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Women Courageous: Leading Through the Labyrinth is a collection of true experiences by women from different parts of the world, leading in the political, academic, non-profit public, and private sectors. The stories illustrate their courage and also include a scholarly analysis to reshape our understanding of courage - how it shows up, develops, and facilitates transformation.
Through this work, the editors offer a new definition: 'Courage is pushing forward, step by step, while everything is holding you back. Often unnoticed by others, courageous acts come with great emotional challenges, and also with a sense of purpose and determination. Courage is how we transform, not only ourselves but those we support and love and the work to which we have dedicated our lives.'
This international group of authors weaves insights, research, and practices gleaned from walking the leadership labyrinth in their military, aerospace, public works, university, and school education, and nonprofit careers. The book offers stories of ambition, self-actualization, co-creation, as well as conflict, loss, betrayal, and healing, that will echo your own experience. The book will surprise you with new wisdom and releases fresh courage in all of us, to rise and meet the monumental challenges of this moment.
Chapter 1. Introduction; Jennifer Moss Breen
Women Courageous is about leaders fearlessly inhabiting their full power and changing the world.
Courageous leadership and heroism often come with an unconscious bias as 'masculine' traits. Women Courageous: Leading Through the Labyrinth is a major contribution toward the recognition of the extraordinary courage, leadership, and heroism of women every day. Many of the chapter authors did not realize their roles as courageous leaders, but this very fact speaks to their often-overlooked contributions, and helps other women recognize the depth of their own courage.
The authors challenge the reader to deepen and expand the definition of courage as they present compelling stories of crisis and opportunity across personal, interpersonal, social group, and organizational contexts. Women Courageous is emergent reading for women and men.
Women Courageous invites practitioners and scholars to into their stories of courage, vulnerability, and in some cases triumph. This is not a 'how to' book but instead, a welcome companion for women who journey through the labyrinth. These stories remind us that sometimes courage roars, but more frequently courage is that steady heartbeat to try again tomorrow.
In a world where so much of leadership seems driven by the cowardice of excessive self-interest, Women Courageous: Leading through the Labyrinth proves that courage is the element that can change the world.
This is a major contribution to our understanding of real women leading across the globe and the role courage can play in a VUCA world where there are many challenges that at times go unforeseen. The 'real' stories provide a true picture of the amazing capacity and perseverance at the core of each woman.
The authors of Women Courageous use powerful stories to convey and contextualize leadership by women through the labyrinth of life. Each chapter guides the reader through applicable leadership concepts and theories that come alive in every engaging personal story.
Women Courageous has its foundation fascinating and powerful women's stories from around the globe. It doesn't stop there. The authors analyze the stories using research theories and in doing so bring deeper learning from the stories. Each chapter is structured just like good teaching.
Never before has the texture and nuance of courage been so beautifully and generously shared in ways that expand even the most scholarly views about what courage actually is.
This is a great read, particularly for those who feel that the glass ceiling is virtually impenetrable. The stories of women who have overcome significant challenges in forging their own path of influence and purpose are captivating.
This book is a treasure! Its tales of courage are original and inspiring. It is, however, not only a book about overcoming adversity. It's about the courage to be fully alive - to say yes to life!
This very timely and uplifting collection of stories inspires people and women worldwide to lead through their careers and their lives with passion, conviction, courage and purpose - a must-read for anyone navigating the complexity of managing oneself, others and organisations.
When you read this book you accept an invitation to witness beautifully told journeys of remarkable, yet deeply human women. As much as this book is about them, it is a book for all of us. Their accounts inspire not only reflection, but the mindset and heartset that we need to encourage us to take our next steps forward.
Jennifer Moss Breen is associate professor and program director of the EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Creighton University, USA.
Madeleine van der Steege is an award-winning female entrepreneur, co-editor and author of several publications, and adjunct professor at Webster University, Leiden.
Suzanne Stigler Martin is an expert on pioneering management theorist, Mary Parker Follett. As founder of transform., a leadership development consulting firm in Birmingham, AL, USA, she works with organizations and individuals challenging the status quo.
Judith L. Glick-Smith is an author, speaker, and technical communication consultant. She is the founder of MentorFactor, Inc., which helps organizations prepare for the unexpected and facilitate agility.