Contributor - Kari Heistad
Build an Army of Many
Alva Belmont was the daughter of a wealthy cotton broker in Alabama. In 1875, in New York City, she married William Vanderbilt. As a leading socialite she caused a huge controversy when she divorced Vanderbilt in 1895, because she “had dared to criticize openly an influential man’s behavior.” She would continue to voice her opinions when she became active in the woman’s suffrage movement where she founded the Political Equality Association in 1908.
Her wealth and prominence were an integral factor in the success of women gaining the right to vote in 1920. Most people have never heard of Alva Belmont, yet, that does not diminish the importance of her contributions.
When teams are working together, there are many roles that are vital to the success of the team, and yet, they are not visible to most people. When building effective, inclusive teams, create the opportunities to utilize the contributions of all team members in accomplishing team goals.
Discussion Questions
- What are all of the team roles that we have?
- Any there any team roles or skills that are missing? If so, how do we fill those gaps?
- Do we feel that we are facing any of the same challenges that women faced in getting the right to vote? If so, how can we overcome them?
- Who can we solicit for outside help in helping us to achieve our team goals?
Sollah Training Resources to Consider
