In the twenty-first-century workplace, women are encouraged to step up, lean in, take charge, go for it . . . yet how much has actually changed regarding the makeup of leadership when it comes to adding women’s voices? While it's easy to still blame a corporate culture that favors men, seasoned executive Grace Killelea identifies another culprit: a surprising disparity in confidence--with men typically prone to overestimate their abilities, and women too often selling themselves short. For real change to take place within the workforce when it comes to adding more women’s voices within leadership, we must get beyond knowing that we simply have the ability as women to speak out, take risks, and fill leadership positions; we must become more confident that we can do those things with excellence! The Confidence Effect moves beyond research, statistics, and cheerleading, and focuses on what’s really important: how women can become more confident, one step at a time. While developing the four Rs of Success--relationships, reputation, results, and resilience--women will learn how best to: • Build circles of influence • Seize opportunities they normally avoid • Leverage and promote their skills • Cultivate executive presence • Bounce back from setbacks • And more You’ve been encouraged to get in the game your entire life, yet you remain on the sidelines. Why? Become more confident in who you are and what you can do, and claim the success you deserve!
Grace Killelea is the CEO and Founder of The GKC Group, a leadership development company. The company launched its program for high-potential women in early 2013. Called Half The Sky Leadership Institute, it is dedicated to expanding opportunities for women leaders to advance and thrive. A second program – Quattro –launched in Fall of 2015, offers development for both men and women, with a co-ed platform. The GKC Group also offers executive coaching and consulting. A veteran human resources and talent executive, Grace’s career spanned 35 years in the retail and telecommunications industries. She served as Senior Vice President of Talent at Comcast Cable Corporation before retiring to launch Grace Killelea Consulting in 2012. Her work rests on what she has identified as the four cornerstones of leadership: relationships, reputation, results, and resilience. Using these pillars, CEOs, executives, and professionals elevate their leadership and transcend their perceived limitations to achieve sustained business and personal success. Whether she’s captivating audiences or coaching one-on-one, Grace’s leadership inspires change. For over 20 years, Grace has been keenly focused on developing, supporting, mentoring, coaching, and connecting women, both professionally and in her volunteer work as well. She has created an outstanding network of women at every level and in diverse industries that support and promote women’s advancement and achievement. She was the national facilitator for a selective nine-month, intensive leadership curriculum for women in the telecommunications industry. Grace has worked with and mentored over 1000 executive women leaders. A highly sought-after speaker and thought leader in the leadership space, she is often the featured speaker at events that support women and girls. Grace also serves on the Board of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, and she is an avid fundraiser for organizations supporting research against breast and ovarian cancer. Her book “The Confidence Effect” is written for women who want to become the CEO’s of their own career and understand how best to connect their confidence to their competence. Grace earned her Master’s Degree in Human Resources from American University’s Kogod School of Business and Public Affairs, where she graduated with honors. She is a certified Birkman Consultant and also trained at the prestigious Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC, considered to be one of the best leadership programs in the United States. Grace resides in Philadelphia with her husband Leonard.