What Makes a (Woman) Leader?
You may be familiar with Daniel Goleman’s article, “What Makes a Leader?” It’s been considered a groundbreaking piece that is often referenced when discussing leadership and emotional intelligence. No doubt, it offers critical insight; however, it fails to acknowledge gendered differences in leadership and the “labyrinth” women must navigate to take their rightful place at the helm. Women and men have different paths to the top, with women holding far fewer high-level leadership positions. Intersectional factors have an even greater impact on one’s ability to climb the ladder. As Goleman points out, research demonstrates that emotional intelligence is a key factor in leadership success. Yet, women and men display different strengths in EI. Likewise, a lifetime of operating in male dominated spaces have created particular…