Every year we host fantastic female role models for Girls of Steel.  Past speakers include Julia Parsons, WWII codebreaker; Carnegie Mellon University Professors Henny Admoni and Jessica Hodgins; and PPG executive Rebecca Liebert.

Girls of Steel was pleased to have Leanne Meyer, the Executive Director of the Accelerate Leadership Center at the Tepper School of Business and Program Director of the Carnegie Mellon Leadership and Negotiation Academy for Women, speak at one of our meetings. 

Leanne began her mission in South Africa and was inspired by events that occurred in her home country. Her mission is to assist leaders around the world to navigate their business life in the best way possible as well as making sure that everyone feels confident in themselves and the work that they are doing. 

She discussed this with Girls of Steel by diving into the concept of being a leader and how women face challenges throughout their careers by trying to be successful. We could all remember a time when we were told that we should not be leaders or that we were being “bossy.” 

Leanne’s inspirational speech helped to remind us that we are capable of being leaders and should never feel guilty about doing so. We need to own the word “bossy” and replace its negative connotation with one of power and independence. 

She left us with this definition of leadership: “Leadership is using the greatness in you to achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes by engaging the greatness of others.” by Susan L. Calantuono, CEO of Leading Women.