Views in the Round: A Friday Afternoon Well Spent

While many may spend a Friday afternoon before Christmas shopping or running errands, a group of people choose to gather, share a drink, and exchange experiences about life and leadership.

This was the spirit of "Views in the Round"—an informal gathering I enjoyed organising.

The Conversations:

It was eye-opening to hear from Avanti Sharma and Elizabeth Lucas , two rising stars in STEM. Avanti, a pre-teen Technology Specialist and Head of Business Development at Workshop4Me, and Elisabeth, an award-winner in astrophysics, programming, and AI hackathons, shared their impressive journeys. They reminded us - our teenage years are long gone :-) - how extraordinary projects can sometimes be overlooked —especially when you’re a teenager addressing short-sided middle-aged people. Do they believe that to be an innovator, you must look like Mark Zuckerberg??

Avanti and Elisabeth also reminded us that assertiveness is a skill to practice as early as possible in your life/career. But I can assure you, they have no issues when it come to be assertive;

“How do you assert your leadership when you’re a solo entrepreneur? Is there a difference between leadership at work and at home, where you manage the lives of your kids?” These were questions Karla Gutierrez brought forward, sparking honest reflections on balancing personal and professional responsibilities.

We then discussed leadership styles in 2024. In a year marked by many elections around the world resulting in the choice of leaders portraying themselves as ”strong”, decisive, and uncompromising, why is everybody sending daily reminders about the importance of soft skills and empathy to run the world in the future??

Madhumalti Sharma, PMP ? Patrizia Luchetta Maria Sidiropoulou and Yanet Pansini Delgado have no doubt. Empathy and balance drive them in their leadership style.

They apply it in their daily job, regardless of other people’s behaviour, seasoned with determination to reach the established objectives.

I, too, shared my recent experiences on how a collegial and empathetic approach to leadership can sometimes be perceived—especially by younger women—as a lack of decisiveness. I shared my surprise as well as how I responded to the challenge. That is, you try to understand what other people need when working on a project/assignment, but you cannot change your leadership style simply because people are used to the "old" version. The secret is to find a good compromise while respecting your true being.

As Patrizia Luchetta insightfully pointed out, our leadership skills constantly evolve, we change, we adapt. We learn from our successes, but even more so from our mistakes, shaping ourselves into better leaders on the go.

The Takeaway:

? Sitting in a circle with women of different ages, professions, and backgrounds was a blessing. We shared stories, re-ordered drinks, and created a safe space for learning from one another.

TGIF?? Friday afternoons can offer occasions to end well an intense working week.

???? There is no age limit for sharing and networking. Involving the young generation is key and functions as an eye-opener.

??? Despite the steps back we may have seen in achieving balanced leadership this year, we left the gathering determined to keep shaping spaces—like this one—where inclusive, empathetic, and effective leadership thrives.

? Here’s to continuing these conversations and building circles of growth, understanding, and connection.

And, let's not forget, we also saved money avoiding Christmas shopping ??

#leadership

#FutureOfLeadership

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