A Conversation with Rita Barreto of Top Tier Leadership

Rita Barreto, the former chairperson of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, is an empowered woman, a published author, an award-winning consultant, and the visionary and founder of Top Tier Leadership. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In her professional life, she spent 23 years in corporate America as a high-level director. Then, she took a leap and started her own business, Top Tier Leadership, 25 years ago. 

In this episode, Rita shares her experiences as a 6-year commissioner. In 2020, she became the chairperson of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. This Commission includes women of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, professions, and geographic locations. Due to the diversity of the Commission they are able to come up with so many different solutions and approaches. She is proud to say that everyone in the commission didn’t skip a beat, even in the midst of the pandemic. They even held virtual events that enabled women to engage and be heard. They discovered that when they have a virtual event, more women attended than when they organized an in-person one. Rita developed and gathered more data concerning the status of women,  which could be utilized as a tool for future project decision-making. Rita has also produced an annual report containing measurable data to aid in the development of policies to solve challenges that impact women and girls.

For many years, women have been suffering from discrimination. Women are not allowed to vote and don’t have the same rights as men. However, things changed 100 years ago as the suffragists fought for the rights of women. The suffragists pioneered equality and women’s empowerment.

Rosie and Rita talked about the 100 years of women’s suffrage in this episode. Rita reiterates that this is a significant event as it reflects where women have been. It celebrates women’s voices and the power to vote for someone to represent them in the government. Women’s suffrage enables us to have a voice and to make changes.

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women awards two major awards: Florida Women’s Hall of Fame and Spirit of the Community Award. While many may be familiar with the Women’s Hall of Fame award, many may not be familiar with the latter. Rita shared that the Spirit of the Community Award is a way of recognizing women who are currently volunteering in their communities with pure motivation. To nominate someone visit fcsw.net and complete an application and be sure to quantify what the nominee did in the community. A total of 12 women are selected. The Commission also has a video and essay contest for the youth related to women issues. Both boys and girls up to high school age can submit a video and essay. In 2020, the Commission purchased a kiosk that allows visitors to the State Capital to view the Women’s Hall of Fame awardees. Prior to 2020 visitors could only view this information by visiting the Women’s Hall of Fame wall at the Capital. 

Towards the end, Rita suggests her favorite book, Leadership Challenge by James Kouze and Barry Posner. She loved this book as it is research-based and discussed the five characteristics of an admired leader: inspire a shared vision, model the way, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. She also advises everyone to pick one area to work on and once mastered move onto another characteristic.

In closing, it is important that we help each other rather than forcing our own way to the top. Have pure motives. The change starts with you because the only person you can change is you!

 

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