A Dynamic Duo Leadership Approach by Christine C. Thomas, Ph.D.

My colleague Dr. Tanjula Petty and I have been working as higher education administrators for 30+ years combined. We have experienced the ups and downs, the highs and lows of being servant leaders in a space we often times see dominated by men. In our quest to mentor and help women and girls desiring to become leaders, we have found that it is essential to have someone to help you along the way.

In 2019, we coined the term, ‘dynamic duo leadership approach” because it epitomizes the synergy we bring as supervisors, colleagues, project leaders, entrepreneurs, and mentors. We are able to get so much more accomplished as a duo, where possible. Dynamic Duo Leadership simply means, women who are committed to invest their time, talents and treasures into other women and girls. It is a special pair of people doing something; it is a partnership where two are successful and powerful together by the grace of God. We believe it is a model that focuses on connecting and reshaping future leaders to help them develop and grow in their respective roles.

Tanjula and I have been connected for 10 years, and we have developed as professional colleagues and now friends. We are hardworking and have a strong work ethic that is graced with excellence and passion. We are humorous. We encourage each other. We are honest with each other, even if it hurts or is difficult to say. We are our authentic self. We do not compete with each other, nor are we jealous of each other. We have our own style that personally compliments our flair for the finer things respectively. We ask each other difficult questions and give each time to reflect and answer. We pray for each other and we invest lots of time in each other. We disagree but respect each other’s opinion. We have been mad at each other but we forgive. We are capable of transforming an organization as a team or individually and we don’t compromise our standard of excellence, nor do we compete. We have been selected to participate in some leadership development opportunities that have been a tremendous blessing in our pursuit of our career aspirations. I must say that Dr. Petty has stretched me and helped me to pull out the greater in my life and I am so grateful. She has been used by the Lord to stretch me outside of my comfort zone. I’m so proud of my friend and colleague, who is a sophisticated, classy and smart individual who stands boldly in her seat as a leader. I’m praying and believing that she’s going to be a president of university or college one day and I know that she’s going to be an amazing visionary servant leader who will cultivate growth, leave her legacy footprint and build more leaders with purpose and passion. I’m grateful for the dynamic duo leadership approach because it has stretched me to a capacity that allows me to make a difference in the lives of selected women and girls the Lord has assigned to me on my journey.

The Dynamic Duo Leadership Approach requires that you connect with someone who will never become jealous or envious of you; it means walking with someone who is confident in who they are and who they are willing to submit to and to learn more. What makes our relationship great, is that we are both believers in Jesus Christ, so we know that God has graced us to do what we do and it was him that joined us together.

I must share this before I close. In 2018, we were selected by Harvard University to participate in their Women in Leadership Institute and it was simply amazing. In 2019, we were selected as the keynote speakers for the National Diversity Congress, Women in Leadership Institute on the campus of Harvard University. The selection was breathtaking for the both of us and we enjoyed every day and every moment of the experience. It was amazing to connect with other leaders from around the world. This was a great opportunity and we know that greater days are ahead and we continue to read and stay current; we frequently participate in opportunities to stretch us as leaders to master in our areas of expertise.

If you desire to utilize the “Dynamic Duo Leadership Approach,” I would like to share with you our seven (7) important strategies we have modified since our

presentation on the campus of Harvard University’s, Faculty Club. These strategies require that you embrace another woman that you believe you are connected with that is at your level of leadership, and be willing to invest your time and it is certainly going to take a mutual agreement and commitment to yield the success we have obtained. Here are the strategies for you to consider. You may have to modify them to work for you and your professional colleague that prayerfully will turn into friendship.

Strategy 1: You must have a willing heart to help another woman succeed inside and outside of the workplace.

Strategy 2: You must be willing to help them tackle barriers and biases. You must be willing to embrace the reality that the glass ceiling and unequal pay for women is real. The barriers for women exists and they are real, and can be a painful experiences. We must help ourselves and other women by seeing potential; build personal brand; demonstrate courage often and become risk-takers; build on strengths; and avoid the need for affirmation by others. We must be that voice, when they are unable to fight against the disparity of pay in the workplace, fight for each other when the other is unable.

Strategy 3: You must be willing to help women develop skills in strategic thinking systems and knowledge; emotional intelligence; learn to take care of self; develop leadership style and how to become the change-agent they want to see; and participate in leadership development opportunities.

Strategy 4: You must be willing to encourage women to pursue leadership paths that leads to executive level positions. Help them to become fearless and not be afraid of the spotlight. It will also include helping them do the following: make respect inherent to their brand and not allow people to step over them; know the challenges women face; adopt a positive attitude; embrace their role as a champion of change; know the competencies required at the executive level; and again, participate in professional development opportunities’ where men are only at the table.

Strategy 5: You must be willing to empower other women. Help them to leverage the power to be a successful lead er and build confidence.

Strategy 6: You must be willing to help them develop their leadership presence by helping them embrace their authentic self; drive destiny; grow tribe of support (men and women); and create an awareness of gender in the lives of younger girls and remind them constantly that when given an opportunity to make change to stop the glass ceiling.

Strategy 7: You must be willing to edify and encourage yourself and others.

The Dynamic Duo Leadership Approach has changed my life and my friend, Dr. Tanjula Petty’s life. It has been a journey and there’s been some difficult times and days but I wouldn’t change nothing. It has taught me how to trust others, be my real authentic self, share my fears and have someone to push me to the next level. I love my friend like a real “-” and I thank God for her always. Dr. Tanjula Petty is a change-agent and an asset to me and my family. We are greater together than apart. Thank God for a real example of synergy.