The “next normal”

I’m still buzzing from the Watermark Changemakers Conference on March 25. There was so much passion, heart and authenticity on display. And while our panelists came from varied industries, what emerged was a vision of leadership that could — will! — transform how we work, live and relate to one another.

Among the lessons that are sticking with me:

• Leading with empathy starts with ourselves. After so much stress and tragedy this year, it’s non-negotiable to focus on our mental health and well-being. Actor, activist and entrepreneur Rosario Dawson says that for too long she equated stress with success: “Stressing out does not mean you’re serious.” Poet and author Cleo Wade put it succinctly, as she always does: “Self-love says, ‘I love you.’ Self-care says, ‘Prove it.’”
• Compassion helps us solve problems. “If you never practice taking care of your emotional fitness, you cannot bring your best to the challenges you face, or help others,” said Happier author Nataly Kogan. Even the climate scientists on our panel made the connection between acceptance of our vulnerability and creating a more sustainable world: “Our biggest issue is psychological distance,’ said Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy. “We think we can’t make a difference through our actions.”
• Owning your story is crucial. Humanitarian Zainab Salbi, basketball coach Edniesha Curry, and football coach Dr. Jen Welter all faced doubts and doubters. They thrived by “jumping out of the box” others put them in and embracing their own unique journeys. “We didn’t get to the position we’re in in our lives just by looking over our shoulders,” said Curry.
• Authenticity has a ripple effect. Telling your story inspires the people around you. “Every time you use your voice, your power and your privilege to show the world exactly who you are,” says disability activist Tiffany Yu, “you’re paving the way for all of us who thought that invisibility would be our method of survival.”

There is no going “back to normal.” ‘Normal’ doesn’t cut it if we truly want a more just, equitable and sustainable world. “We have to be able to bounce forward,” said Sandra Rivera, Chief People Officer at Intel, “not just bounce back.”

The ‘next normal’ is still under construction, of course, and it would be all too easy to backslide. But women leaders like the ones who joined us at Changemakers are setting a new agenda. “Part of redefining what success looks like is redefining what leadership looks like,” said Bo Young Lee, Chief Diversity Officer at Uber.

I’m feeling hopeful, optimistic, committed — and grateful that you are with us on the journey. — Peggy Northrop, CEO, Watermark