Leadership, gender barriers, LGBT issues, disabilities at work; these were some of the topics discussed at the 3rd annual Pennsylvania Diversity and Leadership Conference today. Duquesne University hosted the event, which was oriented to organizations that facilitate diversity and leadership initiatives. The program offered more than 70 leadership and diversity sessions.
Lynn Brusco, Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer at Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse spoke about what it takes to lead others. She said that both personal traits and one’s position create the power needed to gain the respect of subordinates.
“Your traits drive inspiring people, being the charismatic person who’s going to help persuade people to a greater good or to a shared mission,” said Brusco. “Someone’s personality or their inter-personal skills will be part of what helps them be really good at leading team building and those types of things.”
She said women are raised to listen more than they talk so they have to become comfortable speaking out in the workplace and sharing expertise.
Brusco said gender inequality does exist but in a less-charged form. She said leaders sometimes have to “call things out.”
“I have to make sure I’m not cleaning up after everybody. I have to make sure that I am not the one that gets up when someone’s at the door and the front desk person away from their desk,” said Brusco. “I have to make sure that I am making the situation as equitable for myself as possible.”
She said leaders need to be strong and act as role models so others moving up in the workplace have people to emulate.
