September spotlight on: Going back to school for leaders

Why great leaders never stop learning

After nearly a year and a half of our CEO Perspectives Series, the conversations Suja Chandrasekaran and I have had with top CEOs underscore a critical truth for leadership at any level: the importance of continuous learning. In an ever-changing world, successful leaders know that no matter how high you climb, there’s always more to learn. They didn’t reach the top by knowing everything; rather, they constantly sought new knowledge, embraced unfamiliar challenges, and valued learning as an ongoing process.

Continuous learning goes beyond professional skills. It encompasses understanding the shifting landscape of global business, being attuned to emerging trends, and gaining deeper insight into one’s own organization and industry. Moreover, the ability to listen and learn from others—whether from peers, mentors, or even employees on the front lines—was a consistent trait among the CEOs. They understand that the best decisions are often shaped by perspectives beyond their own. This deep commitment to learning fosters not only personal growth but also allows them to better anticipate challenges, pivot strategies, and inspire those around them.

The fall is the perfect time to pause and reflect on how you're embracing opportunities for growth and continuous learning as a leader. As the season shifts, it's a reminder to stay curious, expand your knowledge, and position yourself for success in the months ahead.

READ MORE LESSONS FROM CEOS

Athena Academy back in session

If you're looking for a comprehensive learning experience that intimately connects you with peers, high-caliber faculty, stimulating content, and valuable resources, Athena Academy is for you.

This month, we launched new cohorts for our signature Board Readiness course and Unleash Your Impact: Executive Excellence course. Both cohorts include highly accomplished, ambitious women leaders curious to learn and eager to embark on transformative journeys toward their goals.

Graduates of Athena Academy's courses have called the experience life-changing and we can't wait for more members to experience the magic as Athena Academy grows!

If you missed out on these fall cohorts, early registration is now open for our winter 2025 cohorts. Get up to $500 off when you register early.

• Board Readiness | Starts Jan 21, 2025 | Learn More
• NEW! Architect Your Next Chapter | Starts Jan 16, 2025 | Learn More
• COMING SOON! Become an Investor | Request Info
• COMING SOON! Build a Company | Request Info

If you're interested in learning more about Athena Academy's programs, we'd love to speak with you! Email [email protected] or book a call to discuss with our membership consultant.

ABOUT ATHENA ACADEMY

Coaches Corner

Leading under pressure: how to master stress for executive success with Cindy Montgenie

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, executives face unique challenges that significantly elevate stress levels, impacting personal well-being and organizational health. Striving for an optimal stress level, rather than minimal stress, can also profoundly influence organizational performance.

In a recent Salon with Athena coach Cindy Montgenie , we dove into the dynamics of effective stress management at the executive level. Here are our top takeaways:

1. Stress can be productive: A certain level of stress, often referred to as "good stress," is necessary to drive creativity, innovation, and performance. Without some stress, teams may become disengaged or underperform.
2. Balance is key to avoid burnout: While stress is essential, too much stress leads to burnout, disengagement, and decreased productivity. Organizations need to ensure they are balancing stress levels to stay in the "yellow zone" on the stress-performance curve.
3. Generic stress management initiatives aren't enough: Many companies attempt to address stress with broad approaches like mindfulness training, but these can be ineffective. Targeted interventions based on individual needs are crucial for addressing the different ways people experience and respond to stress.
4. Monitor stress with KPIs: Measuring stress levels with tools like the stress quotient, which tracks stress from 0 to 100, can help companies better understand and manage employee stress. However, simply aiming to eliminate high stress (red zone) is not effective; ensuring employees stay within an optimal range (40-60) is more beneficial.
5. Understand the seven core stressors: Stress isn't just caused by heavy workloads; other factors include the effort-reward imbalance, lack of control, organizational changes, poor management, job security concerns, and lack of social support. Understanding these stressors helps organizations create more effective interventions.

Athena has over 25 top-tier executive coaches to help members reach their biggest goals. To learn more about Athena membership, visit our website.

Virtual Salons

Innovating for Impact

Wed, Oct 16 at 12:00pm PT

Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with Zenia Tata, renowned for her decade-long tenure as Chief Impact Officer at XPRIZE. With a wealth of experience tackling global challenges in water, food, energy, healthcare, and education, Zenia will delve into the power of innovation to drive meaningful impact for billions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true pioneer in moonshot thinking and impactful technological advancements.

RSVP

CEO Perspectives with Jennifer Tejada, CEO at PagerDuty

Mon, Oct 21 at 9:00am PT

Join Jennifer Tejada , CEO of PagerDuty , for a powerful conversation on leadership and the varied paths to becoming a CEO in today’s ever-changing business landscape. With 25 years of experience in both consumer products and cutting-edge technology, Jennifer will share her insights on product innovation, scaling enterprises, and fostering customer trus

Join Coco Brown and Suja Chandrasekaran in conversation with Jennifer for a unique opportunity to learn how top business leaders are shaping the future while navigating societal challenges and driving growth.

RSVP

CHRO Perspectives with Sheri Bronstein, CHRO at Bank of America

Wed, Oct 30 at 9:00am PT

With her vast experience leading global teams and shaping a workplace culture focused on performance, inclusion, and employee well-being, Sheri Bronstein brings invaluable insight into the evolving role of Chief People Officers. She is passionate about using data and analytics to drive HR advancements and led the publication of the company’s inaugural Human Capital Management Report.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear from one of the top CHROs in the world by joining Coco Brown and Belen Gomez for this knowledge-packed Salon.

RSVP

Member News & Celebrations

Congratulations to our members on their recent achievements

• Amy Chen was named to the P&I Influential Women in Institutional Investing list
• Courtney Rutkowski started a new position as Founder, Chief Engagement Officer at Eido Bio
• Jackie Przybylowski was appointed VP of Capital Markets at Gold Royalty Corp.
• Joanne Fedeyko joined the Startup Genome team as Head of Mentorship
• Karla Baratto was appointed Senior Principal for Culture, Experience, & Teaming at NIKE
• Leilani Latimer was appointed to the board at Sedex
• Lisa Campbell was appointed to the board at Dynatrace
• Lisa Campbell was appointed to the board at Similarweb
• Marjorie Dickman was named to the 2024 Top 100 Women Executives: HERoes Role Model list by INvolve
• Melissa Marousek was appointed Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer at Serco Inc.
• Raina Mukherjee was appointed to the board at Healthy Kids Running Series
• Sandy Carter was awarded Women’s Advocate Silver for ISG Women in Digital Award Americas
• Tami Rosen was named a finalist for Female Executive of the Year by The Stevie Awards
• Tammy McLeod was nominated for the 2024 Leaders of the Year in Public Policy list by Arizona Capitol Times
• Toni Townes-Whitley was awarded the Thurgood Marshall College Fund CEO Impact Award

Welcome new members

We are thrilled to welcome this month’s new members to the Athena community. They include Chief Officers, VPs, and Founders in human resources, finance, and information technology. They come to us from leading organizations such as Mastercard, Intel, and Kimberly-Clark.

JOIN ATHENA