Women’s Leadership – the roots of greatness

We all know great achievers. Women that changed our perception of the reality in some way. In sports, art, politics. Maria Callas, Martina Navratilova, Queen Elizabeth I, the great ballet dancers- Anna Pavlova, Dame Margot Fonteyn, among many others. Their performance usually amuses us, often brings tears- when one sees the level of greatness human being can achieve. But the question also is- what the price of such unspeakable level of skills is, and whether they were happy in their lives or not.

Maria Callas, who inspired generations of women singers, and  is considered the best female opera singer of all time, had really dramatic personal life, and died considerably young – at the age of 54.

Look at them and find your own answers to the questions.

AYN RAND

One of the most controversial thinkers of the XX century. Named by some “the woman of the XX century”.
Born in Russia, February the 2nd, 1905. A Russian-American philosopher, novelist and a playwright. She is an author of many books on philosophy and two best-selling novels, of which one- “Atlas Shrugged” is known to be the second most widely read book in America, after the Bible, and a worldwide success. She created a philosophy of Individualism and Objectivism, which influenced America in the second part of the XX century.

“Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision.” – Ayn Rand “The Fountainhead”, written on the wall directly across from the entrance to The American Adventure rotunda at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

MARIA CALLAS

(December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977)
The most versatile opera singer of the XX century. A perfectionist, her unique talent and extremely hard work combined together created unspeakable masterpieces, thus giving her a nickname- La Divina.

She started her career by singing the most difficult operas, the ability which has not been equaled by any other opera singer yet.
Forced by her mother to sing from the age of three. After a difficult childhood, in poverty and dysfunctional family relationships, she continued her singing education in Greece. She once said:
“De Hildalgo had the real great training, maybe even the last real training of the real bel canto. As a young girl—thirteen years old—I was immediately thrown into her arms, meaning that I learned the secrets, the ways of this bel canto, which of course as you well know, is not just beautiful singing. It is a very hard training; it is a sort of a straight-jacket that you’re supposed to put on, whether you like it or not. You have to learn to read, to write, to form your sentences, how far you can go, fall, hurt yourself, put yourself back on your feet continuously. ”
Her real career on stage lasted only a decade from her early thirties to the age of 42.

2006 : Opera News wrote of her: “Nearly thirty years after her death, she’s still the definition of the diva as artist—and still one of classical music’s best-selling vocalists.”

And also the question is, how to achieve your level of superiority, constant improvement in your career together with a happy personal life.

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