You Are the Great Man: Reclaiming Leadership Through a Feminine Lens
Let’s unpack this idea for a moment.
The Great Man Theory is a leadership concept rooted in the idea that great leaders are born, not made, and that they possess inherent traits that set them apart. Unsurprisingly, the theory draws from historical figures like Napoleon and Alexander the Great, and has long framed leadership through a distinctly masculine lens.
Though we may not name it anymore, this theory continues to echo through modern workplaces. Its legacy shows up in how we reward confidence over collaboration, decisiveness over reflection, and individualism over empathy. These values have shaped our expectations of leadership, even when they no longer serve the environments we work in today.
But the data tells a different story, one that directly challenges the Great Man Theory. It shows that great leadership isn’t something you’re simply born with; it can be learned, cultivated, and strengthened over time. In fact, transformational leadership, a style defined by vision, empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is widely considered the most effective leadership model across industries. A comprehensive meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology confirmed that transformational leadership is strongly linked to higher employee satisfaction, performance, and overall organizational success.
And notably, a Harvard Business Review study found that women outperform men in 17 of 19 key leadership competencies, many of which are central to the transformational model, such as inspiring others, building relationships, demonstrating integrity, and developing people.
So why do so many women still feel pressure to lead like someone else?
What the Confidence Gap Is Costing Us
Tourism and hospitality is the top employer of women aged 15 to 24, yet these early-career professionals are often the least likely to see themselves as leaders. Despite strong performance, they frequently struggle with confidence, opportunity, and visibility.
“I said no to a promotion because I didn’t feel ready.”
“I went back to school to prove I was qualified, even though I already was.”
“I’ve adapted my style so many times to fit into workplace cultures, I’m not sure what authentic leadership looks like anymore.”
This isn’t a personal problem. It’s a systemic one.
At WORTH, we believe leadership doesn’t belong to a select few. It isn’t granted by title, tenure, or tradition. It’s something you grow into, claim, and practice, often shaped by resilience, caregiving, frontline experience, and sheer determination. And many of the traits women have long been told to “tone down”, like empathy, intuition, and vulnerability, are, in fact, the very traits moving workplaces and teams forward.
A New Kind of Leadership
You don’t need to wait for permission.
You don’t need to change who you are.
You are the Great Man.
Your leadership is not just valid, it’s urgently needed.
This is about redefining leadership in ways that are more human, inclusive, and effective for everyone. It’s about creating an industry where more voices are heard, more styles are embraced, and more women are supported to lead on their own terms.
The future of leadership in our industry is transformational.
And women are already leading the way.