The key to the notion of wise women saving the world is what we mean by the word ‘wise’. We are referring here to a contemporary form of wisdom that blends together traditional wisdom, feminine values and specific areas of expertise.
In our view, core traits of the type of woman (or man) best suited to tackling today’s big problems include:
- Global consciousness: a deep connection with humanity and nature
- Leadership qualities centred around empathy, collaboration, inclusiveness
- Ability to tackle complexity via design thinking, systems thinking
- Expertise in behavioural science and the psychology of influence
- Passion for creative communication and artivism (art + activism)
- Understanding of digital technology’s role in boosting influence
A major goal for Wise Women Will Save the World is to help facilitate a rapid, global increase in the number of women who possess all or most of these traits.
How might this contemporary form of wisdom express itself through a woman’s life and leadership? A few thoughts….
A wise woman is one who leads the way on several levels, ranging from personal to planetary:
- She leads the way at a personal level, creating a supportive environment in which she as an individual can flourish: physically, mentally, spiritually. It’s a way of thriving where she can say yes to life while also saying no to guilt, no to burn-out and no to other people’s expectations.
- She leads the way at a family level, cultivating conditions for health, happiness and harmony.
- She leads the way at the levels of work and community, nurturing groups that are rewarded for serving humanity while respecting nature.
- She leads the way at a planetary level, linking with others like herself to create a world that provides all life with a share of the sun, a share of the rain, and a share of the breeze.
All this wisdom. All this leadership. How could we summarise, in perhaps a more creative manner, the role and influence of the wise woman?
A wise woman is like the conductor of an orchestra. She doesn’t have to write the music … she doesn’t have to play an instrument … but she does have to know how to wave that little stick. In her mind, before it all begins, she has to see it … she has to hear it … she has to feel it. She has to understand what goes in one end, to get a symphony out the other. She must appreciate how it all fits together to create something wonderful … something inspiring … something enchanting that moves the human spirit. It is this magic, the magic of the wise woman, that will save our planet and heal its people.