While the lion’s share of the business world is led by predominantly male management teams, a number of female leaders are leading differently to break new ground and impact entire companies and industries like never before.

On February 13, 2007 at Reuters, Roz Courtney engaged five top businesswomen in an interactive discussion about how they are winning big in business a better way.

Featured leaders were Nina Link, President and CEO, Magazine Publishers of America, Janet Hanson, founder of Milestone Capital Management and 85 Broads, Cathy Martine, SVP of US Wholesale Sales for AT&T, Lee Ann Daly, EVP and CMO for Reuters, and Angeliki Frangou, Chairman and CEO of Navios Maritime Holdings.

To quote Reuters First Edition, February 27, 2007: “Each (leader) gave her insights into what makes great leadership and how she has been able to instigate positive change.” These are only a few of the panel’s powerful insights:

Everyone is accountable: For Lee Ann Daly, everyone needs to take accountability for identifying and fixing problems – including the tough cultural issues that get everyone upset. Leaders simply have to get in and fix things. If you say it’s not your job, or if you ignore the problem, you’re in a state of malpractice as a leader.

Look beyond your own business: Nina Link learns constantly by following what’s going on in other industries and in areas beyond her expertise. It’s exciting to see what others are doing, and everyone is facing transformation today.

Engage diverse opinions: Gather intelligence early and often, and make it an integral part of decision making, advises Daly. In her first two months at ESPN, she engaged a creative team – all younger than 21, all involved in extreme sports. While the CEO didn’t like what the team developed, Daly said it was not meant for him. The creative team reflected the audience they were serving, and marketers need to know and connect with their audience. You can’t get the right solutions from a group of people cooped up in a conference room, she says.

Angeliki Frangou urges leaders to accept differences and get everyone to feel part of the company regardless of their cultural background or skills. Today business is global. We have to rely on those who have different skills and operate in different locations, she advises.

“Mixing things up” breaks down silos: When you are putting together teams, “mix it up,” says Nina Link. She likes to select members from a variety of levels and backgrounds, at times putting a more junior person in charge, at times asking colleagues to work outside of their specialty. These stretch assignments encourage people to think and work differently and develop new relationships. In the long-run, Link observes, silos go away and people work together more effectively.

Expand your network beyond the walls of your company: Janet Hanson believes that networks must extend beyond the physical plant of the company, and that’s where technology comes in. When she started 85 Broads, Hanson was not working at Goldman Sachs, although the network was originally designed for Goldman’s women professionals and alumnae. She reached out to Goldman women from the outside, and she didn’t ask for permission. Today 85 Broads is a global network that actively advances the careers of more than 16,000 women.

Commentary

Do women have genuinely distinctive characteristics when it comes to leadership? Ann Mehl of Sextant Partners highlights a few of the key themes from the Reuters Newsmaker and weighs in on what makes these leaders unique. Click here for Women and Leadership, 4/7/07.