As a management consultant, I have had the amazing opportunity to work with many leaders. Over the years, I have been struck by the observation that there is not one specific leadership style to which leaders mold themselves to be the most effective or influential. Rather, each leader has developed a style built on their natural strengths to motivate, influence, and create sustainable change.
This is my first year volunteering with Strong Women, Strong Girls in Pittsburgh.  As a site monitor, I visit program sites and work with the college women on mentoring and working with girls. Through my experience with these remarkable college mentors, I have again been reminded of how important it is to celebrate individual styles. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”.  That is one of the many things I love about Strong Women, Strong Girls – the spirit of acceptance and inclusion. The girls are exposed to mentors with diverse talents and personalities, from science to arts majors and from dancers to soccer players. And a major part of the curriculum is studying and discussing contemporary and historic women role models, from Geraldine Ferraro to Maria Martinez. Mirroring the Strong Women, Strong Girls model, over the next year, I will interview dynamic and successful women leaders with wide-ranging backgrounds. Check back each month as I blog about their style and how it works for them. Strong women leaders come from all backgrounds and styles.   
Next month, I will share my conversation with one of my closest friends, Major Laura Buddemeyer, US Army.  She will share her experiences as a young woman just out of college in a leadership role by title but not experience, how she gained the trust and respect of her team, and how her style has evolved.  Stay tuned and happy holidays!