Growing up, the story of my mother, Betty Kalliney, always inspired me. My mom overcame gender barriers and became a trailblazer in chemistry.
She studied mathematics in college and was one of the few women in the chemistry program in graduate school. After graduating in the 1960s, she kept one foot in academia to help my father obtain his advanced degrees in chemistry, working as his research assistant and English translator since my dad had emigrated from Egypt only a few years earlier. Let’s just say that my mom and dad had chemistry when they met!
In addition to her work with my father, my mother took on a full-time role as a forensic scientist. However, during that time, women were not typically welcomed in the sciences. One of my earliest memories is going into the lab with her, where I eagerly played the crucial role of "lab assistant" for the day and got to play with office supplies. Even at that young age, I felt proud of my mother's hard work, dedication, and achievements, which helped pave the way for other women like me to pursue STEM degrees and careers.
In those days, women were completely stigmatized in fields like science. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the headline of an article about my mom, which appeared on March 17, 1969. This article ran in The Sun, a newspaper based in Springfield, Ohio. In what world would a headline from 1969 read “Man Chemist Analyzes Clues In Crime”? Laughable.
One of the key lessons I learned from my mother is that true leadership is not just about being in charge, but about having the courage and conviction to pursue a goal and bring others along with you. My mom demonstrated this in her work as she was responsible for analyzing evidence to help solve crimes. Her attention to detail, analytical skills, and commitment to equality were just some of the qualities that made her an effective leader.
My mom's story is a reminder that leadership comes in many forms, and that anyone can be a leader if they have the courage, conviction, and perseverance to pursue their goals. Her example has inspired me to pursue my own goals with determination and resilience, and to use my own leadership skills to inspire and empower others.
Women like my mom have long been leaders in their families, communities, and workplaces. We bring unique perspectives and skills to the table, and we continue to break through gender barriers to achieve success and inspire others.
Here are some action items that will help promote and support women’s leadership:
- Celebrate women leaders. Highlight the achievements and successes of women leaders. Recognize the contributions of women leaders in all fields and promote role models for future generations.
- Encourage women to take leadership roles. Inspire women to step up and take on leadership roles in their workplace, community, or personal life. Highlight the benefits of leadership and provide support and resources to help them succeed.
- Create a culture of inclusion. Foster a culture of diversity and inclusion that recognizes and values the unique perspectives and contributions of women leaders. Encourage respectful dialogue and create safe spaces for women to share their ideas and experiences.
- Promote gender equality. Advance gender equality in all areas of society, including education, the workplace, and politics. Advocate for equal pay and equal opportunities for women, and challenge gender stereotypes and biases.
- Provide training and development. Offer training and development opportunities to help women cultivate the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in leadership roles. Offer leadership programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities to support their growth and development.
- Engage men as allies. Build alliances with men to help promote women's leadership. Encourage them to challenge gender stereotypes and biases, and to support women in their pursuit of leadership roles.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day and the contributions of women to society, let us remember the importance of women in leadership. Let’s challenge continued gender biases and stereotypes. Let’s continue to work towards a more inclusive and equal world in which women can achieve their full potential and thrive as leaders.
Marie Kalliney
Marie, who is "All Agile All the Time" (AAATT), serves as the Practice Director for ValueOps Professional Services and is a frequent content creator on the power of leadership. Marie's team of digital advisory consultants guides our clients through their Value Stream Management journey, driving business outcomes and...
Other resources you might be interested in
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v26 in Azure
Master the deployment of Automic Automation v26 on Azure AKS. Cover database setup, TLS certificates, and the new Kubernetes Gateway API.
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v24 in Azure
Deploy Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v24 on Azure AKS with this step-by-step installation and configuration guide.
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v26 in AWS
Learn how to deploy Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v26 on AWS EKS with this step-by-step guide for configuring databases, secrets, and agents.
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v24 in AWS
See how to deploy Automic Automation v24 on AWS EKS. Learn about using Fargate, Helm charts, PostgreSQL, and AWS Load Balancer Controller.
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v24 in GCP
This guide walks you through the steps to deploy Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v24 into Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
How to Install Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v26 in GCP
Discover the steps needed to deploy Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition v26 into Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Speed with Confidence: Managing Delivery Risk in an AI-driven Development World
Stop relying on hunches and guesswork to track and manage delivery progress. Rally's milestone delivery confidence capability offers a data-driven approach.
Cloud Orchestration with ESP dSeries Workload Automation
Learn how Broadcom's ESP dSeries Workload Automation simplifies cloud orchestration and centralizes control of hybrid workloads.
Automating Device and OS Compliance in Air-Gapped Networks with Agentic AI
Secure air-gapped networks by automating device compliance. Employ a hybrid agentic AI workflow that separates public intelligence from internal audits.