Most Influential Women applicants awe judge

So many organizations served.

So much money raised.

So many people mentored.

So many decisions to make on the judges rating forms!

As I pored over the nomination forms for Springfield Business Journal’s 2007 Most Influential Women and read the letters of support, I found myself sitting back in my chair at one point and saying, “Wow.”

I thought I knew this community, and the people who serve it; obviously, there is more to learn.

I had no idea so many local women had published scholarly papers in major journals. Or that so many open their homes to foreign students, chair fundraising campaigns, and write mystery novels in their spare time.

I found more speakers and grant writers than I knew existed in this area. I found women who were the first – and still, sometimes, the only – women in the boardroom.

I found women who represent our community nationally and even internationally through their work or volunteer commitments. I was awed by the caliber of women, and felt totally incapable of reducing their individual accomplishments to a ranking. And yet, in order to begin to honor these women, it had to be done.

So, I looked at who nominated them, and at the depth of their letters of support. After all, women of influence rarely call themselves that and are often adverse to what my grandmother called “tooting your own horn.” Others, who work with them in some capacity, have the freedom to tell us a little more.

I looked at their attitudes toward mentoring and gave extra points for those who could cite an example of working with others. I loved the nominee who said, “True leadership isn’t afraid of grooming others who may one day surpass you.”

I looked at the number of volunteer commitments and was overwhelmed at how many of the nominees worked in five or more organizations at the same time. These women truly juggle it all, including families.

In fact, many of the nomination forms referenced children and church commitments. It seems strong women are no longer afraid to mix a little of their personal lives into business.

Most of them credited others with helping them along the path. One said, “Throughout my career, I have received the benefit of kindness and wisdom from various professional mentors.” Another said, “I’ve been fortunate to have had some great leadership role models.”

Many of these women worked their way up, starting in entry-level positions and now finding themselves as CEOs.

Several were nominated by their employees, which says a lot about team building and respect. As one strong leader wrote, “I provide them opportunity for growth within their areas of expertise and interest, staff development to support them professionally, and career movement opportunities as they become available.” Maybe because they watched others as they grew, these women often talked about leading by doing. One said, “True leadership happens only with sincerity, integrity and a willingness to lead by example.” Another said, “I believe in leading by doing.” Yet another said, “A leader helps others to succeed.”

And, you know what? I bet that the women who wrote these things may not even recognize their own words. They are too busy “doing” to think twice about how they articulate it.

It took me days to pore over the nominations, and, in the end, the decisions were simple. Any of the nominees could legitimately have a place in the top 20.

Are they all leaders? Yes. Do they have influence? Yes.

Will we necessarily hear more about them after this honor is given? No.

Women of influence generally perform quietly, often one-on-one, leading by example and influencing at home every bit as much as in the workplace. Like the one who said, “What I do is just what I do. I do not think of it as being different or special.”

That’s what women of influence do.

Kay Logsdon served on the independent panel of judges for the 2007 Most Influential Women class. She is director of the Food Channel for Noble Communications and a 2005 Most Influential Women honoree. Logsdon can be contacted at k.logsdon@noble.net.[[In-content Ad]]