CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
DONEENE DAMON | RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER
"A leader's primary goal is to empower and motivate others. ...
And you cannot develop the next generation of leaders without
inclusion because development isn't one size fits all."
Doneene Damon, president of Richards, Layton & Finger, was the first minority in Delaware to be elected as partner of a large firm as well as the first woman and minority at her firm to be elected as president—at that time, she was one of few at that level in the nation.
Yesterday, Damon addressed our guests at our Chamber Leadership breakfast where she shared stories from her personal leadership journey, lessons learned along the way, and her vision to pave a path so that we are no longer celebrating 'the first'.
LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP:
- You're not born with leadership skills, you grow, develop and acquire skills to become one.
- Growth as a leader is a continuous journey.
- Linked with compassion, leaders must be empathetic so that they know and understand the impact of their decisions.
- Leadership requires difficult moments so that we can help others deal with difficult moments.
- Leadership development can't be done without diversity, equity and inclusion. Your whole team must feel like they have a voice and belong.
- Leaders must be active listeners, able to take feedback, and willing to perhaps make a change.
