Leadership is a subject that is more crucial than ever. We need capable leaders who can lead us through these trying times as we continue to manage complicated societal and economic concerns. But leadership has historically been viewed as primarily male territory. In leadership positions, women are frequently disregarded or underestimated. But circumstances have changed, and now there is a greater emphasis on enabling women to assume leadership roles and dismantling the obstacles that have prevented them from doing so. This has caused interest in the idea of feminine leadership to rise.
The Brave Group is a brand that understands the importance of leadership and has made it its mission to support executives in their journey toward success. With a focus on diversity and inclusivity, it aims to create a united alliance of men and women supporters to help individuals reach their full potential in the workplace.
Under the exceptional leadership of Co-founder Melissa Hemilton, The Brave Group has emerged as a beacon of progress and empowerment in the business world.
Its guiding principle is the idea that everyone deserves a level playing field in the workplace. The goal of the organization, which is firmly committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity, is to give CEOs the leadership abilities, perspectives, and resources they need to reach their greatest potential. The Brave Group is a group of men and women who are working together to redefine success in the workplace and challenge societal standards.
Melissa has taken the lead in establishing a supportive environment where people may flourish and overcome obstacles as visionary leaders. In addition to revolutionizing The Brave Group, Hemilton’s steadfast commitment to promoting feminine leadership has encouraged numerous professionals to accept their individual talents and achievements.
With a comprehensive range of programs and initiatives, The Brave Group provides invaluable support to individuals and organizations seeking to cultivate inclusive cultures. Through Brave Feminine Leadership, executives gain access to transformative coaching and mentorship, empowering them to lead with authenticity, empathy, and resilience. Additionally, as the Australian office for The
Great Game of Business®, The Brave Group offers local expertise and resources to enable companies to implement open-book management practices, fostering transparency, and employee engagement.
The impact of The Brave Group’s work extends far beyond the boardroom. By championing the importance of diversity and inclusivity, the organization is driving societal change and dismantling barriers that have hindered progress for far too long. Through thought-provoking events, advocacy campaigns, and community partnerships, The Brave Group is actively shaping a future where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and succeed.
Join us as we delve into their awe-inspiring voyage!
Journey of Triumph and Resilience
Melissa considers leading a large international corporation to success as one of her most significant achievements as an executive. She felt fulfilled when she saw over 5,000 people embrace a shared vision and experience the unstoppable energy and power that come with achieving collective success. The shared rewards of growth and financial gains were also a source of joy. However, in late 2017, Melissa received the news that she had breast cancer. She took time off from her CEO role to concentrate on her treatment and spend time with her family. Initially, she intended to return to her position as soon as she received a clean bill of health.
The break from work provided Melissa with the opportunity to reflect and be intentional about her next career move. She decided to take a leap of faith and resign from her CEO position to explore new opportunities. Although this decision was challenging because she was uncertain about the path ahead, Melissa chose to build a portfolio of board responsibilities instead of returning to her previous role. She needed the confidence to make this decision, and breast cancer gave her the courage to do so. As she puts it, “Courage is like a muscle; it grows as you start flexing it.”
Melissa’s co-founding of the Brave Group was partially inspired by a period of transformation in her life. During her search for a new career path, she struggled with imposter syndrome and negative self-talk that held her back. This realization led her to wonder if others were experiencing similar feelings. As a successful individual herself, Melissa recognized the potential widespread prevalence of such thoughts. In response, she created the Brave Feminine Leadership series, consisting of podcast interviews with over 75 global leaders discussing leadership, vulnerability, and impact. Listeners resonated with the series, finding it empowering and inspiring.
Many listeners even reported that the series motivated them to pursue leadership positions they previously felt unqualified for. Throughout her career, Melissa was often described as “Not a regular CEO,” which she later realized was a compliment. As a leader, she embraced her authentic self, blending unique masculine and feminine qualities. Melissa didn’t fit the stereotypical mold of a successful CEO, which is typically male, tall, has gray hair, and leads with a command-and-control style of leadership. People craved a new type of role model, one that embodied humility and ambition, collaboration and decisiveness, vulnerability and strength. Melissa is proud to have served as a role model for many.
Melissa’s fervor for exceptional leadership, which involves transparent leadership that truly involves people, has been a long-standing passion. This fervor was the driving force behind the establishment of The Brave Group, which was made possible by reconnecting with a former colleague who shared many of the same passions.
The Vision
The Brave Group team is convinced that organizations worldwide need braver leaders and cultures. They have a particular focus on supporting senior professional women through their Brave Feminine Leadership Brand, enabling them to find more satisfying job opportunities without self-doubt, maximize their earnings, and make a lasting impact. The group collaborates with both individuals and organizations to accelerate the progress of outstanding women into senior leadership positions.
The Brave Group, the region’s license holder, is introducing the Great Game of Business (GGOB), which centers around open book management. This leadership philosophy, established by Jack Stack, fosters transparency by sharing business information, educates and engages employees, and delivers exceptional business outcomes, financial gains, and cultural transformations. Melissa experienced firsthand how GGOB creates a transparent and engaging culture that leads to great success. According to her, “It takes bravery and discipline to open your books to your people and engage them to act and think like business owners.” She further explains that when leaders intentionally relinquish “Command and control” leadership and embrace traditionally feminine qualities such as empathy, compassion, listening, and building trust, they experience the true joy of leadership.
Championing Equal Leadership
The Brave Group advocates for the equal sharing of leadership, believing it will improve the world. The conventional notion of success has often been attributed to qualities like decisiveness, action-taking, achieving, competing, and winning, all of which are commonly associated with the traits of strong male leaders. However, Melissa emphasizes that these abilities are now considered basic requirements, and driving the change we all aspire to see involves possessing qualities such as empathy, listening, and collaboration. There is an opportunity for us all to explore the remarkable potential of a world where feminine and masculine leadership traits are balanced and given equal recognition.
Melissa is a firm believer in The Brave Group’s mission, which aims to foster leadership, culture, and female talent in various organizations. The group actively collaborates with remarkable leaders like Ricky Nowak, Kim Moriyama, and Karen Rule, who traditionally would be viewed as competitors. Melissa sees this collaboration as an opportunity to deliver better outcomes to its Mastermind cohorts and Alumni. She emphasizes that there is sufficient space for everyone to thrive. According to Melissa, the Brave Group’s unique selling point is its approach. She explains that the group has been able to deliver outstanding results to many people because they know precisely when to step up as the right leader.
Leadership revolves around people. It encompasses building connections, gaining experience, and fostering trust. A distinctive experience is created through their programs and mentoring, which are directed and guided by former CEOs who have managed large-scale businesses in the United States, Asia, and Australia. These leaders have been in the same shoes as their participants, thus handling situations with a high degree of empathy and sharing personal experiences that are often infused with humor. The foundation of their approach is based on the belief that anyone can practice Joy-Driven Leadership, which, in turn, will enable leaders to reach their potential in having a significant and long-lasting impact.
Empowering Women and Conquering Corporate Challenges
Melissa finds great joy in the fact that no two workdays are the same. She has the ability to effortlessly switch between managing a team of exceptional executives, engaging in intimate one-on-one discussions, and attending CEO meetings aimed at advancing the careers of female employees. In addition, she has a Board portfolio that keeps her in touch with the varied corporate challenges across industries. Melissa intentionally dedicates a significant amount of time to her personal development, as she strives to achieve a life that she loves. Melissa views herself as an ambitious leader who has the best interests of her team, female employees seeking career growth, and leadership at heart. She strongly believes that ambition is an admirable quality.
Secrets to Achieving Balance
Melissa adopts a flexible approach toward achieving balance. She recognizes that balance is a subjective experience and that what works for her may not work for others. Melissa also views balance over a longer period of time rather than on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis. She believes that individuals are often too harsh on themselves and attempt to meet everyone’s expectations. For Melissa, identifying her priorities and what truly matters to her is the starting point. This self-awareness and clarity enable her to avoid feeling overwhelmed by never-ending tasks and ensure that she remains in control, accomplishing more of what is important. Melissa acknowledges the importance of engaging in activities that ground her, such as taking an early morning walk with her husband, having a cold shower, and reading frequently. Additionally, she has learned to manage her inner critic, extend kindness to herself, and cultivate her inner cheerleader, which motivates her forward.
Melissa’s motivation remains steadfast. She finds inspiration in a Brave Feminine Leadership graduate who expresses their confidence, their clarity on their future path, their excitement over a significant salary increase, and their newfound status as the top choice for promotion. Melissa confesses that hearing success stories from leaders who acknowledge that they don’t have all the solutions but can rally their team to confront business obstacles and achieve a common goal is a powerful force that drives her forward.
Guiding Aspiring Leaders
Melissa finds great inspiration in the new generation of leaders who are challenging the conventional standards that have assigned most caregiving and unpaid labor to women across the globe.
Nonetheless, the pace of this shift is slower than desired, and Melissa sees an opportunity to lead and support the many great female leaders who struggle to balance work and family responsibilities and wonder if fulfilling careers are possible without sacrificing their health or homes. Melissa’s Brave Feminine Leadership Podcast series (also available in video format) features stories from remarkable leaders, like herself and her listeners. The podcast dispels leadership myths, addresses imposter syndrome, and encourages bravery. Melissa’s Masterminds offer a secure environment to build a solid network and focus on building a purposeful career as a powerful woman of influence.
Lending a Hand
Melissa’s perception of success has evolved and expanded over the years. In the beginning stages of her career, success was primarily defined by personal achievements. This included receiving acknowledgement for her work, feeling a sense of importance, and being entrusted with demanding and critical tasks, all while being dependable to deliver expected results. She strived to have a voice in the workplace, to feel valued, and to hold a prestigious title. Her focus was on being correct and surpassing her peers. Her definition of success was largely influenced by external validation.
As Melissa took on more senior roles with greater responsibility, she realized that her definition of success had shifted. Success was no longer solely about her personal achievements, but about leading others to achieve shared goals. Melissa chose to surround herself with people who challenged her thinking and perspective, allowing her to grow alongside her team. She also recognized the importance of assessing her whole life, not just her career, and identified her core priorities as family, health, friends, and personal growth. Today, Melissa defines success differently. It is about making a positive impact in her community and inspiring others, especially female leaders, to reach their full potential. She believes in building transparent cultures that engage and encourage growth. For Melissa, success means constantly learning and unlearning, pushing herself just outside of her comfort zone.
Future Aspirations
The simple goal of The Brave Group is to create braver leaders and braver cultures.
Melissa aims to inspire 100,000 women to take charge of their careers by making intentional moves toward their ultimate potential without waiting for opportunities to come to them. She strongly advocates for transparent leadership as the key to successful businesses. According to her, leadership is a privilege that aspiring women should embrace to make a positive impact and improve their followers’ lives. The most courageous businesses focus on leveraging the power of transparent leadership to shape their future.
