A beautiful recap of an extraordinary ordinary event, Patty DeDominic’s Leadership Advance which I had the opportunity to speak among. New friends in life and who knows where we go from here.
As shared on LinkedIn by Lei Wang:
I just returned from a leadership retreat—and I’m still buzzing with energy and gratitude. One moment stood out above all.
A group of extraordinary women leaders, spanning generations, joined me on a mountain hike. When it came time for me to share some lessons, I hesitated—worried the women in their 70s and 80s might not be comfortable sitting on the dirt.
Before I could finish the thought, they dropped their packs and sat down—on grass, rocks, dirt—eager, grounded, and fully present.
That’s what real leadership looks like.
These women didn’t just talk about leadership. They built it.
Anne Doyle—one of the first female TV sports broadcasters and a top communications exec at Ford—shattered the “steel ceiling” and opened doors for countless women in the auto industry.
JoAnn Mermis—who once fought to secure the first maternity leave at a major U.S. company (how many of us take that for granted now?). She’s now in her 80s and still teaches yoga classes younger students can’t keep up with.
Patty DeDominic—recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama. She grew three companies past $1B and continues to mentor and empower leaders today.
Syndi Seid—founder of Advanced Etiquette, global speaker, and cultural ambassador. For decades, she’s helped professionals lead with confidence, class, and cultural fluency.
Bobbie Casalino Lewis—style expert, speaker, and the secret behind many influential TEDx speakers who stepped onto the red circle with confidence, power, and presence. Her work empowers people to wear their leadership, inside and out.
These women rose when there was no roadmap. No guidebook. No one ahead of them clearing the path. They kicked open the doors, broke the ceilings, and lifted others up—through setbacks, bias, reinvention, and grit.
Now it’s our turn.
We stand on their shoulders. And it’s our responsibility to open the doors even wider—for more women, more voices, more leaders.
That moment on the mountain reminded me:
Leadership isn’t about comfort or titles.
It’s about humility, presence, and action.
It’s about lifting as we climb.
Let’s continue their legacy—by how we lead, who we elevate, and what we make possible for those coming next.
Together, we rise.