Today, we’re tackling what it means to be a leader. I’m sure words like “hustle” and “the daily grind” come to mind when you think “leader,” and it’s true those are two necessities of career growth. But there are a few other important actions to consider when it comes to being a good leader, like getting a good night’s sleep, praising your colleagues for work well done and being fully present. If you’ve zoned out during a meeting or uncharacteristically snapped at a customer recently, it might be time to invest in some serious R and R this weekend. By Monday, you’ll be clearheaded enough to scope out your next ambitious career move.

WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 24 Percent

I know what you’re probably thinking: You’ve had too many terrible bosses, which can make you question why you should even try to move up in your career. But, ladies, it’s incumbent upon each of us to push for leadership opportunities in our careers, if for nothing else, to ensure women hold key leadership roles worldwide. According to independent advisory and audit firm Grant Thornton, which reviewed senior-management positions at businesses throughout the world, as of 2016, a pitiful 24 percent of these positions were held by women. Additionally, 33 percent of surveyed firms had zero women in senior management. Though these numbers are dispiriting, there’s still hope. As we like to say at On The Dot, the future is female!

WOMAN TO WATCH: Rachel Green, Founder of Leader Ship Box

Today’s Woman to Watch, Rachel Green, is passionate about expanding the pipeline of women leaders the world over. And as an award-winning publicist, brand strategist and CEO of A Brand Called U—a successful public-relations, digital-marketing, brand-consulting and event-management company—Rachel has spent the past seven years securing more than 200 media placements for her clients.

There’s no doubt, Rachel is a bona fide leader. She serves her Central Texas community through volunteer efforts, serves on a number of executive leadership boards for nonprofits and teaches other small-business ladies how to rule the PR game.

But it’s Rachel’s newest venture that has us really excited. Tapping into her penchant for both leading and helping other women, Rachel recently launched Leader Ship Box, a quarterly subscription-box service for professional women. Rachel’s vision for Leader Ship Box is to become a leading resource to empower women to become confident and educated “lady leaders” who reach their fullest personal and professional potential, regardless of race, ethnicity or social status.

Each curated Leader Ship Box comes with a fancy new handbag, a book authored by a fellow lady leader, a helpful professional-development guide and other beauty, tech and health-care goodies any busy professional gal can appreciate. Additionally, members also have access to quarterly conference calls headed by prominent female business leaders, as well as workshops, virtual book-club meetups and more. It offers a fun yet actionable way to take your leadership ambitions to the next level.

Of course, part of being a good leader involves being able to grow from both the highs and the lows. And in her time as a business leader, Rachel has amassed an array of helpful experiences, noting that one of the mistakes she made as a business owner was not making her own brand a priority. It’s kind of like that whole airplane-emergency rule of placing the oxygen mask over your own face before helping others. As Rachel says, “If you can’t survive, you’re unable to help anyone else.” Spoken like a true leader!

QUITE THE QUOTE

With Rachel Green in mind, let’s end today with a quote from an unknown author, which, as we know, probably means it was expressed by a woman:

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”

This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.

To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.