I have a four-year-old daughter. She is lovely—and bossy.
I recently read that by the age of five, girls are taught that it is not “ladylike” to be bossy.
As the mother of a strong-willed four-year-old, I catch myself thinking, “Do not be so bossy.” And then I stop. I do not remember ever saying this to my sons. Is this bias ingrained in me, too?
On the word bossy…
“This is a word that is symbolic of systemic discouragement of girls to lead. We are not just talking about getting rid of a word, even though we want to get rid of a word,” she said. “We’re talking about getting rid of the negative messages that hold our daughters back.”
— Sheryl Sandberg
The irony is that I have succeeded in my life in the role of a “boss.” At 26, I was running a nonprofit. By 30, I was on the board of a company. At 35, I was a CEO.
And yet, at this stage in my life, I find myself rejecting the traditional idea of being a boss—not because I lack ambition, but because the standard corporate model does not fit with what I value. The traditional power dynamics in business are structured around hierarchy and control, while I believe in collective ownership, shared responsibility, and recognizing the value that everyone brings to the table.
This is why employee ownership matters.
We often ask why there are not more women in executive leadership or business ownership. The answer, for many of us, is that the conventional path to power—one rooted in hierarchy and control—is not the model we want to follow. Women in leadership often approach power differently, seeing it as an opportunity for service, collaboration, and shared success.
Employee ownership creates a path for more women to take on leadership roles, influence decision-making, and build businesses that align with their values. It shifts the focus from individual control to collective success—something that benefits not just women, but the economy as a whole.
As Deepak Chopra put it: “We need a more spiritual approach to success and to influence.”
Business needs a new model. One that is more collaborative, more inclusive, and more sustainable. Employee ownership is a step in that direction.
