Bravery and Badassery: Profile of ‘Womeneers’ in 2018

Let’s face it, women have been remarkable for a long, long time.

Lucy Brewer was the first woman to join the US Marine Corps in 1810. Madame Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person and only woman to win twice in physics (1903) and chemistry (1911). Think Amelia Earhart the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928 and happens to be my husband’s Great Aunt.

Or think Oprah or Hillary or Malala, who need no last name; Ruth Bader Ginsburg, currently serving on the US Supreme Court, Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, Christine Lagarde, Head of the International Monetary Fund.

But last year was remarkable for women speaking up, standing up, and establishing a new level of vocalism and visibility I’ve not seen in several years. I read what they wrote about and listened to what they said. I watched them because these women set the ‘tempo’ of change and a new paradigm of equality and possibility.

Last year I followed some women who seem to be ‘breaking trail.’ These women are a type of pioneer, going places women usually don’t go, and accepting—or at least tolerating—the inherent risks that come from occupying territory historically reserved for men. These ‘women pioneers’ have a ‘manifest destiny’ type mentality—willing to go into the unknown with grit, determination and a willingness to fail as a process of succeeding.

These modern-day pioneers are, well, Womeneers!

Common amongst these Womeneers, is the willingness to step forward beyond what is comfortable and what is known, in order to expand their personal and professional frontiers.

Some women are pushing into new frontiers that are small and not noticeable except to the interior lives of themselves. And other women are pushing into frontiers that are very visible. Like in the women who are leading companies, sitting in board seats, establishing ‘law and order’ to their business units or demanding to receive a basic education.

Womeneers are among us and if you know what characteristics to look for, you’ll spot them easily. It is the constellation of all of these put together that make Womeneers shine and be role models for us all:

Bravery: These Womeneers poses bravery. Bravery is doing what you know you should do, even though you are scared sh**tless. These women set their intention and then execute. And let’s be clear: bravery is not feeling brave, bravery is doing the thing that needs to be done despite feeling sick-to-your-stomach scared. Like asking for that raise, being the key presenter at an important meeting, putting an end to distasteful conversation. Think about Margaret Brent who, in 1647(!), was the first American woman to demand the right to vote…imagine that!

Bold: Boldness is bravery actualized and these Womeneers know how to act. In the words of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

 Belief: Belief in ‘The Self’ is critical and is truly an interior state of mind. It cannot be measured or seen. It’s like a locator device, or GPS, that signals our understanding of our self. And if it is located outside our self, then we look to others for clues, values, answers. Those who have a lot of self-belief have that ‘locator device’ within themselves.

Badassery: Being a ‘badass’ is something others say about Womeneers. People value and admire Womeneers for being the first to raise their hand, point out an injustice, or take the path less travelled. Recently a young (26 year old) colleague of mine called me a ‘badass,’ (which I took as an enormous compliment!) for ‘holding my own’ at a client meeting. Imagine Harriet Tubman, who in the 1850, ran an underground railroad to help slaves escape. Talk about being a badass!

I’ve come to realize that women of all ages—young and old—fit this description. And that growing these characteristics is entirely possible if one develops a purpose-driven practice to cultivate small daily wins in these categories.

Let me add that, for all of us dedicated to growing our “internal Womaneer” then it is important to find sponsors and supporters, who are also all around us and can be our fathers, brothers, sisters, co-workers.

So, go ahead, set your attention for the raise you never got and deserved, elbow your way into the conversation. Go for the leadership position, the corporate boardroom position or stay right where you are if you are happy.

Here’s to crossing the threshold into the Year of Womeneer.

About the author: Recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" in Health Care in 2015 & 2106, & 2107, Julie Kliger is passionate about improving health care and improving lives. She is a consultant, author and speaker. She specializes in healthcare model redesign, organizational strategy and change management.