The business landscape is ever-changing and often unpredictable—shaped by everything from economic, social and cultural factors to technological advancements and political complexities. But one thing remains constant: Great leaders are needed to steer organizations with confidence, compassion and a steady focus on the future.
As we navigate this dynamic environment, it’s crucial to recognize the strength and resilience of our nation’s 14 million women business owners. What defines a great leader in this day and age? According to a Forbes article, they are adaptive—able to make quick decisions when plans must change. They also understand that change is inevitable and embrace the growth and innovation it brings.
Another key attribute of great leaders is emotional intelligence. This is the ability to recognize, understand and manage not only your own emotions, but also influence the emotional dynamics of others. Emotionally intelligent leaders are self-aware, accountable and prioritize relationships over merely giving directions.
On a recent episode of the NAWBO on the Go podcast, Janet Kendall White of Berkshire Group, Inc. shared valuable insights on how her mother taught her the essence of great leadership through vision, problem-solving, persistence and emotional intelligence. She emphasizes why emotional intelligence is particularly crucial for women business owners. Listen to Janet’s story here.
As a leader within NAWBO, the nation’s first and leading women’s business advocacy organization, I believe that one additional leadership attribute is paramount—listening and acknowledging others with respect and understanding. We all come from different backgrounds with an array of experiences. Our views on the world, how we perceive messages and what we believe in all vary because of it. No one person is more correct over the other. Our values and what we need for ourselves and our families can be vastly different.
Yet expectations we sometimes have of each other can be unfairly the same. These expectations fail to acknowledge our individual experiences, values and needs. Being able to listen to, acknowledge, understand and respect each other’s differences is something that strong leaders demonstrate. It has been something that NAWBO has demonstrated over the years and will continue to do so.
For 50 years, we have been the collective voice of all women business owners, working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to ensure our voices are heard and that policies that benefit us all are created or improved. NAWBO was instrumental in passing one of the most significant pieces of legislation for women business owners: H.R.5050, the Women’s Business Ownership Act. This landmark bill was championed by Democratic House Committee Chair John LaFalce and signed into law by Republican President Ronald Reagan.
Today, 36 years after the passage of H.R.5050, we continue to extend our reach beyond party lines. Our advocacy agenda now focuses on defining microbusinesses and creating a microbusiness loan pilot program to address the unique needs of this critical segment of NAWBO’s membership and the broader U.S. economy. NAWBO is committed to bi-partisanship and to listen, acknowledge, understand and respect others in order to get this done.
There are countless incredible leaders on our National and Institute Boards, at NAWBO HQ, in our membership, in our partner organizations and in communities across the nation. You inspire me every day to be a better leader, and I am committed to listen, acknowledge, understand and respect you every step of the way. We are on this journey together to propel women business owners, and I know we make the world a better place with the exceptional leadership that is the entire National Association of Women Business Owners.
Mahalo for your leadership and your service,
