Natali Ross — The Power of Authenticity: How a Woman Leader Can Stay Alive in a Multitude of Roles

When women leaders from different corners of the world gather in one hall, the air begins to explode with the energy of possibilities. This is exactly the atmosphere I felt at the Next Level forum in Vienna, where I had the honor of being a speaker and sharing my experience. And the main question that united everyone present was not «How to manage more?» but «How to stay alive amidst the infinity of social roles?».

Being a leader today means being able to manage not only projects but also your own energy. We — businesswomen, mothers, partners, daughters — try to be perfect at everything, and as a result, we risk losing the most important thing: contact with our own «I».

Leadership begins with the permission to be yourself, to have your own preferences, your own vision, and what inspires you and makes your wings spread.

My speech was dedicated to precisely this. I offered the audience not another list of time-management life hacks, but three principles, three of their visions, in which they found themselves, their charisma, and their mission. So important for a leader.

They found their YES and what brings joy, what they so enjoy doing, what gives the leader and others a good feeling and energy. Our «yes» has its price — the hours of our lives and mental resources. This is the foundation without which the building of our success will develop a crack.
Presence instead of perfectionism. An hour of quality communication with a child, when the phone is out of attention, is worth a whole day of being physically present but absent. The same goes for work. When we work, we work concentratedly. When we rest — we let go of control. This quality of presence makes our lives rich, not just lived through.
They found rituals of self-support — this is not a luxury, but fuel. On an airplane, before takeoff, they instruct: first put the oxygen mask on yourself, then on the child. We cannot give light to others if our own source is not recharged. Find your «oxygen mask»: an early walk, ten minutes with a journal, favorite music. This is a strategic investment in your effectiveness.

The forum in Vienna became a powerful reminder for me: true leadership comes not from the desire to be perfect, but from the courage to be authentic. When we feed our soul, we find the strength to lead others. And when we unite, as happened in Vienna, we understand that we are not alone. And in this mutual support lies our greatest strength.