an interview with katrina webb
Written by Katrina Webb, Paralympic Athlete and Speaker
1. Why is “an approach to leadership that resonates with women” needed?
Growing up with a hidden disability, my focus was not on being a leader but being accepted.
Competing in three Paralympic Games and winning 3 gold, 3 silver and a bronze medal, I acquired performance tools that helped me to celebrate and love the fact that I was different.
I still did not see myself as a leader even after this. Why because many of the leadership styles that I was surrounded with did not resonate with me. Until I met several leaders both women and men that had a style that I resonated with.
It was one that unlocked potential with love and empowerment. It was leading for the greater good not for one’s own gain. It was not results driven but contribution driven that ended up leading to brilliant results.
After facilitating leadership programs for women over the past 10 years in Australia and abroad, I found a commonality. Many women, like me, had not recognized their unique skill set as leadership traits.
Women need to see a different approach to leadership that they resonate with so more women realize they are already leading and can unlock their and others potential even more.
I recently did an interview with a Nepali friend and she is helping women in remote Nepal realize that they are leaders in a very patriarchal society. A simple question she asks each women: who gets up first every morning? All the woman she spoke to said they did and often at 4am to lead unknowingly.
2. Halfway through the Expedition what are you uncovering?
I have uncovered that I still do not celebrate my motherhood enough as a leader. I do not share too much about being a mother of not just one but to 3 boys for the risk of being judged as not professional or committed enough!
Being involved in this expedition, I am now going to celebrate and share more of my whole self and all the brilliant leadership skills I have developed because of being a mother not despite it! Hopefully by doing this, I can encourage other women who are both mothers and leaders to do the same.
To read more about Katrina, click here