The Perryville Prison ATHENA World Café

Leadership in Prison by Martha Mertz, founder, Athena International

I wish you could have been with me. I had been invited to speak about leadership at a women’s prison in Arizona. My friends knew how worried I was, not about the prospect of going to the prison, but about truly touching hearts and minds there. It started with the warden. She seemed quite stern to me, as a warden would be, responsible for adhering to expectations and standards. I was already out of the box when I called her to ask for a microphone which would allow me the freedom to walk around while speaking, and permission to bring in colorful tablecloths – to provide a different atmosphere for an ATHENA World Café. She didn’t have the mike but she granted me the right for the color and I hurriedly gathered 16 tablecloths out of my cupboards and from my friends.

This was to be the final talk of the year for women in the minimum security block. I’d had good coaching from a former resident who advised that I not wear anything orange (inmates) or brown (authorities). I was also blessed to be accompanied by three college interns and a seasoned volunteer.

The skies were darkening and the security was tight as the five of us with sacks of books, donated to bolster the library, piles of tablecloths and other paraphernalia entered the prison grounds. Obviously, we were expected. From a side door someone rolled a large cart over to greet us and help ferry the supplies into the large building where our meeting would be held.

Walking into that setting framed the beginning of an entirely different reality, a little like walking into a movie. It was a large room that usually serves as the cafeteria. There were 125 orange clad women already seated at tables (I was informed later that they had worn their dress oranges for the occasion) and the atmosphere was expectant, quietly buzzing.

I met the warden at the front of the room. She was cautiously cordial as she pointed out the karaoke microphone she’d managed to commandeer for the evening. For that I was exceedingly grateful, which pleased her. Then, as the interns spread the tablecloths and placed a sign with one of the eight “principles” on each table, I asked that everyone be allowed to blindly pick from a basket a slip of paper, each with one principle, in order to identify the table where they’d be re-seated. This is my standard procedure for a World Café. It sorts people away from their friends into new groups. She told me that each table had been arranged according to the yard the women lived in and that wouldn’t be possible. I told her that bringing people together with new faces was part of building relationships, important for my exercise. She cast her head back thinking she’d say no but in a very magical instant something changed and she agreed. The concessions she made set a tone for the rest of the evening. My hat is off to her for bending what I was later to learn a never-bent rule. Of course the mass re-seating was a momentarily chaotic scene which must have caused some heartburn for those in charge, but I was thrilled.

So we began. The first part was spent explaining the format of a World Café and then I launched into a description of each of the leadership principles. Leadership was framed as something that all of us deal with, beginning with the idea of “leading” our lives, being first of all responsible for ourselves. The room was raptly attentive. I watched people begin to nod in agreement as one point or another resonated with them.

Then the assignments began. The first is a request that each table (of 8) introduce themselves to each other and then adopt a team name and motto. They are only given 5-6 minutes to do this so there’s always a sense of urgency. I’d been warned that requests for creative expressions were often really difficult for this group. We’d provided butcher block paper and a few marking pens (both of which I’d inadvertently neglected to have sanctioned ahead of time) at each table. What happened next was amazing. Everyone started talking, drawing, laughing, and discussing. The energy was electric. I watched the warden, off to the side. Her face reflected what seemed like disbelief. When I brought the participants attention back and asked one from each table to report to the entire group, I gave them the option of speaking from the table or coming to the mike. In every case they came to the mike. Again I thought the warden was surprised.

They’d obviously had fun with this. The creative juices were alive and flowing. The large sheets were filled with thoughts, flowers, pictures. Now, I’d wish I’d kept them. The only team name I can recall was the one called “MOJO Collaborators”, which the authors richly enjoyed. After each presentation the entire audience roared in appreciation. They were together in a quest and enjoying the opportunity.

Next I asked them for the real focus of this evening. “What kind of difference would it make if these leadership principles were practiced in that setting?” This time they became more serious, still drawing and outlining their thoughts on paper. When it was time to report out the hands went up – people wanting to be the first to share what they’d talked about.

The statements from these women would have moved you to tears. They were caring, thoughtful, heartfelt, ardent. People were engaged in a personal exploration and the wish to be heard. We had time for one more such exercise and then an open question – what would our world look like if everyone practiced these principles? I watched the warden. She was now wandering through the room, listening to the conversations, occasionally adding her comments – she was learning too.

As we drew to a close the group stood, vociferously appreciative of the moment. They were also appreciating the warden, as I was, who by then was broadly beaming. Everyone had been touched because we’d dared to share very private thoughts, hopes and dreams that evening.

I’ve had the privilege of talking about leadership in hundreds of cities and more than a handful of countries to people who are celebrated as leaders, but never before to women who have temporarily lost footing in the world. In this circumstance, well more than in any previous World Café session, I witnessed profound hunger for the chance at recommitment, at reviewing and reshaping values, at the thought of making a positive difference throughout one’s sphere of influence.

I’m recommitting too, hoping for the chance to make a difference in this way again

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Fostering Leadership at ATHENA

ATHENA International is a nonprofit organization with an important mission: supporting, developing and honoring women leaders. ATHENA hosted its Leadership Summit in Chicago earlier this month rolling out the Leadership Circle. Women of the World is a partner organization to ATHENA. The story begins with Martha Mertz (pictured right).

Martha Mertz founded ATHENA International in 1982 with the hope of providing women the opportunity to grow in leadership roles worldwide. As a prominent businesswoman, she found that women were often overlooked as influencers and rarely honored with awards in these positions. With passion and purpose, Martha shifted the landscape. She created panels of professionals, offering mentoring and training programs to women. Each year I am delighted to attend the Athena Leadership Summit in Chicago where women are not only awarded for their vision and skills, but I am inspired by the quality of passionate women both attendees and speakers who ignite creativity and foster collaboration. Martha eventually stepped aside from the Presidency in ATHENA, developing new Athena leadership and enabling her to promote ATHENA's message worldwide as the ATHENA ambassador. Martha remains a board member and active participant in the organization.

What makes Martha so inspirational? Not only did she found a major organization, but she created a space for women leaders to share, mentor, connect and be honored. Martha saw a gap between male and female leaders, sought to elevate those under-recognized women and create equal acknowledgment and appreciation for men and women.

Today, one of the cornerstones of ATHENA is the Leadership Model. Martha Mertz interviewed hundreds of ATHENA Award recipients and compiled their prominent traits and driving beliefs. The point of the model, Martha explains, is “to distill these distinctive ways of leading into a blueprint that aspiring leaders could follow.”
The ATHENA Leadership Model follows these eight tenets of leadership:
• Live authentically
• Learn constantly
• Advocate fiercely
• Act courageously
• Foster collaboration
• Build relationships
• Give back
• Celebrate

Women of the World applauds Martha for her support of women locally and globally. Thank you for your promotion, mentorship, and inspiration to other women. We know Martha’s book Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership will serve as a stepping stone to implement your leadership skills. Go forth and inspire!

ATHENA Leadership Summit Inspires!

How do you get inspired? By spending two fabulous days at the ATHENA International Leadership Summit April 5/6, 2010! Women of the World attended & exhibited at this year’s summit which focused on the topic Advancing Women’s Leadership: Leading Authentically. The conference drew nationally recognized businesswomen, authors, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. A myriad of prominent women from around the globe spoke on topics such as social media, networking, international business, social change and living an inspired, healthy life. Bottom line: Once again, ATHENA created an amazing program that provided cutting edge information from empowered women, creating new opportunities and strategic relationships for all.

So how can Women of the World cover the leadership summit in one blog post? We’re going deeper and wider, instead providing a 3 part series on the movers and shakers of the Leadership Summit. It’s like the Academy Awards, so much talent, not enough bandwidth to showcase them all. We begin with Catherine Lee (pictured right), the founder and president of CDL & Associates. She is an outstanding communicator and a thought leader in the world of international business. We follow with the divine Martha Mertz, founder of ATHENA International and the inspiration to corporate, become entrepreneurial and recognize emerging leaders worldwide. We will conclude the series with the powerful, passionate and purposeful Shawne Duperon, who ignites the room with her energy. She has taught thousands of the people the tools they need to network- it’s no wonder she has won five EMMY Awards and is a cornerstone in the television business. These empowered, focused, and influential women shared their knowledge with the hundreds of attendees. Women of the World would like to pay it forward with our eyes, ears and heart.

Our first shining star: Catherine Lee. She participated in the panel Fierce Advocacy at the International Level and Catherine was the first to speak. Although there were technical difficulties, Catherine laughed it off, knew her material and gave an outstanding talk on the strengths that women have in international business and the necessary awareness of other cultures when conducting business abroad. Catherine has conducted extensive amounts of business in Asia, particularly China. Her work abroad has given her insights into the differences in doing business with people domestically versus abroad. According to her calculations, in the next ten years 40-60% of business will be conducted with those offshore. With so much business being performed with those abroad, it is crucial to be fluent in the cultural etiquette: know and understand the values, ideas and tendencies of other cultures and be prepared to communicate effectively and politely with people from other nations.

When stressing cross-cultural competency, Catherine discussed how she finds women to be particularly well suited to do business with Asian cultures because so much of what is expected from American women coincides with their cultural norms. Feminine qualities that are stressed in US culture tend to include listening, empathy, intuition and humility. All of these qualities are key in having success in business relationships abroad. Catherine spoke of her struggles trying to navigate the US corporate system as a woman: be strong, but not aggressive, be kind, but never a doormat, be intelligent and accomplished, but don’t toot your own horn. Attempting to follow these cultural requirements for women often becomes both difficult and frustrating. However, when bringing her finely honed soft skills to the international business arena, Catherine found herself well suited (much more than her male counterparts!) to be a success. Those “feminine qualities” such as humility were well received and a necessity if successful business was to occur abroad. Catherine had found her niche.

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, women need to take the skills and qualities in which we excel and turn them to the world at large. Catherine is an example of how women are prepared and ready to move to the forefront of international business. As relationship builders and maintainers, Catherine believes that now more than ever is the time for women to step up and realize our potential in the global market.

Catherine Lee is both the founder and president of CDL & Associates, which focuses on international negotiations, communications and multi-national team building. Catherine has been the president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and has consulted with major multinational corporations. Catherine is an inspiration to women in business. If you want to know more about Catherine Lee and speak with her directly, she is offering her thought leadership as a panelist at Women of the World’s next event “International Engagement & Opportunity”! We hope you will be as excited and inspired as we are by Catherine.