This blog post has been authored by Tamara Loehr, Beusail
This world — our world — is reportedly in crisis. Yet there is a sense of calm. Change is a good thing as it presents an opportunity to make swift positive changes. We acknowledge we have definitely not been kind to the planet, ourselves or each other. We could look to government but with 80% of the backbone of the economy being underpinned by business, I see this as the real force that can bring about positive change for good.
In the existing paradigm of hustling, dog-eat-dog business arena it’s hard to see how this would eventuate. However, it will be the coming of age of women in business, and its approach in the feminine divine that will bring about the change that is needed. Different generations have had different champions for change, but this time, ladies and like-minded men, it is up to us right here, right now, to effect it.
We stand as women of commerce on the edge of a precipice. What we see is NOT to our liking. We want better – not only for us, but for every global citizen. Our mentors and predecessors have led us here. We are a product of not only our time, but of the eras that came before. From here, we take the mantle, and we forge a new path of stewardship and cooperation. The world needs us, and we will DO better.
We each have an important responsibility and a vital part to play in shaping the world we will ultimately leave to future generations. As business women, we are natural leaders. Our knowledge, our instincts, and compassion and our drive have brought us where we are now. What we did was rebuild parts of that old world, not by being good, but by being great… and by accepting the roles we needed to play to change minds and open eyes.
But we still have so much left to do. The world is calling for us again. It is showing us the disparity between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots. The impact of poverty, hunger, injustice, and inequality. The need for clean water, sanitation, education, justice, innovation, affordable clean energy, and sustainability. Yes, we will answer that call with the tenacity and ferocity we have as women. We will lead by example through corporate responsibility. We will leverage the power of industry and commerce to make this world a better place. Because as entrepreneurs who are also mothers, daughters, and sisters we developed a special kind of strength.
“Vive la difference,” the French used to say. While the first, pioneering businesswomen may have had to conform to the “rules of conduct” created by men, by embracing what have traditionally been considered “feminine” strengths, we have evolved our leadership style. Harvard Business Review noticed it. Men tend to exhibit “transactional leadership”. They are “bosses”, and it looks more like a hierarchy. Subordinates perform, and are rewarded for good work. Women, on the other hand, seem to practise more of a “transformational leadership”. We inspire. We consciously lead with head and heart. We use soft skills to get people to understand the broader goal, and shift self-interest into shared interest. We don’t just dictate; we inspire. We don’t just tell; we encourage. We don’t just see our employees as trees; they are living, breathing parts of a forest to nurture. (We don’t fish for people; we teach them how to fish — and we all know how much better that works out for everyone.)
As we look at the world around us, we can see where dictating what needs to happen has not worked. Even if we focus on this idea in the business world, we see how this approach reinforces division. We need cleaner energy — this is what this group of people must do. What if we invested our time, energy, and strengths into creating a more wide spread DESIRE for clean energy — including pointing out how, say, competing industries, would actually benefit from shared aspirations. How it just might end up being a win-win situation. How, really, these competitors have been wanting similar goals all along. How it’s not an “us or them” scenario, but rather an improvement for “all of us”. By building a sense of community and fostering common aims, instead of excluding and dividing, we can build momentum and advance our sustainable development goals with the wind at our backs. We will demonstrate how socially responsible, sustainable enterprises can not only survive, but thrive.
It is our duty to make this world a better one. It is our obligation to make that impact. We won’t just talk; we will act. We won’t just say; we will show. We won’t just promise; we will prove. We won’t push; we will LEAD. We won’t just reinvest, we will distrupt.
We aren’t content with “You’ve come a long way, Baby.” There is a long distance left to traverse. With our inner resources as women, and our outer resources as business leaders, not only can we see the paths that must be taken, we can pave the roads. We aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty because it is the most effective way to inspire others to get their hands dirty. And in so doing, we will start to build a sustainable, THRIVING future for those who will follow in our footsteps. Our successors will learn from us and cultivate an ambition to go even further. A walk that turns into a run. A spark that ignites. A ripple that grows into a tidal wave. And as we hand off the baton, we will beam with pride, because we made a commitment, here, today, to leave this world a better place than we found. Business provides us the ability to do this. Anyone who is in business or dreams of entrepreneurship done ethically.
Let the following sentiment from poet D.L. Lang, as it appears in “This Festival of Dreams” be our mantra:
“May we rebuild this world for the better,
having found enough gratitude in this cracked existence
to know exactly where to lay the cement of love.”
Beusail, a Gaelic word meaning moral, of good deed and intent, is a beauty and wellness online store that’s 100% ethical and impactful. All our products are Vegan, Cruelty-free certified, female-founded, indie (NOT produced in China) and give back. Every product has giving embedded, giving to the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Collectively our purchasing power can make a positive impact on the world, supporting female startups in the process. We simply need to switch to ethical female founded brands.