Ursel J. McElroy

I would like to see more bold thinking, more broad thinking, and more uniformity in how it is applied across the world for older individuals.

Well, I will say that when you are a visionary, sometimes your ideas can seem too big for the other people in the room.

It can make you question your own intentions and dangerously require you or compel you to curb your enthusiasm, to shrink into a smaller space that is comfortable for the others in the room.

I think one of the challenges that I have overcome is being comfortable sometimes making other leaders uncomfortable.

When I ask you, why are we moving too slow?

If I respectfully challenge a decision that could adversely impact millions of individuals, I am now comfortable with your discomfort.

I have learned to reframe the issue where needed, but stay the course.

You know, if I were offering something to many of the women, people ask me, what are the things that you would want younger women starting their careers to do?

What sort of advice would you have to them?

I think there are three things that I would offer to any young woman

Any woman, for that matter, is first and foremost, is to bring your whole self.

Many of us lead high pressure lives.

We have to juggle many things as women, particularly when it comes to managing your families and your career.

And as a consequence, often our mental and physical health has to take a backseat.

In fact, major barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle are often the lack of time and the deprioritization of their own well-being.

And I would say you have to bring your whole self each and every day and that requires you to take care of yourself.

The second thing I would say is to give yourself grace.

And this was a really hard one for me.

But give yourself kindness that you often deserve.

The permission to forgive your own mistakes.