The Life and 8 Leadership Lessons of Empress Dowager Cixi

Empress Dowager Cixi is best known as “the concubine who rose to become Empress.”

That standard introduction serves as a reminder that she was initially a woman selected for sex. Or it could be used to humanize her and to downplay her extraordinary aptitude for overtaking and leading the powerful men of China.

Cixi (See-Chee) is traditionally depicted in one of two ways. Either as cruel and oppressive or as a reformist who modernized China and created a sense of pride by growing the Country’s power and influence.

In full disclosure, most research characterized her as the former. But, as I dug deeper, I found some light and hope in her life; and eight leadership lessons to take away. (Skip all the way down to get straight to the lessons.)

The Empress Dowager was nicknamed “Dragon Lady” and the “old master Buddha.” She was buried with nearly $1.6M in silver and jewelry, and her funeral lasted 12 months.

It’s estimated that her net worth at the time of her death was $10 Trillion. And whatever may be said against her, a lot can also be said for her.