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postsApril 7th, 2009
Guest Gen Y Post: Fallon Casper on Women’s Leadership
“Women of my generation, perhaps more than others, understand that leadership doesn’t necessarily mean a linear path of promotion after promotion. Leadership for us means the ability to own something that we care about owning. It’s the opportunities that we make for ourselves both inside our working roles, and outside, in the professional associations we choose to relate with.”
As women, we often hear the phrase that the “glass ceiling” is slowly eroding, or that our presence in the workforce is inching ever closer to matching that of our males counterparts. The truth is, among many of the silver linings of this current economic downturn, is the great opportunity to demonstrate that there doesn’t need to be a glass ceiling for us, as women, as individuals working in the fast moving world of corporations. Countless are the examples of board rooms empty of women, or picture after picture of male executives in the management pages of many Fortune 100, 200, 500 companies. Still more are the methods and strategies meant to facilitate the potential of leadership for a woman. But the problem is this: by focusing our attention on that which is outside of our immediate realm of experience, we are not empowered to change our own, personal circumstances. So I challenge you to look within your own experience, and see where you are empowered as a woman in the workforce.
In my own experiences, I’ve found that yes, women do need to network, but finding the right professional connections can come from more avenues than the traditional “networking over drinks.” Breakfast networking events, like those sponsored by 85 Broads in New York, are great ways to meet and network with high-achieving women while still running the busy schedule that today’s working woman is known for. For young working women, opportunities for leadership can come in disguised ways, but it’s up to us to take advantage of this opportunity. One such example might be taking the lead on a community initiative that you’re passionate about, or maybe writing a proposal for that new program that is entirely new to your company but you know would be wildly successful if only it were implemented. Women of my generation, perhaps more than others, understand that leadership doesn’t necessarily mean a linear path of promotion after promotion. Leadership for us means the ability to own something that we care about owning. It’s the opportunities that we make for ourselves both inside our working roles, and outside, in the professional associations we choose to relate with.
So what I want to leave you with is this: leadership for women of the twenty first century doesn’t have to be the illustrious breaking of the glass ceiling. Perhaps it’s the breaking of a glass wall, or a glass window. Or maybe, it just means knowing that as a woman, I am perfectly capable of being a leader. It is up to me to choose how, where, and in what capacity, I choose to be so. In my experience, successful leadership seems to spring from passion, and passion is something that cannot be learned. So yes, be a leader, because we definitely need young women leaders, but be one with passion towards her cause. Then, breaking that glass is only secondary; living your vision comes first.
Fallon Casper
About Fallon Casper: As a young twenty-something, Fallon has worked in a variety of corporate settings as a Management Consultant for a top International Consulting firm, and has more recently developed her own consulting practice in Sustainable Living. She is passionate about social enterprise, women’s leadership, and can be found around the streets of New York searching for the best vegan foods. She holds a B.A. in International Economics & Leadership from New York University.