Michelle Tillis Lederman is an animal lover, travel enthusiast, adrenaline junkie, and mother of two who believes real relationships lead to real results. It is her mission to help people work better together and communicate to connect. As the author of The 11 Laws of Likability and The Connectors Advantage, she has been featured in the media on NPR, CBS, NBC, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She seeks to create connected leaders and cultures through her courses, keynotes, and executive coaching. Michelle has been honored by Forbes as one of the Top 25 Networking Experts and named one of the Top 30 Communications Professionals in the World by Global Gurus.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I grew up financially insecure, raised by a single mother. There was constant love and support. My mother instilled the belief that I could do anything. Instead, I played it safe and studied accounting, a topic that came easy to me and would provide me the financial security I craved. After 10 years in finance, I found my calling and began to bridge to my new future.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
It started while in finance when seeing what people who were pitching or presenting to me were not doing effectively. I just wanted to help them do it better. I started doing the work for the bank I was working for unintentionally. Then I very intentionally told the CEO, “I can do that!” He said I still had to do all my finance tasks, but if I wanted to, he would support it. We shook on that, and the rest is history.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
That is a big question. On a global scale, I would like to see acceptance and respect of our differences, allowing people to pursue their happiness without judgment, persecution, or prosecution. On a professional scale, I would like to see organizations recognize their greatest asset is their people and invest in creating connection. When people connect to purpose, to the culture, and to each other, they are happier, healthier, more productive and the organization will see it in their bottom line.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
I think women have natural tendencies toward connected leadership that serve them well. Those natural behaviors are also more accepted when exemplified by women, making it an advantage. The challenge for women is embracing this aspect of their leadership and not trying to conform to traditional male leadership stereotypes and norms.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
Put people first. The only things that live beyond you are the relationships you have. So I believe in a relationship-first approach. Two mottos have guided me since I was a child:
- You are never fully dressed without a smile.
- Look for the silver lining. Though bad things happen – find the good in the situation, the lesson learned, the resilience built.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
You have to believe in yourself first. I never doubted I would succeed though I wasn’t always clear exactly what I would succeed at. Design your ideal and take one action every day to advance that vision.
Your website link
https://michelletillislederman.com/
https://executiveessentials.org/
