Women’s Leadership Panel at Sea Air Space: A good “fit?”

We went BIG LEAGUES this week! Our Lean On Navy moderator, CAPT Emily Bassett, is also president of the Sea Services Leadership Association, and this week she moderated an in-person panel at Navy League’s Annual Sea Air Space Symposium.

Panelists were:

RDML Megan Dean, USCG, Director of Government and Public Affair

MajGEN Bobbi Shea, USMC, Legislative Assistant to Commandant, USMC

RADM Shoshana Chatfield, USN, President, U.S. Naval War College, Chair SSLA

Ms. Tami North, SES, Director, Naval Information Forces West

Each panelist started by sharing a story, telling us when they knew they were a “good fit” for their profession. As we advance, the ask of our profession shifts. As we mature, our talents and abilities develop and grow. As our world gets more complex and our workforce gets more diverse, the question of “a good fit” is one in constant flux.

Do we need to change, or does our organization need to change? Can both grow together?

The stories were compelling!

One panelist, Ms. Tami North, shared the story of being sidelined for five years in her attempt as an Enlisted Sailor to apply for Officer programs all because of the comment of one peer that she had in her head: “If you were meant to be an Officer, they would have told you.”

“They!” Who are “they?” Can we be “they” for someone else? Can you tell someone that maybe they would be a good fit for a promotion? Is someone telling you that you are not a good fit for another position?

Join the next panel like this one, and many many more at the Sea Service Leadership Association’s Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS), in Norfolk, VA, July 11–12, 2022. See you there!