Guest post by Victoria Rotante (learn more about the author at the end of the article):
After more than 25 years as an apparel industry executive, I have experienced many women in leadership roles as less than inspiring or supportive. For whatever reason, there are too many talented women leaders (from my experience) who don’t understand that mentoring and developing their direct reports (women or men) is germane to building company bench strength for the future.
While no doubt it can be somewhat intimidating to come across a person who you know can do your job–perhaps even better than you; the smart leader knows how to leverage that person(s), not suppress them as a salve for one’s own insecurities.
Pat Heim, co-author of the book In the Company of Women, speaks to this very subject, and should be required reading for all professional women. Her company, Heim Group, also offers a great Gender IQ Test on their website.
My call to action: Inspire, Support, Grow and Mentor…It is a powerful tool for our future.
Do you have a mentor? Have you been a mentor? What is your call to action? Leave a comment and share your thoughts on women in leadership and mentoring.
About the Author
Vickie Rotante is Principal of Impera Executive Recruiters specializing in the consumer products market for the apparel, accessories and footwear industries, servicing middle management to C-level positions.
