How leadership development and social justice are linked

The "traditional" leadership paradigm is based on having access to power. People with privileged identities (white people, cisgender men) have that access. They always have, so naturally they feel confident in that paradigm. This makes leadership less accessible to Black and brown people, and women of color. Suddenly, we have a social justice issue.

Rethinking leadership to be more inclusive

We need alternative models of leadership that resonate with marginalized people. These models are rarely top-down and hierarchical; instead, they are almost always community-based. We need to start teaching these models of leadership, not only to people with marginalized identities but also to those with privileged identities who want to see more diversity in their leadership ranks and want to build more inclusive organizations. If it's a priority to create diverse and inclusive cultures, it follows that we need more diverse and inclusive types of leadership.

Steps to reframing leadership

The first thing is to recognize leadership when you see it in people with marginalized and minoritized identities. Acknowledge and name it, because these folks aren't used to being referred to as leaders. Then create opportunities for them that provide access and visibility so they can move into leadership spaces.

It's also important to understand that not everyone wants to be the senior vice president. So, what does leadership look like for that person? A lot of times, it looks like being able to participate, feeling psychologically safe enough to contribute their thoughts, and taking on some part of the leadership process. How can a manager ensure that happens?

I'm a big fan of experience. There's so much great work to be done within an organization, whether that's joining an existing committee or starting one or looking broadly in your community for other opportunities. That develops wonderful skills and increases your network.

Also, for women and people of color especially, know that there is no one right way to be a leader. That's an outdated assumption. Understanding your unique value that you have as an individual matters. A lot of times it's going to be rooted in your lived experience. What are the values that you have derived from those experiences? Lead with that.

The shifting perspective on women’s leadership

COVID-19 put a fine point on what we already knew: women perform a disproportionate amount of the unpaid labor for our society, like caregiving and household tasks. These are impediments to our full participation in the workforce. We've arrived at this critical consciousness about the necessity of having more support from our organizations. I see this when women talk about the lack of flexible scheduling, the lack of remote or hybrid work arrangements, and the 24/7 work culture that is predicated on the assumption that there is someone at home doing the household and caregiving tasks.

Not every woman is a mother or parent, but it's assumed by our society that they will be. So even if you don't have kids, it is assumed that you might someday, and because of that, you're seen as potentially less committed and reliable. You're passed over for leadership opportunities. This is a social justice issue and women are frustrated, to say the least. I think we'll see more and more women moving into leadership roles to either create the change themselves to fix it, or because it's been fixed. Either way, it must be fixed. (571 words)

Alexis Kanda-Olmstead is the director of advancement talent management at Dartmouth College where she designs training and professional development programs for 250 staff. Kanda-Olmstead is the keynote speaker for National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 16 at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Her two sessions, "Stepping Up for Racial Justice" and "Breaking the Mold: Women’s Leadership in Fundraising," are sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. More information can be found at https://community.afpglobal.org/afpeasterniowa/home