Making it Happen: Creating New Pathways for Women Leaders
Lorna Donatone
COO and Education Market President, Sodexo
Some people believe leadership is about genetics – you are born a leader. In rare cases, I’ve encountered people who have a natural talent and ability to lead others. However, the vast majority of successful leaders are made. Like me, they grow into their positions of authority through life experiences, lessons learned, personal development and a desire to always achieve more.
Similar to many women of my generation, I did not immediately recognize my leadership potential, nor were there a lot of senior women leaders in business that I could model my career after. In many ways, I had to chart my own course. I began my career with lots of enthusiasm, momentum and deep-seated desire to achieve success – not because I craved money or power or title, but because I wanted to have a positive impact. I needed to be the person that could make the process more efficient, the project exceed expectations or the transition smoother. What I didn’t realize at the time was I was learning valuable leadership skills, such as collaboration, influence, conflict-resolution and problem-solving that helped me grow into the person I am today.
