Four years ago, as I prepared to return to work after the birth of my second child, I turned to my close friend Taal for advice. A mother of young children and a Senior Vice President in the fashion industry, Taal shared a piece of wisdom that has stayed with me ever since: “You will drop balls. That’s OK. Everyone knows that. Just make sure they aren’t the important ones.” Her words reminded me to prioritize what truly matters and to embrace imperfection as part of the journey. This advice has not only helped me navigate the challenges of balancing work and family but has also given me the freedom to focus on what truly counts.
Taal’s insight is just one example of the invaluable wisdom women leaders bring to the table. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep admiration for women like her—leaders who have achieved remarkable success in their careers while also prioritizing family, personal well-being, and a healthy work-life balance. In honor of Women’s History Month, I had the privilege of speaking with several such leaders about the challenges they face and the advice they would offer to emerging leaders today.
5The Power of Relationships in Leadership
While the women I spoke to come from diverse industries—fashion, real estate, tech, and digital health—they all emphasized the importance of building and nurturing relationships. For them, leadership isn’t just about achieving business goals; it’s about unlocking the potential of their teams and fostering a sense of community. As Taal put it, “At the end of the day, we may sell a product, but it’s really all about people. My job is to unlock the potential and success of my team.” This means understanding each team member as a whole—their strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and even personal challenges—so she can support and guide them effectively.
Linda, a general manager at a large real estate company, echoed this sentiment. Leading a small but highly innovative team, she manages a mixed-use community and believes in meeting employees where they are. “It’s a lot of work,” she admitted, “and oftentimes, we get so bogged down with deadlines and metrics that we forget people are relying on us for their career growth.” Linda stressed the importance of intentional mentorship and team-building, noting that neglecting these areas robs individuals of the opportunity to excel.
4Building Networks: A Community Within a Community
Adi, a director of strategy and operations at a global tech company, also places relationships at the heart of her leadership philosophy. For her, success hinges on building and strengthening professional networks. “I can’t say how critical this is,” she emphasized. Adi explained that different departments within an organization often face similar challenges but try to solve them in isolation. By fostering connections across teams, leaders can address issues collaboratively and create more unified solutions.
Adi shared a practical approach to networking: when she started her current role, she asked every new contact to introduce her to three additional people. While not every connection led to a deeper relationship, this strategy helped her proactively expand her network. Even now, she dedicates time each week to maintaining and building these connections. “Working to build relationships is critical to anyone’s success and career,” she said. “I also find it fun, so I build a community within a community, within my own company, and it makes the work more enjoyable.”
3Creating Personal Connections in a Professional World
Nicki, a Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at a leading digital health company, also champions the value of personal relationships. Though she doesn’t manage a team, she takes an ownership mentality, ensuring that individuals in complex, matrixed environments don’t fall through the cracks. Nicki regularly organizes and funds lunches to bring people together—not for work discussions, but to foster personal connections. “You’re not just working in a vacuum,” she explained. “There is a focus on the personal, and then the trickle-down to business improvement happens naturally.”
2Advice for Emerging Leaders
The women I spoke to shared practical advice for emerging leaders, particularly those juggling work and parenthood:
1. Build a Strong Network: As Taal often reminds me, no one can succeed alone. A robust professional network is essential, but so is a supportive personal network. For Nicki, this meant her husband taking a sabbatical to support her career. For Linda, it involved sharing parenting responsibilities with her spouse to accommodate her work commitments.
2. Find a Mentor: Adi emphasized the importance of finding a mentor who genuinely cares about your growth. Many of the women I interviewed found mentors within their organizations, and these relationships endured even after they or their mentors moved on. Nicki, for instance, still draws inspiration from a CEO she worked with 25 years ago.
3. Be Proactive and Speak Up: Adi shared a powerful piece of advice from a former colleague: “You write your own resume.” In other words, don’t wait for opportunities to come to you—create them. Volunteer for projects, propose solutions, and speak up in meetings. Taal added, “You are a part of your organization and have insights that are important to it. Don’t hold those back.”
4. Define Your Non-Negotiables: Linda learned to advocate for herself by identifying and expressing her non-negotiables. This allowed her to pursue activities that kept her energized and effective in both her professional and personal life.
5. Embrace Resilience: Leadership is not without its setbacks. As Taal wisely noted, you will drop balls, face bad reviews, and make mistakes. But resilience is key to growth. “You have great things to say,” Adi encouraged. “Share them. The worst-case scenario is that a decision will be made that doesn’t align with your opinion, but your voice will have been heard.”
1A Bright Future for Leaders
The insights shared by these women underscore the transformative power of authentic leadership. By prioritizing relationships, building networks, and embracing resilience, they have not only achieved success but also created environments where others can thrive. Their stories serve as a reminder that leadership is not about perfection but about connection, growth, and the courage to be human. For emerging leaders, their advice offers a roadmap to navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and shaping a brighter future—for themselves and for those they lead.
