Does it matter if you don’t fit the mold of a stereotypical leader? Will it affect your aptitude as a leader or your chances of being promoted to a leadership position? Yes and no. Stereotypes of leaders do exist and can affect who is promoted. Though Jennifer Anderson doesn’t have all the stereotypical traits of a leader—she admits that she is an introvert—her thoughtful and collaborative leadership style has made her a highly effective leader. She shatters the image of a leader we expect or envision. Formerly a vice president of research and development at VMware and currently the engineering director of the data team at Uber, she demonstrates that diverse leadership is possible and needed in the world of tech.
