Have women in leadership truly advanced in today’s society? According to the statistics, there is much room for growth. According to a recent study by Ensnead Education the current climate is as follows:
- Women occupy 60% of junior positions.
- Women occupy 50% of middle management.
- Women occupy 20% of senior management.
- Women occupy 10% of C-Suite executive roles.
- Women occupy 5.1% of S&P 1500 CEO Roles.
- Women account for only 10% of the short-term CEO candidate pool.
However, most gender-diverse companies are 16% more likely to generate returns that are above the averages for their respective industries.

These statistics clarify that the CEO pool for today’s S & P 1500 is made up of only 10% women, which are those at a C-Level. Yet the statistics also show that diverse organizations, those with women as part of their leadership teams, are statistically more likely to have greater success. This is because diverse leadership teams bring a balance of traits and skills that define well thought out decisions, strategies, action plans, and strategic initiatives.
So, what do women who aspire to be a leader do to advance? One, they set their mind straight as determination, perseverance and tenacity are all traits of a strong leader, and women possess these abundantly. Next, they put a plan in place for them to develop in knowledge, skills, and awareness and execute to gain in each. They plan, like every great leader does, with goals, objectives, and create an outlook that they can believe in. They determine milestones so they can see a light at the end of the tunnel and see that progress is being made. Great leaders find mentors, and they mentor others as they learn from both sides of the equation. They execute the 5 keys to success to establish a foundation to build upon, rely upon, and overcome obstacles that will arise. When adversity comes, they need an established a support network that has been through the trenches and pushes them forward.

The five keys:
1. Define what you will live by. The foundation of your values and principles, along with your mission will be the building block for every decision.
2. Define what you will live for. Establishing a vision, that sits next to your mission, supported by the foundation of your values and principles. Included are your goals and objectives, with a development outlook on your skills and traits needed for success.
3. Prepare for battle. Adversity and roadblocks will occur, and usually from those closes to you. One must prepare for battle and define a support network that will support and hold them accountable for success.
4. Overcoming Obstacles: Support Network Implementation – Put your support network plan into action. Define mentors and an accountability partner. Now it is time to finalize your Action Plan and execute it.
5. Ride The Momentum – Now you are having success, it is time to ride the momentum and do not let complacency slow you. Re-evaluate your progress and development and pay it forward. Great leaders pay it forward.

“Behind every successful woman is a group of other successful women that have her back.”
- Anonymous

Authors Mark Villareal and Crystal Ann Suniga have released A Script For Aspiring Women Leaders: 5 Keys To Success. Villareal has mentored aspiring women leaders for over 25-years as he spent 35-years in Corporate America, with 21-years at the C-Level. He is also on the board of Our Empowering Women. Suniga is one who was mentored by Villareal and has mentored and developed support networks for women to grow and develop for the advancement of leadership. “My success, as a business turn-around specialist in Corporate America, and building leadership teams has been greatly impacted by advancing women in leadership and adding them to those teams. Women have traits, that include logic, emotion, tenacity, perseverance, people skills, and more. They add these traits that bring valued insight and opinions that drive the leadership teams to success,” said Villareal. “Mark was one of my mentors, but he encouraged me to find a support network that would help me when obstacles would arise, and they did. A support network of other successful women is of tremendous value and a necessity.” Suniga added.

The book has been well received, and Villareal and Suniga created a 52-page free downloadable workbook that is a fillable pdf that allows the reader to work the lessons at their own pace and is also utilized by businesses for their aspiring women leaders. They also created a 5-part e-learning for groups and individuals to work through the process with the assistance of the authors. Villareal and Suniga have been a guest on radio shows, podcast, and even on the Hollywood Live TV Show host by Jack Canfield which will be aired on ABC. Jack Canfield recommended the book to his audience and appreciated how the lessons were laid out. The book has been endorsed by Shama Hyder, CEO & Founder, Zen Media, Nancy Matthews, Author, Founder, Women’s Prosperity Network, Marsh Engle, Author, Founder, Amazing Woman Nation, Ellen Voie, Founder, Women In Trucking Association, Inc., and many others. To learn more on Villareal and Suniga please visit www.markvillareal.com