach. When it's happening to you, it doesn't feel heroic; it feels real scary. It feels like you are a deviant."

I understand the excuses that enter our minds when we know the right thing to do is to speak up against a wrong. I'm not sure how we can knowingly create organizational cultures that foster this sick feeling--but we do. Time and time again. I do know that in the long run these organizations never last and people are never at their best. In any organization the leader has many tough choices ahead and behind her. Thank goodness for those gutsy gals who speak up and make that difference.