Five Ways for Women to Avoid Vanilla Leader Syndrome

Continue to stand out and stand up as you climb the career ladder.

I have been coaching women leaders for nearly 15 years and far too many have entered into a territory that I have coined "excellent vanilla leader syndrome." Ambitious leaders—especially women leaders—can sand off their sharp edges so dutifully that they end up becoming stellar at being indistinct, of being "vanilla." Ultimately, these leaders have lost what makes them special and recognizable amo