TV Lady Bosses We Love

In the age of red carpets and action figures, there are plenty of notable women we’re told to look up to as style icons, but what about BOSS ICONS? Women characters who not only break the mold of the one-dimensional women so often written by men, but women we aspire to emulate in the ways we negotiate conflict, manage staff, and mentor future generations.  

Here’s a look at some formidable women who’ve graced our televisions over the last decade, and what we can learn from their triumphs, challenges, and (in some cases) outright mistakes.  

Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation

No job is beneath you. It’s important to own your power and expertise, but there’s also something to be said for staying humble. Even as a leader in her city, Leslie Knope makes her own copies, assembles her own binders, and spends a day as a sanitation worker to show women can do anything. We all have tasks we don’t like to do, but leaders worth following aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work themselves. Be the right amount of positive. We attract the energy we put out in the universe, furthermore we affect the energy and headspace of the people around us.  Whether it be employees, clients, or peers, it’s easy to forget that no matter how much we think we internalize our stress, it’s still floats in our orbit. No one has to be Mary Sunshine 100% of the time, but being aware of your energy goes a long way. Listen to the people you mentor as much as you talk to them. No matter how many decades of experience you have, there’s always more to learn.  Not only should you listen to your mentees to keep them on the right path, but fresh eyes and ideas are valuable! Even when those ideas are coming from someone with less experience, listen.

Olivia Pope, Scandal Olivia Pope was a Lawyer, Campaign Manager, White House Communications Director, and eventually an entrepreneur as head of Olivia Pope and Associates. Her terrible choices in relationships aside, there’s a lot more to unpack about her leadership style than her hankering for red wine and outstanding wardrobe color palettes. Take care of your people. It doesn’t get simpler than that.  Take care of your people and they’ll take care of you.  Olivia Pope assembled a team with a wide variety of skills and attributes, but one thing they all have in common, is that they have each other’s backs. The occasional squabble is bound to happen, but your team is always #1. It’s okay to admit defeat. Even Gladiators fail sometimes, but our failures don’t define us. Our response to it, however, speaks volumes. After every stumble, Olivia Pope stood back up every time.  

 Continue Reading This Blog : TV Lady Bosses We Love