Female leadership

A banner of equality

We were all going to be queens, And truly reign; But none of us has reigned, not in Arauco nor in Copán…

Poem: "Todas íbamos a ser reinas." Gabriela Mistral

Being relegated to the domestic sphere was, for a long time, the only plan. But now we're seeing how many women are reigning in different areas of politics and business. The fight that has been waged for equality has been bearing fruit. At this point, it's becoming inconceivable for society to view men as the only ones capable of leading.

Human beings, regardless of gender, are capable of holding authority and directing, as long as they prepare and train themselves. And women possess outstanding qualities for professional work and greater effectiveness in areas such as empathy, persuasion, sociability, or willingness to take risks—all important factors when starting a venture.

Today more than ever, the world is understanding that women are more than homemakers; the scale is leveling out, and they are taking on roles of power. In doing so, they are tearing down stereotypes and declaring, not a war of the sexes, but a banner of equality.

Women possess an extra edge, their maternal instinct, which brings the value of care, development, and education, but their leadership capabilities go far beyond that; it is precisely their refusal to settle for the role of mother, and their choice to leave home to study, prepare, work, and depend on no one, that makes them ideal leaders.

They are capable of leading because they have inherent skills; they are built to make things work and achieve success. They are brave, decisive, and possess a self-confidence that lets them overcome any adversity.

A female leader is characterized by having:

• Empathy
• Innovation
• Cooperation
• Responsibility

Four strengths that make up the soul and mind of a capable, entrepreneurial leader. Many times the possibility of having a woman as a leader is dismissed, on the grounds that women are too weak. But the truth is otherwise. Women are hardworking and resilient by nature. And leadership isn't about physical strength; it's about intelligence. A good leader is one who knows how to respond to problems with sustainable solutions, and in that, women have proven to hold a great advantage.

"Over the last 100 years, the IQs of both men and women have risen, but women's IQs have risen faster. This is a consequence of modernity. The complexity of the modern world is causing our brains to adapt and raise our intellectual capacity."

James Flynn / New Zealand psychologist

Leadership is not a person, a sex, or a shape. Leadership is an intellectual capacity. For that reason, women should not be afraid to take on what they can perfectly well conquer. Leadership is a relationship between people built on trust, growth, education, commitment, and a shared vision of good things. And none of those traits belong exclusively to the male sex. If you're a woman who has been afraid to raise her voice in pursuit of her dreams, if you're one of those who hides her ideas because the business world is supposedly for people in ties, get up, put that intelligence to work, and step into your leadership with your heels firmly planted.