Women take risks in very different ways.

• Author: Nelson, Alyse
• Position: Brief article

From Vital Voices by Alyse Nelson. Copyright [c]2012 by Vital Voices. Published by fossey-Bass (www.josseybass.com).

A COMMON TRAIT of world-changing women leaders: When confronted with tough challenges, women put forward audacious new ideas and take bold risks to improve the lives of others. Leaders do not hesitate to voice their opposition in defense of core values or principles even at great risk to their safety or reputation. Risk is necessary to transformative change, and leaders take it on--not without fear but secure in the knowledge that they are advancing positive change.

At Vital Voices we have found that contrary to gender stereotypes, women are incredibly risk-adept. However, it is worth noting they take risks in very different ways from men. In our experience, women take calculated risks in response to need, as opposed to aggressive risks in...