ATHENA Leadership Model®

The ATHENA Leadership Model®, developed through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, identifies eight distinct characteristics or tenets that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership: Authentic Self, Relationships, Giving Back, Collaboration, Courageous Acts, Learning, Fierce Advocacy, Celebration and Joy. These personal traits that are more intuitive to women, and combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership—taking risks, assertiveness, hard work—prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st century.

ATHENA has successfully completed two pilot programs based on the ATHENA Leadership Model®. ATHENA Student Leadership Program was held at Alternatives for Girls (AFG) in Detroit, Michigan, this program for young girls ages 17 – 20, ran one and a half hours each week for eight consecutive weeks. The ATHENA Leadership Model® was the basis for the series.

ATHENA Leadership Model® Workshop Leadership for Life, a one day workshop held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, based on the ATHENA Leadership Model®, was presented as a partnership project between the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and Laramie County Community College. The workshop provided an overview of the eight tenets of the ATHENA Leadership Model® which included essential questions posed to encourage all participants to reflect on their own leadership skills. Attendees were asked to identify areas of individual concern to improve their effectiveness in both their professional and personal lives.