International Women’s Day 2025: Leadership lessons from 6 inspiring women

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting six extraordinary female thought leaders who have shared their insights with the Vistage community. From Angela Duckworth’s groundbreaking research on grit to Kat Cole’s emphasis on curiosity and Barbara Corcoran’s entrepreneurial wisdom, these women have shaped industries and inspired leaders with their bold perspectives.

Their insights reveal a unifying theme: Great leadership is about perspective — how we see challenges, opportunities, and, ultimately, ourselves.

1. Angela Duckworth: The Power of Grit in Leadership

Renowned psychologist Angela Duckworth has spent years researching what separates top performers from the rest. Her conclusion? Grit — passion and perseverance for long-term goals — is a defining trait of world-class achievers.

Grit isn’t about natural talent or intelligence; rather, it’s the ability to persist through setbacks, stay committed to long-term goals, and practice with intention. As Duckworth explained in her recent talk to Vistage members, world-class performers — from CEOs to athletes — are distinguished by their ability to stay focused on a goal for years, even decades.

Her research also highlights the importance of deliberate practice — the idea that improvement requires focused effort, immediate feedback and repetition. Leaders who cultivate this mindset within their teams foster cultures of resilience, learning, and high performance.

Most importantly, Duckworth reminds us that grit is not just an individual trait — it can be built within organizations. Leaders who model perseverance, embrace a growth mindset and encourage their teams to overcome challenges and create a culture of grit that drives long-term success.

2. Lisa Bodell: Avoiding the Complexity Trap

In a world of increasing complexity, Lisa Bodell challenges leaders to embrace simplification as a competitive advantage. During the Vistage 2024 Business Growth CEO Conference Bodell emphasized that most organizations are burdened by unnecessary processes, bureaucracy, and outdated ways of thinking — all of which stifle innovation.

One of the biggest challenges leaders face is what Bodell calls “The Complexity Trap,” a cycle of busyness that creates the illusion of productivity while actually reducing impact. She identifies 4 key pitfalls that keep leaders stuck in this trap: mistaking organization for simplification, adding more without subtracting, managing instead of leading, and doing without thinking.

Bodell urges leaders to schedule time for deep thinking, eliminate unnecessary processes and reward simplification as much as expansion. She argues that innovation and success don’t come from adding complexity but from removing the unnecessary to focus on what truly matters.

3. Cindy Solomon on Courageous Leadership: The Power of Taking Risks

According to Cindy Solomon, keynote speaker at the 2024 Women in Leadership event in San Antonio, courage isn’t about fearlessness or grand gestures. It’s about taking action despite uncertainty. Women leaders often underestimate their own courage, when in reality, they make brave decisions every day. Whether it’s advocating for themselves, stepping into leadership roles, or making tough calls in the workplace, these moments define courageous leadership.

She highlights the 4 types of courage that leaders must master:

• Blind Courage: the leap of faith that drives innovation.
• Role Courage: which stems from expertise and experience.
• Crisis Courage: the ability to respond decisively in high-stakes moments.
• Core Courage: the unwavering commitment to values and long-term goals.

Solomon urges leaders to leverage their strengths, build strong support networks, and create a culture that encourages courage. Women in leadership need allies but also active advocates who challenge workplace biases and create more opportunities for rising leaders.

Above all, Solomon reminds us that everything you want for your business and life is just outside your comfort zone. Courageous leadership is about pushing beyond that edge — again and again.

4. Barbara Corcoran: The Entrepreneurial Edge

Barbara Corcoran’s journey from a struggling waitress to a self-made real estate mogul is a testament to the power of bold thinking and unwavering confidence. In her presentation at the 2022 Business Growth National CEO Conference, she credited much of her success to perception and mindset, believing that how you present yourself shapes how the world sees you. “Dream the painting, then paint the dream,” she advised, underscoring the power of visualization in creating success.

She also stresses the role of resilience in business, drawing from her own experiences of bouncing back after setbacks. According to Corcoran, the most successful entrepreneurs aren’t the ones who never fail — they’re the ones who get up every time they do. This sentiment aligns with a famous Japanese proverb shared by Duckworth in her presentation “Fall 7, rise 8.”

Perhaps Corcoran’s most compelling insight is that failure isn’t an end — it’s a beginning. She urges leaders to see downturns as opportunities, noting that some of her biggest wins came right after major losses. This is especially applicable to small and midsize business leaders managing through today’s uncertainty.

5. Kat Cole: Leading with Humility and Curiosity

Kat Cole’s journey from a restaurant hostess to the president and COO of major global brands is a powerful example of transformational leadership. The approach she shared at the 2022 Women in Leadership National Conference? Lead with humility, curiosity, and confidence.

Cole learned early in her career that frontline employees often hold the key insights into what works — and what doesn’t — within an organization. Instead of assuming leadership always has the answers, she encourages leaders to stay close to their teams and ask the right questions. She calls this the “Ask-Answer-Act” framework: Engage with employees, listen with intent, and then take meaningful action.

She also emphasizes that leaders don’t have to be the smartest person in the room; they need to be the most curious. By remaining open to learning, embracing the perspectives of those around them and staying agile, leaders can build cultures of innovation and adaptability.

Most importantly, Cole believes that being present and responsive — rather than distant and reactive — is what distinguishes great leaders. Instead of just talking about servant leadership, she demonstrates it through action.

6. Indra Nooyi: The 5 C’s of Leadership

For Indra Nooyi, leadership isn’t just about driving business results — it’s about developing a holistic approach that sustains organizations and the people within them. As the former CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo, Nooyi distilled her leadership philosophy into what she calls the “5 C’s of Leadership”, a framework that defines the qualities of an exceptional leader.

The first pillar, Competency, is foundational. Nooyi stresses that leaders must be highly skilled in their fields, mastering existing knowledge and committing to lifelong learning to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. However, expertise alone is not enough. The second trait, Courage and Confidence, ensures that leaders have the conviction to make bold decisions and the resilience to stand by them, even in the face of adversity.

The third pillar, Communication, serves as the bridge between vision and execution. Nooyi believes that great leaders don’t just speak well — they listen well. By articulating a compelling vision while actively engaging with their teams, leaders can foster collaboration and alignment. But consistency is just as critical. Nooyi’s fourth principle, Consistency, underscores the idea that trust is built through repeated, reliable actions. Leaders who create stability through consistency cultivate a workplace where employees feel secure, valued, and empowered.

Finally, Compass refers to a leader’s moral and ethical foundation. Nooyi argues that “a highly competent, courageous, confident person who communicates brilliantly with great curiosity, with low integrity (compass), is worthless.” These 5 Cs provide a roadmap for leaders who want to navigate complexity while staying true to their values.

Leading with Perspective: The Common Thread

Across all 6 leaders, a common thread emerges: Great leadership isn’t about titles or authority — it’s about mindset, action, and impact.

• Grit and perseverance drive long-term success.
• Ethical leadership, courage and consistency shape strong organizations.
• Simplification and focus lead to innovation and progress.
• Curiosity and humility keep leaders connected and adaptable.
• Confidence and resilience turn setbacks into stepping stones.

Ultimately, leadership is about showing up, constantly learning, making bold choices and supporting others.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s not just recognize the achievements of female leaders — let’s learn from them.

Related Resources

Women in Leadership Resource Center

Great books for women in leadership

0 views