Alchemy

A Woman with Wings celebrates amazing women who lead and mentor one another into greater health, strength, and success through 10 Principles of Leadership.  The first of these principles is alchemy:

“A leader is like an alchemist, who changes leaded situations into gold.”

The Latin and Greek words for alchemy mean “separate and join together.”  The first alchemists began their investigations in Egypt around 5000 B.C.  Since then countless minds in cultures across the globe set their minds to separating and mixing ‘ordinary ingredients’ in just the right time, proportion and spirit to create something ‘extraordinary’ like gold!

While the alchemists of yesteryear may not have achieved gold, a different sort of alchemist, U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Coach, Anne Donovan achieved the Midas touch at the 2008 Beijing games.  With a roster featuring “a great mixture of Olympic gold medalists with some really tremendous young talent,” Donovan added a shining fourth to the three-game gold streak.

The key to success?  Donovan successfully blended the veteran leaders and fresh new contenders into a powerhouse championship team.  Anne Donovan and the rest of the country watched the team with pride. As an outstanding female mentor, Donovan worked with each of the women selected for the team, encouraging their power and excellence. 

Here's to as Anne Donovan and the U.S. women turning ‘ordinary elements’ (hard work, physical training, and mental training) into something extraordinary.  With the right mixture of exemplary female leadership, strength, and teamwork they made some more gold!