Lead Through the Chaos
My trip to Lagos with YPO (Young Presidents Organization) brought several interesting insights. Nigeria is still considered a developing country and is 10 years behind what most Americans have come to take for granted. The country has an extreme level of poverty and deals with issues such as access to clean water and power. Even in the best hotels, the power often shuts down for minutes or hours. Life is a daily grind for most of the Nigerian people who live in survival mode. Continue reading
Culture of Empowerment
I have been in Nigeria for three days as a guest with the Young President’s Organization). As part of my trip, I spent a few hours with the Managing Director of DHL here in Nigeria, Randy Buday. He is responsible for managing the Western countries in Africa. He is an American originally from the Los Angeles area who has lived and worked in Africa for 30 years. Continue reading
Top Leadership Books of 2011
2011 has been an exciting year with the completion of my book and many opportunities to talk to people around the country about the lessons in leadership I’ve gotten throughout my career. I’m grateful to have learned from some of the best leaders in business, politics and academia and I share those stories on the pages of my book. Continue reading
Get Real. Find Joy.
When she was four years old, my daughter, Madison, often saw her friends leaving their after-school program to go to soccer, ballet, piano, and other activities. One day, when I picked her up from preschool, she said, “Mommy, please don’t overschedule me. I just want to play after school and relax on weekends!” Continue reading
Leading Innovation
Like so many others affected this week, the sad passing of Steve Jobs, the technology guru and giant, made me step back and think. We now look back at the innovations and leadership he brought to his industry and the people who worked for him. Continue reading
Betsy on Bloomberg Radio
Betsy sits down with Bloomberg’s Kathleen Hays to discuss her new book, TAKE THE LEAD: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You. The interview dives into the book’s key concept of “Authentic Leadership” and Betsy shares firsthand stories from her days in the White House and on the Obama campaign. Continue reading
School of Life
Last night I was helping my daughter with her hair. We started talking about starting school, how fast the summer had gone and how it is hard to believe that she is already 9-years-old and starting 4th grade. I told her how exciting this time is and all the wonderful things that lie ahead in her life. Continue reading
New Center Focuses on Equality for Women in Business
I decided to take the new role at Bentley University as the Founding Director of the Center for Women in Business. Why? As I have traveled the country over the past three years speaking on leadership with a variety of corporations, I kept hearing the same concerns… It is 2011. Why aren’t we doing better in the area of women retention and promotion? Continue reading
Leadership in Times of Heartbreak
We said good-bye to Elizabeth Edwards last month. I have thought so much about her strength and courage in the final few years of her life. She left behind her precious children Kate 28, Emma 13 and Jack 10. Seems like only yesterday when John and Elizabeth Edwards arrived in Washington when John was elected the new U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Elizabeth played a significant role in Senator Edward’s career and his subsequent runs for president in 2004 and 2008. Continue reading
Leadership Close to Home
My younger sister, JoJo, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in late September. She discovered a lump in her left breast one morning. My family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer so we all hoped it was nothing. … Continue reading