How EO Women Are Reshaping the Landscape of Modern Leadership

September 3, 2025

Published in:

Diversity & Inclusion in Business

A woman in a floral dress stands ready to make a presentation with her glasses in hand. — Marsha Ralls. Photo courtesy of Entrepreneurs' Organization

Not so very long ago, leadership was all about being in charge. It was often measured by how decisively you moved, how much control you held, and how little you showed vulnerability. But that's starting to change.

Across EO, I’ve seen more leaders embracing empathy, sincerity, and deeper connection. That shift is especially visible in the EO Women community, where these values show up in how we lead, support each other, and grow.

What I see now is a more grounded kind of leadership. It’s more than being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about listening. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions and knowing when to pause. The women I’ve worked with through EO are leading with presence and with clarity. They lead by listening, by creating space for others, and by staying connected to what truly matters.

Origin of the EO Women Community

When EO Women began, it started as a conversation around my dining room table. I was going through a crisis in both my personal and professional life and needed steady support and a sense of belonging more than ever.

What started as an idea to bring women together has grown into something much more meaningful. That moment sparked what would become a safe space for women in EO to gather, share honestly, and lead in a way that felt aligned with who we are. The EO Women community recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary in 2025 with a sold-out EO Women Summit in Montreal.

What’s been even more powerful is watching how women in EO are reshaping what leadership looks like day by day, conversation by conversation. I’ve seen women lead by making room for deeper dialogue. I’ve seen them bring people together across backgrounds and cultures. I’ve seen leadership in how they protect their time and energy, champion their teams, and create opportunities for others to rise.

What I’ve come to realize is that women in EO aren’t trying to fit into old leadership molds. They’re expanding what leadership looks like. I’ve seen them lead as anchors, connectors, challengers, and mirrors.

4 Leadership Roles EO Women Exemplify

Let’s explore the four types of leadership roles women in EO are embodying, and how each brings a different kind of strength, while together they shape something more complete:

1. The Anchor

She holds steady in moments of uncertainty. You might see her in action during an EO Forum, serving on a chapter board, or holding steady in a difficult conversation. She brings calm, focus, and a clear sense of purpose.

2. The Connector

She brings people together with intention. She sees potential, builds relationships, and ensures that others feel seen. You might see her leading MyEO Events, or bringing members together across cities and continents. She knows the power of shared experiences and helps others understand that they’re part of something bigger.

3. The Challenger

She questions the way things have always been. She speaks up, takes risks, and invites change. You might hear her in a board meeting or deep in a peer-to-peer exchange, asking the hard questions no one else will. She pushes others to rethink, reset, and rise. It doesn’t come from judgment. It comes from a deep belief in what’s possible.

4. The Mirror

She reflects truth with clarity and care. She helps others see themselves more fully and step into who they are. You might meet her during a retreat or a late-night conversation at a global event. She listens closely and reflects back what you may not want to see (but need to see and will benefit from). Her honesty brings clarity; her presence makes it easier to receive.

Recognizing these roles is just the beginning. The real shift happens when we start naming them, owning them, and valuing them in ourselves and each other.

Maybe you’ve been the anchor in your Forum, the connector at every event, the challenger in tough conversations, or the mirror during a quiet one-on-one. These ways of leading may not always look traditional, but they are powerful. They are shaping a culture where presence, care, and courage matter just as much as strategy and execution.

Expanding What Leadership Can Be

This is how women in EO are redefining leadership. Not by copying what came before, but by expanding what leadership can be:

We build trust instead of power.
We hold space for reflection and growth.
We lead in ways that feel aligned with who we are, and make room for others to do the same.

When women lead this way, we make our communities stronger. We make our companies better. And we remind each other that leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be strong.

So, let’s keep building this together. Keep stepping in, showing up, and recognizing these game-changing roles in yourself and others.

And if you know a woman who leads like this but hasn’t yet found her way into EO, invite her. There’s room for her here. There’s room for all of us.

Contributed by Marsha Ralls, an EO LAC Bridge chapter member and founder of The Phoenix Asheville, who is also the founder of EO Women.