March is Women’s History Month! Many organizations will recognize the contributions of their female employees. Here are some leadership lessons we can learn from female leaders throughout history. Included below are only a few of history’s most impressive female leaders and pioneers.
Queen Elizabeth I
She lived from 1533 to 1603. She is widely recognized as one of the greatest leaders in history for many good reasons. During her 44 years on the throne, there was prosperity and peace. Her love of art fostered an artistic renaissance, which is known as the ‘Golden Age’. William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe were prolific writers during this time. Queen Elizabeth I successfully stopped religious disputes with the Catholic Church and ended the war with France. The British Navy famously defeated the Spanish Armada during her reign. The ‘Virgin Queen’ never married and was the sole ruler of England and Ireland.
A leader must balance strong actions with compromise.
Mary Wollstonecraft
This British author lived from 1759 to 1797 in England. Known as the ‘first feminist’, she wrote Vindication for the Rights of Women in 1792. She advocated for female liberty. She was financially independent in an era when this was unusual. In addition to writing, she was also worked as a teacher, translator and governess.
Difficult circumstance require leaders to forge their own path.
Marie Curie
Born in 1867 in Poland, Curie moved to Paris in 1891 for further education and research opportunities. She was a pioneer in the research of radioactivity, which earned her many accolades. Curie was the first female recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. She is the ONLY person to have a Noble Peace Prize in two fields – physics and chemistry. Curie was the first female professor at the University of Paris. Sadly, she died at the age of 66 due to complications from prolonged exposure to radioactive materials.
Perseverance pays off when working towards a long-term goal.
Anna Wintour
She entered the world in 1949 and worked hard to become Vogue Editor-in-Chief in 1988. She began her career in 1970 as a fashion journalist for Harper’s & Queen in London. Wintour became a junior fashion editor in 1975 at Harper’s Bazar in New York. Her other roles include a New York Fashion Editor, UK Vogue Editor and Home & Garden Editor. She is known for her disciplined life. She arrives at the office at 7.30 am after playing tennis and having her make-up done. Wintour teaches a MasterClass in ‘Creativity and Leadership’.
Set high standards for yourself and your team. Put in the necessary work to achieve your goals.
Contact the Davidson Group to ensure you have the right employees in the right roles.
