The power of visibility: The leaders we see, the leaders we become
BY SUZANNA DE BACA, STORY BOARD ADVISORS CEO
I still remember standing in my living room as a teenager, watching campaign ads for Roxanne Conlin on the television. I did not know Roxanne Conlin personally. I did not understand all of her policies. But I knew one thing clearly. She was a woman running for governor of Iowa. That alone felt powerful. Seeing her on air, speaking confidently and taking up space in a role historically dominated by men, was quietly transformative. It showed me that leadership could look different than what I had always been used to. In that moment, visibility mattered.
I was not aspiring to elected office. That was never my path. But seeing a woman lead at that level gave me something just as important. It gave me permission to imagine myself in leadership in other ways. It expanded my sense of what was possible, even outside of politics.
Visibility goes beyond being seen. It reflects what that presence communicates to others. According to the recently released Grant Thornton Women in Business 2026 report, women currently hold only 31% of senior leadership roles in the United States, a decline from previous years. This decrease is significant because representation at the top directly influences how people perceive opportunity. When women are visible in leadership, it signals that advancement is possible. Without that visibility, ambition can feel abstract or unattainable.
The report also emphasizes that companies with gender balanced leadership teams perform better. They experience stronger innovation, improved decision making and greater financial growth. This suggests that visibility is not just symbolic. It has a measurable impact. When women are present in decision-making roles, they contribute perspectives that strengthen organizations. Just as importantly, their presence reshapes expectations for those watching. Employees, future leaders and even investors begin to see women in top roles not as an exception, but as a standard.
This is where role models become essential. Research highlighted in a Forbes article called “The Power of Role Models,” shows that people with role models are significantly more likely to feel fulfilled and successful in their careers. For example, 68% of individuals with role models report career fulfillment, compared to only 51% of those without them. They are also more likely to feel established and adequately compensated. These differences reveal that role models inspire and what’s more, they also shape outcomes.
I had role models who were both male and female and I benefited from both. But for women especially, seeing someone who shares their gender in positions of influence can be life changing. The research shows that shared identity, such as gender, strengthens the impact of role models by helping individuals feel a sense of belonging. When someone looks like you and succeeds, it becomes easier to imagine yourself following a similar path. That sense of possibility is powerful. It can influence everything from career choices to confidence levels.
Later in life, I had the privilege of meeting Roxanne Conlin, who has continued to break barriers in law, politics and philanthropy. She was never my formal mentor, but she has remained a role model, just as she had been years earlier on my television screen. And she was not alone. Over time, I began to notice more women stepping into leadership roles across many fields, not just in politics but in business, law and organizations of all kinds. Each of them reinforced the message that leadership was not limited to one image or one path.
Today, that progress is visible all around us. Iowa has a woman governor and has had female lieutenant governors, senators and representatives. We have women in the C-suite, in sciences and tech, starting and running businesses, leading in the arts and excelling in college and professional sports. That kind of representation did not happen overnight. It reflects years of women stepping forward, being seen and, in turn, inspiring others.
Ultimately, visibility and role models are deeply connected. Visibility creates the opportunity for role models to exist, and role models give visibility meaning. When women are seen in leadership, they expand horizons. They show others what is possible and give them permission to aim higher, wherever their path may lead.
I asked leaders to share a woman they saw in a public or leadership role who shaped how they saw themselves, and what impact that visibility had on your choices or confidence.
Mary Jane Cobb, founder and CEO, Mary Jane Cobb Coaching and Consulting
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work with a woman who profoundly shaped my sense of professional identity and possibility. Dottie Garner exemplifies both strength and sophistication – fierce in her leadership, yet grounded in a distinctly feminine presence marked by grace, poise and authenticity.
She forged a path for women in a field historically dominated by men, doing so on her own terms and without compromise. Witnessing her success broadened my perspective and gave me the confidence to step more fully into my own leadership.
I also learned a great deal by observing how she navigated conflict, challenged status quo and advocated for others. A few years later, Dottie encouraged me to pursue an opportunity that ultimately defined the trajectory of my career. Today, she remains both a cherished friend and a lasting source of inspiration.
Jerrica Marshall, executive director, the Directors Council
Teree Caldwell-Johnson is someone whose presence continues to shape how I see myself and my role as a leader. Before her passing, she served as the chairman of the board of the Directors Council, and while our relationship was not defined by formal mentorship, her impact was undeniable.
Teree had a rare ability to pour into others in a way that left you energized, affirmed and more grounded in purpose. She offered wisdom with clarity, but also with warmth. In the same breath, we could share laughter that made even the most influential leader feel deeply human and accessible.
Seeing her lead so authentically expanded what I believed was possible for myself. She created space for me at the Directors Council, and in doing so, helped me see that I belonged in rooms of influence. I carry her example with me daily.
Dawn Martinez Oropeza, director, Iowa Jewish Historical Society
The woman who shaped how I aspire to be as a leader is Carmen Lampe Zeitler, founder of Children and Family Urban Movement (CFUM). She led with quiet consistency, building a strong community of mentors and support for youth and their families without seeking recognition. She was steadfast, showing up day after day for youths from childhood into adulthood, celebrating their successes and standing beside them through every circumstance.
She served many low-income youths of color yet never reduced them to their circumstances or identities. They were valued without condition. Watching her taught me that leadership does not need to be loud or performative; it is rooted, patient and deeply relational.
I aspire to lead and live as she does with a calm, steady presence, a life where outward actions reflect inner values and deep connection to spirit, devoted to the growth and flourishing of all that lives.
Carmen is a pastor, one of the leaders for Seasonal Gathering, and instrumental in Dances of Universal Peace.
Cara Seidl, director of marketing, Dentons
My career (marketing) is not male dominated. The law firm where I work has over 50% women shareholders and a majority of employees are women. My mom, my stepmom and my grandmothers all had jobs and leadership roles outside of the home. My best friends are leaders personally and professionally. Women leadership is prevalent in my life, but I am still taken aback about what I felt in 2016.
My first child, a daughter, was born that year. I remember holding her while she slept and watching Hillary Clinton accept the nomination to become the Democratic presidential candidate and feeling all kinds of emotions, which took me by complete surprise. I didn’t have particularly strong feelings about her, and women in leadership were already a normal part of my world. Still, I felt an unexpected wave of pride and emotion. The idea that a woman could be president – and that my daughter might grow up thinking that was completely ordinary – hit me in a way I hadn’t anticipated. That moment made something clear to me that I had intellectually understood but never really felt: Representation matters.
Hillary did not win the presidency, but that feeling stuck with me. I felt it again when Kamala Harris was selected as Biden’s running mate in 2020. I was on a hike with my sister and now my two daughters. Our phones buzzed with notifications that Kamala was the VP candidate. We took a picture and performed a little dance on the trail. This time, my now 4-year-old had some understanding of what was happening – a woman, a girl like her, could be one of the most powerful leaders in the country.
For most of my life, I’ve been fortunate to see women lead in my everyday world. But those moments on a national stage reminded me how powerful visibility can be – not just for the women watching, but for the next generation growing up believing those roles are naturally theirs to pursue.
Nikki Syverson, principal, Isaacson-Syverson Consulting
Over 20 years ago, as a young fundraising professional at the Des Moines Symphony, I had the opportunity to work with Christine Hensley. I saw firsthand how she built bridges and made connections to make things happen. From bringing the right chairs together to reinvigorate the Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops fundraising event to convening community leaders to launch a flood relief effort, Christine was assertive, creative and positive when it came to finding solutions to meet a need.
Christine’s leadership approach modeled for me how much relationships truly matter. Nurturing relationships and bringing people together is the way to truly make a difference. And from watching Chris, I was able to see that people appreciated being asked to help in whatever way they could. Seeing her drive and tenacity gave me the confidence then – and now – to follow her example by bringing people together and engaging them in meaningful work.
