I have the good fortune to be the mother of four bright, talented, courageous and successful women. As I’ve watched them rise in the ranks of their respective professions, I’ve been awed by their strength and perseverance especially in the face of all kinds of daily challenges.
We all know that challenges come with the territory. Anyone who has had a taste of organization life (either non-profit or the corporate world) knows this to be true. Organizational life is all about meeting challenges head on and trying to solve them.
Of all of their challenges, what I have found most surprising and disheartening is their experiences with women bosses who seem to lack emotional intelligence. While the command and control style of leadership clearly crosses gender lines, I have been looking for a more evolved leadership style from women.
The following article explains some of the underlying pressures unique to women and offers some suggestions to help women can overcome the optics of being either too soft or being too hard.
About Cheryl Shapero
Cheryl Shapero has over twenty years’ experience as an educator, senior consultant and executive coach. Ms. Shapero is a Master Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, the highest designation in the field of coaching.
Ms. Shapero is also an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. In this capacity, she works with Washington DC Public and Charter School principals enrolled in the Executive Masters in Leadership.
Prior to joining the Achieve Unite team, Ms. Shapero was an executive at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where she founded and directed the Masters of Arts in Health and Wellness Coaching and was the Chief Diversity Officer.
When working with clients, Ms. Shapero utilizes a positive, growth-oriented approach to help others make sustainable change both at the individual and organizational level in ways that impact the bottom line of their organizations. Her client’s state that they have been challenged, supported, inspired and more able to see new perspectives and take on new endeavors.