On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the second POP Climate Leadership Conversation: A Tribute to our Chief Mentor was held with Ms. Nilima Bhat, a visionary in the fields of Personal Mastery, Leadership, Gender Equality, and Wellbeing, who spoke about Shakti Leadership and gender balance within leadership. When asked about the meaning of leadership, Ms. Bhat shared that different situations require different strategies, but you cannot lead anyone before you lead yourself which comes from self-mastery.
Ms. Drishya Pathak asked about previous methods that were commonly used to lead, to which Ms. Bhat answered that the balance between feminine and masculine leadership is a combination of getting things done while bringing your team with you. In the past, leaders lacked this balance. Ms. Summer Benjamin asked about specific strategies to become a more conscious leader. Ms. Bhat answered that it is key to become present and have the ability to be centered before one leads, that way when one takes a step back one is able to respond rather than react. When Ms. Meda Hope asked about strategies to restore the long-lost gender balance, Ms. Bhat emphasized that it's time for reconciliation to become whole: women need to claim their masculine nature in a healthy way, and men need to claim their feminine nature in a healthy way. She then added that until we fully express our unique gift the world will be incomplete, but in order to come into our full power we need to have our full selves. Ms. Bhat ended by reminding everyone that when one of us is not okay, none of us are, which is why we have to strive for balance and consciousness as we lead.
“There is a way to become a conscious leader but you have to put in the hard work to become one. The first step is to become present; the ability to be centered. When we can step back from head, heart, and gut, we reach a place of peace and stillness where we can see what is happening all around us, we can step back and respond to her than react.”
