Reflections from Athens, Greece | Purposeful Leadership: Leading Inclusively for Senior Leaders

Last month, I traveled to Athens to visit the Linkage Greece office and meet with their team, clients and partners. It was invigorating to engage with CEOs and HR leaders to discuss the rapidly evolving leadership challenges that have emerged out of the pandemic—things like acquiring and retaining critical technology staff; rising to meet generational expectations of the shifting workforce; and ensuring the hybrid environment creates a culture of inclusion.  

I was working there on July 4, our Independence Day in the US, and as I looked at the looming Acropolis and Parthenon, it struck me that while we were celebrating 250 years of independence, Greece has tracked its history more than 2,500 years, with many centuries of freedom and other centuries under the rule of other empires.  

Even now, in the 21st century, true freedom means equal access and power for all, and we know we still have a long way to go with gender equity and diversity in both countries. It takes purposeful, inclusive leaders to create the change we need. 

The key reason for my trip was to speak at the inaugural Women’s Empowerment and Diversity & Inclusion Awards in Greece. I appeared alongside the Minister of Labor, an incredible woman who serves her government in a country where less than 20% of Ministry seats are filled by women. There is much work to do in the world, but recognizing and honoring the individuals and organizations who are leading change builds the awareness and impetus for others to follow.  

With me was my college-age daughter, Madeleine. What a privilege to experience this trip through her eyes and to share my work with her! Her unique point of view about her role as a future leader inspires me each day. 

I am excited to be back home with my team stateside, as we are busy planning the Women in Leadership Institute (WIL), which returns this November 1–4 in Orlando, Florida, and virtually. We have taken everything we have learned about women’s leadership—spanning decades of experience with our hundreds of clients and partners—and applied it to this four-day, immersive leadership development experience. All genders are welcome as we work on our own evolution as leaders. 

 I hope you will join us this fall and take your place in the WIL community.   

In partnership,

Jen

REGISTRATION OPEN 

Women in Leadership Institute 2022 – Join Us In-Person or Virtually This November!

Now is the time to secure your spot to the Women in Leadership Institutetm, which returns this November 1–4, in-person in Orlando, Florida, and virtually. Learn more about early bird pricing, going on now, and register yourself or your leaders today. Spots are filling up fast! 

NEW FROM LINKAGE 

Introducing the Purposeful Leadership: Leading Inclusively for Senior Leaders Program | Virtual or In-Person 

Are you equipping your senior leaders with the skills and tools they need to unlock their full leadership potential and lead inclusively? Organizations have never been in greater need of highly effective leaders—and Linkage’s research has proven that the most effective leaders are inclusive and lead with purpose. 

Linkage’s Purposeful Leadership: Leading Inclusively for Senior Leaders program is designed to develop more effective and inclusive senior leaders and is available in two convenient formats: in-person and virtual. 

WEBINAR RECORDINGS 

Webinar Recording | Building a Diverse Leadership Pipeline for the Future – Best Practices from Lenovo 

How can organizations develop and support diversified leadership ranks?   Lenovo, a Fortune 200 technology company with more than 70,000 employees globally, is blazing the trail by supporting, developing and promoting women and other underrepresented leader groups. During this prerecorded webinar, gain access to an on-demand conversation with two of their DEI leaders, who share the key success factors driving retention and promotion rates, and how these efforts are supporting the company’s broader goal to increase executive-level representation of women and underrepresented populations by 2025. Watch the conversation now.  

Webinar Recording | Proven Strategies for Retaining + Advancing Women | Featuring U.S. Bank and McKesson 

How can organizations better engage, advance and retain women leaders?  McKesson, a premier firm that delivers a third of all pharmaceuticals used in North America, and U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest banking institution in the United States, are driving huge impact for their women leaders and their organization. Tune in to this prerecorded webinar to hear from their DEI leaders on how they are driving huge results. Access the recording now. 

PROUD SUPPORTER 

Register for Free | Fourth Annual Women Business Collaborative (WBC) Action for Impact Summit 

Linkage is a proud supporter and partner of the Women Business Collaborative (WBC). Join WBC this September 21 and 22 for the Action for Impact Summit, which will feature over 50 speakers, panelists and special interviewees discussing topics that range from women in technology, to pay parity, to men’s allyship. Through sets of interactive panels and breakout sessions, the Summit is the perfect networking and learning opportunity with chances to hear from exclusive speakers. Register now and use the code LINKAGE_WBC during the registration process to gain free access. 

ON THE LINKAGE BLOG 

In Case You Missed It: Juneteenth Resources for Leaders 

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Short for “June Nineteenth,” Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally received news of their liberation, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. On the Linkage Leadership Insights Blog, Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Linkage, and Eddie Turner, Principal Consultant and Executive Coach at Linkage, reflect on the importance of #Juneteenth. Read the story. 

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE FALL 

ADVANCING WOMEN LEADERS: GAME CHANGER NEGOTIATION WORKSHOP 

Women leaders have the power to close more deals, do it more efficiently, and build and support the relationships they need to thrive. Introducing a new offering from Linkage, presented in partnership with trailblazing sports agent, author and expert negotiator Molly Fletcher. 

Register yourself or your leaders now to join us on December 13, 15 and 20, 2022, at 1–3 PM ET, for this transformative virtual program, facilitated by Kristen Howe, Chief Product Officer at Linkage.