Here's to the Female Leaders

This will be a simple one.

For years I have struggled to find a leader I would aspire to be like. Don't get me wrong. I met a lot of inspiring leaders. The problem was, I could not see myself as one of them. Because all of them were male.

I met females in top positions as well. But the price they had to pay for getting there was not the one I was ready to pay myself. Too often they were forced to fit in, act like the men they were surrounded by and compromise their values. To be seen strong, they had to become ruthless. To be seen professional, they had to set their human self aside.

Every time I would see the headline 'X company appoints first female as a CEO' I would only think 'what did she have to do to get there?' while dreaming of the day when the news stops being about 'first female' but will be just about announcing the new CEO.

One time I asked a friend working from the company that just had a female CEO appointed. 'How is it going on the inside? How is she doing?' 'Not very well. She's not really relatable. We call her the Ice Princess.'

That is not what I wanted to ever be labeled or ever to become.

But the more women started to surface to power, the more different leadership styles could be observed.

Angela Merkel is just leaving the country after 16 years in charge and approval rating that many leaders who are just appointed could be jealous of. Firm and strong when needed, compassionate and human at the same time - she lead not only Germany, but also Europe through multiple crises. She stayed grounded despite many attempts from other world leaders to neglect or even intimidate her. Never lost her cool on the big stage, and then coming home and doing her own grocery shopping.

Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand first female in the office going on maternity leave and brining her infant to the UN assembly. Leading her country through covid pandemic to one of the lowest mortality rates in the world. All the way through staying true to her values and proving she is not ready to compromise them, but rather - make them her leadership asset.

You can agree or disagree with the mentioned leaders on their politics - however, what matters here is that they did not attempt to become male versions of themselves while in the office. They showed us all what leading with authenticity means.

So it happened that last week I was sitting on a shoot for a campaign and somewhere in the middle of all of the craze on the set I realized that I was surrounded by such authentic leaders.

All of them very different in background and personality. But all of them genuine in their female leadership.

When take tough calls had to be made, they were firm and decisive. 'This is what I want', 'this is how we are going to do it'.

When the credit was to be given to the team, there was no one who would take the stage and take it all for themselves - they focused on showing appreciation for each other's work and team contribution to the project.

When small tasks needed to be attended to, we had more hands than needed. 'What can I do? How can I help?' Were probably the most often used sentences.

And lastly, I kind of felt like in a family set, so many 'aunties' and 'sisters' offered each other tea/lunch/diner/break. And yes, talking in the meantime hairstyling tips and discussing home schooling routines.

Now, those three days on the shoot were exhausting on one hand and quite enlightening on the other. I got to experience the most female leadership in action. I got to realize that I am blessed with working with the most inspiring women of this age. Women who built their careers based on openness, trust and care. Who are ambitious and strive for perfection, but never lost their human side on the way. Who appreciate others and play to their strengths, have enough balls (yes, balls) to admit their own shortcomings and rely on others to help them there instead of trying to be 'the know-it-all' of the group.

With all the challenges that women still face on their career path, this was one of the times where I felt privileged to experience female leadership at its best.