The Power Shift: Redefining Leadership for the Modern Era

Leadership expert Gloria Feldt joins Natasha Ozybko to discuss the "9 Leadership Power Tools," the shift from "Power Over" to "Power To," and the path to gender parity by 2025.

In this sixteenth episode of Conversations with MOXY, host Natasha Ozybko has the privilege of sitting down with Gloria Feldt, the co-founder and president of Take The Lead and former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The discussion delves into the transition from the "Power Over" model to the "Power To" paradigm, the importance of intention in leadership, and how women in infrastructure can leverage their unique strengths to achieve gender parity by 2025.

A Lifetime of Leadership and Advocacy

Gloria Feldt has dedicated her career to social justice and female empowerment. After leading Planned Parenthood through a period of significant growth and challenge, she realized that true equality would not be achieved through reproductive rights alone; it required women to have an equal share of leadership and financial power.

In 2014, she co-founded Take The Lead, a non-profit organization with the "big, hairy, audacious goal" of reaching gender parity in leadership across all sectors by 2025. Feldt emphasizes that this is not just a moral goal but an economic one, as diversity in decision-making consistently leads to better business outcomes.

The Paradigm Shift: From "Power Over" to "Power To"

The central thesis of Feldt's work is a fundamental redefinition of power. She argues that the traditional, patriarchal model of power is "Power Over"—a win-lose mentality based on control, dominance, and hierarchy.

Feldt encourages women to embrace "Power To"—the ability to create, to innovate, and to make a positive impact.

• Power To Create: Focuses on what can be built rather than who can be controlled.

• Generative Power: This model is expansive and collaborative, suggesting that when one woman gains power, it increases the total amount of power available to everyone.

• Removing the Stigma: Feldt notes that many women shy away from "power" because they associate it with the "Power Over" model. By reframing it as the "Power To" accomplish goals, women can lean into leadership roles with more confidence.

Intention as a Leadership Tool

Feldt discusses the concept of "Intentionality"—a theme that has resonated throughout the Conversations with MOXY series. She posits that parity will not happen by "osmosis" or simply by waiting for the "old guard" to retire. It requires specific, measurable actions from both individuals and organizations.

She introduces the "9 Leadership Power Tools" designed to help women navigate the workplace, including:

Define Your Own Terms Not letting others define who you are or what you are capable of.

Wear the Shirt Owning your convictions and being visible in your advocacy.

Carpe the Chaos Recognizing that times of significant change or disruption are the best opportunities for women to step into leadership roles.

The "Diversity ROI" in Infrastructure

Feldt and Ozybko discuss how these principles apply directly to the infrastructure and construction sectors. Feldt argues that in a "male-populated" industry facing a massive labor shortage, the "Power To" model is a competitive advantage. Companies that foster inclusive cultures where women are judged on their potential (rather than just past performance) will be the ones that thrive and attract top talent.

Conclusion: Parity is Possible

Feldt concludes by reminding the audience that "parity is a choice". She challenges senior leaders to set explicit goals for female representation and to hold themselves accountable for the results. For the women listening, she offers a final piece of advice: "Know your history, so you can create your future". By understanding the systemic barriers of the past, women can more effectively use their "Power To" build a more equitable world today.