Do high performing CEOs tend to be extroverted or introverted?
While many people assume that leadership roles require a natural level of extroversion, one study found 40% of leaders identify themselves as extroverts. These include: Avon’s chief executive, Andrea Jung, civil rights leader Rosa Parks, singer Christina Aguilera, and President Barack Obama. What makes introverts powerful leaders?
In this Women of Color Rise episode, Analiza talks with Diana Cournoyer, CEO of the National Indian Education Association, member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and self-proclaimed introvert. As a child, she was “very shy, very introverted, borderline fearful of the world” so her childhood dream was to help animals not people.
But once she took a class in Native American studies and a multicultural communications class in college, she realized the injustice of her own people and decided to commit her life to supporting Native students. Diana’s work has included testifying before the U.S. Congress in support of Native education, creating more opportunities for visits to tribal communities, acquiring millions in grant funding for NIEA, and inspiring trust and collaboration among her team, organizations, and Native nations across the country.
Diana shares how she was able to lead authentically as an introvert:
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Focusing on her why. Diana’s passion is to educate and support Native students and educators in general.
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Remember that she loves to have conversations. So when she is doing keynote events or public speaking engagements, she considers these as opportunities to share what she is passionate about.
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Lean on stories. To get her point across, Diana focuses on stories which include personal stories from her own life to connect with her audience, have them question their view of the world, and take action.
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Believe in your expertise. Diana’s grandmother would tell her, “There should be no fear in you standing up in front of people, because you’re the expert.” Diana would ensure she was well-prepared and researched and also be confident in her unique experiences and expertise.
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Practice pausing and being thoughtful, a natural strength of being introverted. Stop, Think, Process, Breathe.
Diana inspires us – introvert or not – that we can be ourselves and also have the impact we want to change the world!
Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-52-the-power-of-introverts-as-leaders-with-diana-cournoyer