The word authentic is constantly used and can mean different things to different people. It means showing up as who you truly are, which is too vague when describing an authentic leader. There is a body of scholarly research and theories about Authentic Leadership that includes self-awareness, moral and ethical values, being open to listening to diverse opinions and being transparent about who you are.

Wanted: Authentic Women Leaders in a VUCA World- Part 2

Have you been feeling that you are operating on autopilot? Is your mind filled with self-chatter, and you're feeling out of sorts? You may have slipped out of self-awareness, and it's easy to do in this hectic world. If so, take a pause and center using mindfulness, breathing, or whatever works for you to come back into being self-aware. And being self-aware is a journey and not a destination.

We live in VUCA times, Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, with the Pandemic, racial inequality, political divisions, and climate change. The present situation calls for leaders at all levels of our society to help address these complex problems. Traditional ways of leading do not prepare leaders to work with the challenges VUCA brings. I advocate for authentic leaders, especially women leaders, guided by a sense of purpose and values to show up to have positive impacts on all these fronts.

I was honored to be a guest presenter for the Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment Webinar series. Women in Toys Licensing & Entertainment is a global nonprofit association dedicated to women's advancement within the toys industries. They provide leadership, networking, and educational opportunities for their members throughout the world.

We all have the power to be our true selves, but often we bow to external influences. An Authentic Woman Leader shows up in her leadership role by aligning herself to her values, engendering trust, and empowering her team to achieve success. Now is the time for us to use our power of authenticity, as women, to positively impact our world.

In the webinar, I explored what it takes to be an Authentic Woman Leader, including what it means for you, your organization, and your community.

The Key Webinar Takeaways:

• Embrace your Authentic Power
• Know Your Internal Compass
• Create a Path to be an Authentic Woman Leader

I hope you enjoy the video.

Who could have predicted that we will be sheltering in place when you set your 2020 business goals back in January? Here we are almost a full three months with stores, restaurants, and business closed, and millions of people on unemployment. It's hard to believe that we find ourselves wondering about the next steps to reopen our businesses. Now is the time to think about business readiness.

Men are overrepresented in online image search results across a majority of jobs examined; women appear lower than men in such search results for many jobs.