Navigating leadership with self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience
For International Women’s Day, Future Cities Institute staff member, Eryn Stewart (BES ’15) who won the 2020 Recent Alumni Inspiration award winner, shares how the Haíɫzaqv womxn have strongly impacted her personal and professional career journey. She reflects on the ways women are forced to navigate leadership differently and why it’s so important to advocate for opportunities for others.
Estimated time: 3 minutes
Have you ever experienced a moment of solidarity or support from other women that profoundly impacted you?
Yes, I’ve had the immense privilege of experiencing a moment of support that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’ve been part of the Haíɫzaqv Climate Action Team for almost four years now, and throughout this time, I’ve been in constant awe of the incredible Haíɫzaqv womxn I work alongside. Their strength, determination, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to their community have not only shaped me as a professional but also profoundly impacted me as a person.
Two people in particular, Leona Humchitt and Ayla Brown, embody everything I aspire to be. They’ve taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience, and the power of community. In 2022, our Haíɫzaqv team extended a recognition to me that I will cherish forever—they welcomed me into their community in front of all our peers. To this day, that remains the greatest honor of my life. In that moment, I felt an unshakable bond, a sense of belonging, and a profound gratitude that words cannot fully capture.
Working alongside these extraordinary individuals has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Their inspiration fuels me daily, and their example reminds me of the profound beauty of solidarity and support.
How do you support or uplift women in your field?
I believe that supporting and uplifting womxn in any field is an area where the work is never truly "done." There is always room for growth, reflection, and improvement. My approach stems from a personal commitment to continuously evolve, challenge myself, and strive to do better.
For me, it’s vital to prioritize advocating for opportunities for others rather than focusing solely on my own personal advancement. This means intentionally creating pathways for voices that have historically been underrepresented, particularly those who face systemic barriers. I want to cultivate environments where womxn are empowered to thrive, innovate, and lead with confidence. These efforts are not just impactful for individuals but essential for fostering a more equitable and inclusive future.
What changes or advancements would you like to see in support of gender equity in your industry or community?
Throughout my career in the energy sector, I’ve navigated male-dominated industries with the invaluable guidance of primarily male mentors who excel in their respective fields. I closely observed their successes, studied their leadership styles, and attempted to mirror their behaviors—striving to establish myself in the same way they had.
But along the way, I encountered an uncomfortable truth: the same traits that earned my male counterparts the title of "visionary" were often met with entirely different negative labels when exhibited by womxn.
It was a harsh realization that simply emulating the behaviors of successful men in leadership would not serve me as a woman. It forces womxn to navigate leadership in a way that demands self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience at every turn. Womxn leaders bring invaluable perspectives, and yet they’re too often undermined by biases that equate confidence with arrogance or assertiveness with aggression.
We need to challenge these biases and redefine what it means to be a leader—one that embraces diverse leadership styles and values confidence in everyone.
International Women's Day happens every year on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. The day has occurred for well over a century, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, the day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.
