Women Making History: Embodying Enlightened Leadership
March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of women to society, politics, science, literature, sports, and the arts. In this blog post, we honor the Global ATHENA Award Recipients who have broken down barriers, paving the way for all women. These women embody and exemplify The ATHENA Leadership Model (ALM), which represents a groundbreaking new dimension for 21st-century leadership. The ATHENA Leadership Model consists of eight core principles that comprise the essence of enlightened leadership by women we’ve admired, whose fierce advocacy and visionary aspirations lifted us in local, national, and international causes. ATHENA leaders are those who have been honored for their passionate championing of equality, justice, and opportunity for all women. Their impact has literally changed the world.
The Founder of ATHENA International, Martha Mertz, said it best when she said, "The stories of these incredible women inspire us all, as we seek to achieve our highest potential in life and leadership." In celebration of women's history month, we honor these Global ATHENA Recipients who have made great strides in the fields of science, literature, politics, law, sports, and the arts.
Advocate Fiercely: “Sí se puede” or “Yes we can”
Born in Dawson, Mexico and raised in Stockton, CA by a single mother, independence, and entrepreneurial spirit inspired Dolores Huerta to become a leader. Huerta credits her involvement in the Girl Scouts for helping her build the character and confidence she needed to become an activist, first as a teacher and then later as a union organizer. In 1962, she and César E. Chávez launched the National Farm Workers Association. One year later, Huerta helped secure aid for dependent families and disability insurance for farm workers in the State of California, and was truly instrumental in the creation of national legislation such as the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. She also assisted in organizing the Delano Grape Strike, one of the most important labor movements in American history.
At the age of 92, Dolores Huerta continues her activism by focusing on human rights issues, addressing the inequities of the most vulnerable members of society, and the importance of exercising the right to vote.
Giving Back: “To serve is to live.”
Frances Hesselbein served as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, from 1976 to 1990. Her model entitled, “Tradition with a Future” brought inclusivity and diversity to the organization. By 1990, participation had grown by 2.3 million with 15.5% minority membership. Throughout her career she worked to strengthen leadership in the social sector and was the first woman to be featured on the cover of BusinessWeek. She went on to serve as the Chairman of the Board and founding President of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, leading to the renaming of the organization in 2012 as Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute. As one of the most highly respected experts in the field of contemporary leadership development, she authored several books including, My Life in Leadership: The Journey and Lessons Learned Along the Way.
In 2022, Frances Hesselbein passed away at the age of 107, leaving behind a legacy of leadership globally, having traveled to 68 countries representing the United States.
Build Relationships: “Power is nothing unless you can turn it into influence.”
Condoleezza Rice was the first African American woman to serve as Secretary of State (2005-2009) and the first woman to serve as national security advisor (2001-2005.) She was ranked as the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2004 and 2005, and appeared four times on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 Most Influential People. In 2010, Rice became a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy. In January 2020, she was named director of the Hoover Institution. Also known to have broken down barriers for women in sports, Rice served as Chair of the NCAA’s Commission on College Basketball and in 2012 became one of the first women to be admitted to membership at Augusta National Golf Club. Rice recently joined the growing number of women in NFL football team ownership, having gained notoriety for her participation on the search committee for the Denver Bronco's new Head Coach.
Condoleezza Rice, along with former U.S. President George W. Bush, and former President of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, just spoke at the 20th anniversary of PEPFAR; the most successful U.S. foreign assistance program ever, having saved more than 25 million lives and currently operates in more than 50 countries.
Living Authentically: “Don’t let anyone define you. You define yourself.”
In 1990, Billie Jean King was named by Life magazine as one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century.” As a former ranked #1 world tennis player, she won 39 major titles. In 1972, King became only the fifth woman in tennis history to win the singles titles at all four Grand Slam events, dubbed a "Career Grand Slam". She also won a Career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. King retired from competitive tennis in 1984 and became the first woman commissioner with the World TeamTennis League. King is also the founder of the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. As a strong proponent for gender equality, she led the charge for equal pay for women tennis players. In 1973, King’s campaign for gender equality in sports received world-wide attention when she beat challenger Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” In 1981, she faced one of her biggest challenges in her life when she was outed as being gay, and subsequently lost nearly all her endorsements.
Today, King remains active and influential in her advocacy for gender equality, continuing to inspire female and LGBTQ athletes across the global. In honor of International Women’s Day 2023, King spoke at Know Your Value and Forbes' 30/50 summit in Abu Dhabi which focused on mentoring.
Ignite the Potential in Others
Together, we can lift as we rise and create a better world for all women. Thank you for your continued support of ATHENA International and our mission to empower women leaders worldwide.