Empowering Female Leaders: My Journey with Illuminate Universe

By Lily Di Gasbarro

As I enter my final year at Ivey Business School, I am eager to embrace the leadership roles within my school community. Looking ahead to graduation, my goal is to establish myself as a female leader in the traditionally male-dominated field of asset management. To enhance my leadership skills, I participated in Illuminate Universe’s Women in Leadership learning experience. This learning experience has significantly contributed to my growth as a leader and aspiring professional, an experience for which I am both grateful and proud of. 

Unlocking Leadership Potential 

If you are a young woman preparing to enter the corporate world, this educational experience is designed specifically for you. Through this learning experience, you will gain the following key insights:

• Diverse Leadership Styles: Learn about various leadership styles, from autocratic to transformational. Understanding these styles and knowing when to apply them will equip you to lead effectively in any situation.

• Essential Leadership Skills: Discover the core components of effective leadership. Learn how to communicate effectively, make sound decisions, and solve problems efficiently. These skills are crucial for any aspiring leader's success in the workplace.

• Personal Brand Development: Cultivate your unique leadership style to stand out in your field. Building on your authentic self and strengths will help you inspire your team and form lasting professional relationships.

• Advanced Communication Techniques: Enhance your communication skills by developing emotional intelligence, mastering conflict resolution, and recognizing gender differences in communication. Learn to build a supportive network that will bolster your leadership journey.

• Overcoming Stereotypes: Equip yourself to navigate and overcome the stereotypes often faced by women in leadership roles, particularly in male-dominated fields such as business and STEM. Understanding how to challenge these barriers will empower you to succeed and drive positive change within your organization.

Strengths of the Learning Experience

As someone who has taken numerous leadership learning experiences throughout high school and university, I have often found them heavily focused on leadership theory rather than the practical application of leadership skills. This learning experience, however, stood out by posing guiding questions that encouraged us to reflect on our own leadership styles and identify areas for personal growth.

The emphasis on communication being more than just speaking is particularly significant. In a communications class at Ivey earlier this year, I learned that active listening is the most critical aspect of communication. Active listening involves being fully present in a conversation, asking clarifying questions, maintaining consistent eye contact, and listening to understand rather than simply to respond. While many educational settings emphasize developing strong presentation skills, this learning experience offers valuable tips for enhancing listening skills, which are even more crucial.

Additionally, the learning experience addresses imposter syndrome, which is the feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy despite evident success. Many women in leadership roles or those aspiring to leadership positions often struggle with this. For instance, women in STEM university programs frequently feel less deserving than their male counterparts. This learning experience explores strategies to combat imposter syndrome, empowering women to become the best versions of ourselves.

Impactful Leadership Lessons from the Learning Experience

The Women in Leadership learning experience and its capstone project has significantly boosted my confidence as a leader. I gained three main takeaways from this enriching experience:

1. Embracing Differences in Gendered Communication Styles: While men often exhibit a more direct and active communication style, women tend to communicate in a more nuanced and emotionally oriented manner. These differences are not inherently negative; instead, they can be effectively leveraged in various situations. It’s important to recognize that these are generalizations—women can be direct, and men can be emotional. Therefore, we should avoid making assumptions about someone's communication style based on gender. 

1. Advancing Gender Equality: Although significant progress has been made towards gender equality, much work remains to empower women and girls. My capstone project focused on Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the impactful and resilient Supreme Court Justice. Through researching and writing about her experiences, I gained insight into the strides society has made in promoting equal rights for women. However, gender bias and discrimination persist in the workplace, highlighting the need for continued initiatives and programs to support women.

1. The Importance of Networking: Building a strong network is crucial to a woman's success. Mentorship and guidance from established female leaders are vital for developing future female leaders. Receiving advice and support from strong female role models can significantly shape a woman’s leadership journey.

These takeaways have not only enhanced my understanding of leadership but also equipped me with practical strategies to thrive and support others in their leadership endeavours.

Encouraging Positivity, Resilience, and Personal Growth

The learning experience designed by Illuminate Universe fosters positivity, resilience, and personal growth among students through three key strategies and messages:

1. Encouraging Self-Reflection and Personal Development

• Self-Assessment Tools: Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal strengths and weaknesses through guided activities. For instance, the learning experience includes reflection questions that prompt students to analyze their past leadership experiences and identify areas for improvement. For me, the questions invited me to reflect on my confidence in the workplace and develop strategies to articulate my ideas better. 

• Goal Setting: This reflection process helps students set personal and professional goals, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. By focusing on growth and development, students cultivate a positive mindset. 

1. Building Emotional Intelligence

• Active Listening and Empathy: The learning experience emphasizes the importance of active listening and empathy, enabling students to maintain emotional balance and resilience in challenging situations.

• Conflict Resolution Strategies: Students learn to develop their leadership skills by mastering conflict resolution techniques and considering diverse viewpoints. The learning experience allowed me to reflect on past educational and workplace conflicts and consider the viewpoints of others, and in turn, develop empathy for their point of view. 

1. Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity

• Understanding Different Perspectives: The learning experience underscores the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and creativity.

• Challenging Stereotypes: Illuminate Universe addresses topics like gender biases and cultural stereotypes, encouraging students to challenge their assumptions and advocate for a more inclusive environment.

My Leadership Journey and Development

This experience has profoundly enriched my understanding of leadership as a woman, allowing me to reflect deeply on my personal development and identify areas for growth. I gained valuable insights into enhancing my emotional intelligence and effective strategies for its development. Moreover, I recognized the critical importance of expanding and leveraging my professional network. While my leadership style has historically been more transactional, I now see the potential for greater effectiveness by incorporating democratic and transformational elements.

For example, during my time as a counsellor at an overnight summer camp in 2022 and 2023, I often motivated my campers with positive rewards for positive behaviours. While this transactional approach was effective for the younger age group, I believe a transformational approach could have been even more impactful. Instead of incentivizing the children with fun activities and treats, I could have given them the opportunity to be cabin leaders for the day, fostering their own leadership development. This strategy builds confidence and a sense of personal identity, especially in teenagers.

The learning experience highlighted several practices I already employ, such as setting meeting agendas, encouraging participation, and managing time efficiently, which contribute to my effectiveness as a leader. In my current position as the Administrative and Accountability Officer on the HBAA (Honours in Business Administration Association) at Ivey, it is my responsibility to ensure meetings follow the outlined agenda and are documented accordingly. This ensures meetings do not run overtime and that officers stick to the decided-upon talking points.

Additionally, the learning experience offered new strategies to further refine my leadership, such as building a supportive network by celebrating achievements and providing constructive feedback to team members. Moving forward, I intend to seek out additional feedback on my performance from the supervisors at my two internships to develop my leadership skills further. By utilizing my school’s alumni network and social media platforms like LinkedIn, I can continue to build my network of professionals and seek mentors in the asset management field.

My Leadership Journey: Key Insights and Tips for Aspiring Female Leaders

After completing this learning experience, I have made significant changes to my leadership style and practices. Through these implementations, I've identified several strategies that are particularly effective in becoming a strong leader. If I were to mentor a young girl or an aspiring female leader, I would offer her the following five tips to foster her growth:

1. Leverage Your Unique Strengths

Identify and embrace the qualities that make you unique. Whether it's your ability to innovate, your collaborative spirit, or your strategic thinking, leveraging your strengths can set you apart and drive your success.

1. Seek Out Leadership Opportunities

Actively pursue roles and projects that allow you to develop and demonstrate your leadership skills. Volunteer for challenging assignments, lead team initiatives, or take on positions in professional organizations. For university students like me, this can involve getting involved in extracurricular activities on your campus or taking on a part-time job to acquire new skills.

1. Develop Resilience

Cultivate the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Resilience helps you maintain focus and motivation in the face of adversity and can inspire confidence in your team. A strategy I find effective is taking a step back from a challenge, relaxing and reflecting overnight, and returning with a fresh perspective the next day. This break can help generate new solutions and renewed energy.

1. Find and Use Your Voice

Be assertive and articulate in expressing your ideas, opinions, and vision. Effective communication is key to influencing others and driving change. This was particularly challenging for me when I started one of my internships as the only woman on the organization’s staff. However, garnering the courage to speak up was appreciated by the team, and I earned their respect through my contributions.

1. Seek Feedback and Act on It

Regularly ask for feedback from colleagues, mentors, and team members. Use this input to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to your leadership approach. I like to take notes when receiving feedback, so I can review and remember it for future reference. This practice helps ensure continuous growth and refinement of my leadership skills.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, my journey through the Women in Leadership learning experience has been transformative, equipping me with invaluable insights and practical strategies for effective leadership. I look forward to employing the skills and lessons learned in the learning experience in both educational and professional atmospheres.

As I enter my final year of university and get ready to start my career, I am empowered by the growth achieved through this learning experience. To all aspiring female leaders, remember to leverage your strengths, seek opportunities, and embrace resilience. Your journey may be challenging, but with determination and the right support, you can break barriers and achieve greatness. Let’s continue to inspire and empower each other, driving positive change in the world. Together, we can redefine leadership and create a more inclusive and equitable future.