From building confident managers to delivering measurable results. Trusted by over 1,000 organisations to grow leadership excellence at every level.
From apprenticeships and qualifications to professional development and employability skills. Supporting learners, partners, and centres with tools to deliver, assess, and grow.
Join a professional community committed to excellence in management and leadership. Access exclusive resources, and recognition pathways including Chartered Manager.
Connect, celebrate, and lead with CMI’s vibrant community. From events and awards to networks and campaigns, get involved and help shape the future of management.
Stay informed with expert insights, thought leadership, and the latest in management. From in-depth features to practical guidance, explore the ideas shaping today’s workplace.
Learn about CMI’s mission, values, and impact. From our Royal Charter to governance, careers, and sustainability commitments, discover who we are and what drives us.
03 March 2015 -
Lizzie Allen
There are so many people that inspire me and it's been hard to choose just one. But a phenomenally talented lady who always inspires me when I listen to her is singer Ella Fitzgerald.
Despite her tough beginnings, she went on to win 13 Grammy awards and sell millions of albums around the world. Her voice is like liquid gold and she is able to portray every emotion. If I am feeling low and need a boost, all I have to do is listen to her sing “How High the Moon”.
Another woman whose courage and determination completely humbles me is retired British sailor Ellen MacArthur. How anyone can sail around the world single-handedly – battling terrifying seas, extreme exhaustion and loneliness – astounds me, let alone how that achievement may seem to, say, a woman of 21. Her achievement showed the most incredible strength of body and mind and I’m completely in awe of her. If I ever think I can't do something, I think of her and she gives me the strength to see the task through.
Lizzie Allen (above left) is managing director of the City Music Foundation, founded in 2012 to provide professional musicians in the UK with expert advice, performance opportunities and guidance to help them build successful music careers
For thoughts on leadership styles that work for women, sign up to this forthcoming CMI seminar.
Image of Ella Fitzgerald courtesy of William P Gottlieb via the Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
Click here for a previous “My hero” column.
› The persistence of presenteeism and other nuanced nonsense
› A new age of vulnerability: why inclusive leadership matters more than ever
› Ask yourself: "How do I make my employees feel?"
› Finance and the Diversity Dividend
For more information or to request interviews, contact CMI's Press Team on 020 7421 2705 or email press.office@managers.org.uk
› The 5 Greatest Examples of Change Management in Business History
› Four companies that failed spectacularly, and the lessons of their premature demise
› 6 companies that get employee engagement – and what they do right
› 4 Signs That Racism May Be An Issue In Your Workplace
› How to build an Effective Team: focus on just 3 things
