Confidently You: Women in Leadership · Rebecca Malotke-Meslin & Lynne Macziewski

Stronger Together: Women Supporting Women

November 14, 2024·47 min·4 clips

This episode features hosts Rebecca Malachy-Meslin and Lynn Macheskey interviewing three women leaders from the Browning School: Jan Abernathy, Janet Lien, and Kelly West. They explore practical strategies for fostering a supportive culture among women in leadership roles. Jan Abernathy transitioned from a 15-year career in journalism, including at Dow Jones, to school communications. Janet Lien began as a science teacher and moved into admissions and administration at Browning. Kelly West started as a first-grade teacher and now oversees K-12 admissions, initially unfamiliar with the boys' school environment. The guests detail specific actions like using LinkedIn to publicly praise colleagues' accomplishments and speaking women's names in rooms to amplify their visibility. They discuss combating a scarcity mindset by viewing success as collective, using the phrase "a rising tide lifts all boats." Perfectionism is identified as a major trap that hinders women from sharing ideas unless they are fully formed. Jan shares an anecdote about men often volunteering to keep time in meetings while women frequently end up as note-takers. Kelly describes a moment of envy toward a colleague who confidently declined an after-hours event, which reshaped her view on setting boundaries. A key insight is that perfectionism is a flawed concept, illustrated by a *Hidden Figures* clip where Katherine Johnson's calculations still have a 20-mile margin of error. The guests emphasize that women are often socialized to equate perfection with worth, whereas striving for excellence is healthier. They note that self-promotion, like Janet seeking a board position, can be an act of humility and growth rather than arrogance. Jan recounts how being recognized at a conference boosted her confidence to share expertise more openly. The conversation reveals that cultural backgrounds, such as Janet's experience as an Asian woman from a formerly colonized country, can reinforce habits of not standing out. They challenge the notion that volunteering for "office housework" like cleanup duties advances leadership, suggesting it can instead pigeonhole women. The tone is candid and conversational, with hosts and guests sharing personal vulnerabilities and growth moments. The style is educational yet informal, blending personal stories with actionable advice. Listeners interested in practical peer mentorship, dismantling internalized barriers, and building collaborative work environments will appreciate this episode. Those seeking highly structured, data-driven leadership content might find the anecdotal focus less appealing. Professionals in any field can gain insights on public praise, boundary-setting, and redefining self-promotion.

As heard by us

A warm conversation about peer support, perfectionism, and the habits that shape women’s advancement.

It leans into women supporting women, then settles into the habits that can shape leadership: perfectionism, office housework, the urge to prove competence by doing everything alone, and the peers who help make room to step back.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want practical encouragement from women leaders working in schools and nonprofits.

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