From childhood, Martha Mayhood Mertz saw women she admired – skilled, strong, inspiring women – denied recognition for and access to leadership positions. Carving out a career in the 1980s, Martha faced the same divide; accomplishments that were acclaimed in men were often overlooked in women. The more she observed, the more she became convinced: if women’s strengths and contributions as leaders were publicly acknowledged, they could no longer be dismissed.
In Lansing, Michigan, Martha spearheaded a new leadership award program: the ATHENA Award, named for the strong, enlightened goddess. The award would go to individuals who excelled in their professions, gave back to their communities, and helped raise up other leaders, especially women. What she conceived three decades ago is now a global movement. ATHENA International headquartered in Chicago, has fostered leadership recognition, mentoring and training programs in more than 500 U.S. cities and six foreign countries. Martha Mertz is the author of Becoming ATHENA: Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership
Visit Martha at: https://marthamertz.com/
