Women are ready to govern Brazil and, more importantly, Brazil is ready to be governed by a woman.” Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil and Mother of Paula Rousseff de Anauja
Forbes, Inc. has been a friend of mine lately, primarily for their lists of Powerful Women, Youngest Power Women, Wealthy Women. Today I looked to see if the 2012 list of power women had been released.
It hasn’t, but on my way to looking for that list, I stumbled across the Forbes list of 20 Most Powerful Moms of 2012.
It didn’t surprise me to see Hilary Rodham Clinton on the top of the list. I remember when my daughter, Katherine, was a toddler and Clinton shook her hand after a speech at Jastro Park in Bakersfield. People didn’t know who either she or her husband were that day long ago.
What surprised and delighted me was seeing the Brazilian President listed as Power Mom Number Two. Yes, Dilma Rousseff – a name I didn’t know until today – is the leader of this large South American nation. I had no idea. How embarrassing – yet fantastic - to discover!
I literally giggled when I read this quote from UPI “Dilma Rousseff, a 63-year-old grandmother and former urban guerrilla who spent three years in prison, was sworn in Saturday as Brazil's first woman president.” Read more about her inauguration here.
Los Angeles Times quoted her as saying, "I don't come here to extol my biography, but to glorify the life of each Brazilian woman," Rousseff said. "My supreme commitment is to honor women, protect the weakest and govern for all."
President Rousseff spent several years in jail when she was a radical opponent of the military dictatorship which dominated Brazilian politics in the past. During those three years in jail she was tortured and tormented by her jailers. After her release, she had a daughter, Paula (now an attorney) and traveled to the United States for more education.
She returned to Brazil as an empowered leader who used her radical background as a badge of honor, even as she has become more conservative politically.
Do you know about the latest success stories in Brazil?
- Went from being a huge debtor with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to a creditor. The economy in Brazil has been thriving for the last two decades and continues to grow.
- This may seem to be a strangely antiquated accomplishment for those of us in the United States, but for Brazil this is huge: By late 2012, electricity services will be available for the first time to 12 million people living in the country’s rural areas.
- Rousseff’s government is working toward improving Brazil’s educational system all the way from early childhood education to college-level education. They are adding universities and technical schools and not only aiming to educate the elite, they are now targeting education for all. Rousseff believes this will be one of the ways to build a middle class in Brazil.
I wish I had the chutzpah to run for office.
I don’t, but perhaps you do and will.
Learn more about Dilma Rousseff and other power women. The inspiration from these women who COULD BE YOU may be exactly the invitation you need for your future in leadership.
© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott
Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield.
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