In a few weeks, I will be introducing Bianca Jagger at a breakfast in Denver hosted by America's Latino ECO Festival. According to MassMedia, Bianca Jagger is the highest-paid activist in the world. Over the past year, she pulled in $58 million between September 2014 and September 2015.
Ms Jagger's millions drives home a timely reminder about how the work of women is valued in the workplace. For example, in the 5-hour standoff between Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards and GOP representatives, she was confronted with a question about her salary. This unusual line of questioning at a House hearing prompted me to create a one-minute leadership exercise for women.
Are you ready to try it yourself?
If so, take a moment to a look in the mirror and ask yourself: "How much would someone have to pay me to take over the job of Cecile Richards?"
In the job description, you would be told that as president of Planned Parenthood you would be in charge of an organization that has been providing health care and family planning education to low income women, women in need, for 100-years.
Reading between the lines of the job description, you would understand -- at gut level -- that the job also came with risks.
There would be picket lines, there would be fire bombings, there would be death threats. Words would be hurled your way and hit you like a modern day stoning. You would be required to stand your ground. You would be assaulted with steely cold looks. You would be pointed at. You would be singled out. Your job would keep you at the front lines, you would be the face of the 4,655,000 women you represent.
At the House hearings on defunding your organization, you would be placed in a chair facing "the Enemy." They would attempted to finger YOU as the cause of shutting down an entire government affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands -- even millions -- of people.
With television cameras and news photographers flashing close ups of your face -- you would maintain your focus. Facing the cameras, and members of the House hearing, you would field questions for five hours.The only weapons you would be given would be a microphone, the clarity of your cause, and a few well chosen words.
Now take a deep breath. This one-minute exercise is almost finished. In these last few seconds, take a moment and look into the mirror again. Look deeply into your own eyes.
Let the list of duties you would agree to undertake as leader of this national organization sink in. Breathe them in, deeply.
If you accept this job, you will serve as chief of a cause that required that you serve it with dignity and grace. As a leader, you will be making real time decisions that affect the health and well-being of the 4,655,000 low income women who use the services of your organization every year..
Now, write down a figure representing the annual salary you would be willing to take, on the job contract you are about to be offered.
Is it high enough? If not, aim higher!
Alexia Parks is the Founder of 10 TRAITS Women's Leadership Development Academy. It is the ONLY leadership training program in the world based on the New Science of the Female Brain.