Reflections & Inspiration

Reflections

How crazy is it that in 2022, girls and women are still told (if not expressly, then implicitly): • Be seen, not heard • Stay in your lane • Assertive = Bossy And I could go on and on. In my work, we teach girls skills that equip them to understand that they possess unique qualities and deserve to be seen; they have a voice and it deserves to be heard; they can run in any lane they choose; and they can be leaders that impact their communities for the benefit of all.

Which brings me to this issue in which we highlight the variety of ways in which the women of our community are SEEN, are HEARD and are LEADING THE WAY. Starting with the powerful cover photo from Danielle Laws of Baronial Designs Photography, we bring you stories about: • Fall’s Evening of Empowerment with Marissa Orr • The women behind the W2W organization, our Winter 2023 Women2Know • How to be a powerful public speaker (and how to get over the fear of it) • The Vote, featuring our own local women political leaders • Chloe Ciferri and The Adalyn Rose Foundation • and so much more!

All of these articles are by women and about women who will not sit on the sidelines, but who exert and exemplify leadership in ways small and large for the benefit of us all. Be SEEN, be HEARD, pick whichever lane you want and hey, be BOSSY. Most of all, LEAD THE WAY! Kirsten P. Haas

Kirsten P. Haas Executive Director, Girls on the Run Berks County Managing Editor, W2W Magazine

The opinions expressed here by are solely the opinion of the author. They have not been read by nor approved by Girls on the Run® and do not necessarily represent the views nor opinions of Girls on the Run®. Inspiration

“Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.”*

Since childhood, when we think of leaders, we tend to look upwards and to name as leaders the individuals in charge. Our teachers, our scout troop leaders or even among other kids, the captain of the kickball team. And certainly, many of the people who fill these roles are leaders. In fact, many of them are good, even great leaders. However, as the opening quote states, leadership cannot be reduced to simply a role or a title.

Leaders put themselves at the disposal of others, putting their experience and knowledge out there to be shared as well as being open to learning. Leaders do not aspire to position or title for the sake of it but rather as a way to empower others, mobilize resources and problem-solve. Leaders are authentic, humble and willing to learn from failure. Leaders are willing to be held accountable and to take responsibility. The women leaders who inspire me are colleagues, industry peers, girlfriends and family members, all who serve in a variety of roles. I learn not from their accolades nor the length of their experience but rather from the breadth of their experience and on how their experience is different from mine. By taking in the view from eye-level, I found leadership that runs the gamut, all of which enrichens and inspires me. So, the next time you are pressed to name a leader, resist the temptation to only look up and instead, cast your gaze at the leaders who surround you, day in and day out. You will find that leaders are ALL AROUND US!

*Joanne Ciulla, Director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School