Queen Esther - Lessons on Leadership from the 5th Century BCE

In a recent industry dinner for technology executives in finance, I realized midway that I was one of only two women among about fifty guests. I wondered why more weren't in attendance, especially since I work with many female executives in the industry. Perhaps few women were invited? Perhaps more women were invited but chose not to attend due to competing responsibilities at home, or that the choice of a steakhouse venue did not appeal to them, or a lack of perceived value in this style of networking events? Heck, I might not have attended had I not been invited as a guest speaker. Was I intimidated by the room? No. In fact, I felt a sense of pride in being a female presence in that room, not solely to network with industry peers, but also to bring a diverse perspective to the conversation. But it did get me thinking about how people can navigate within traditional norms and structures, leveraging their own styles, priorities and strategies and to effect change and gain personal success. 

Queen Esther, wife of King Xerxes I of Persia in the 5th century BCE (known as Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther), is the celebrated heroine of Purim, saving the exiled Jewish nation from a proclamation of genocide. She is a great example of how to make a significant impact while operating within the confines of established rules and societal structures, applicable to women at that time, members of the king’s court, and all subjects of the Persian empire. In contrast, Queen Vashti, the king’s prior wife, attempted to create change through dissonance and challenge of the rules, and was subsequently banished. Esther's tactics demonstrate a nuanced understanding of power dynamics, cultural norms and strategic activism, making her a remarkable role model for leaders today. Some of her notable techniques include:

• Strategic silence: Esther understands society’s expectations of her role as a selected wife of the king and follows all of the rules of the king’s court. She does not resist her role nor does she voice her opposition to the rules. She knows that vocal rule-challengers & rule-breakers are not successful change agents. Esther's willingness to operate within the rules of engagement, even when they seem restrictive, underscores her strategic acumen and pragmatism.

• Navigating within societal values: Knowing the king's penchant for revelry, Esther seizes the opportunity to capture his attention by hosting a party with him as the guest of honor, providing a conducive setting for engagement.

• Leveraging privilege: Esther gains the good graces of the king by meeting all of his expectations of a “good wife” in order to make her requests. By respecting the protocols of the court, Esther earns the trust and respect of those around her, including King Ahasuerus.

• Persuasive storytelling: She shares her personal story to sway the king's decision.

• Willingness to accept help: Recognizing the limits of her own abilities, Esther seeks counsel from Mordechai and rallies the nation for support through fasting, acknowledging the value of collective effort in achieving redemption.

• Risk-mitigated rule breaking + a dose of faith and courage:  She sparingly and carefully challenges norms by approaching the king unsummoned and initiating policy changes. She ultimately risks her life to stand up against injustice and save her community.

  
  

Unlike the traditional notion that effective leadership requires disrupting accepted norms, Esther demonstrates that women can lead with efficacy without sacrificing their femininity and leveraging her unique strengths and perspectives as a woman.

Relating this back to the industry event - Yes, I absolutely should have attended since it is an embraced norm of our industry’s structure for networking, negotiation and alliance building. And of course I went over to high-five the one other female in the room for attending and being a vocal participant. And yes, I gave immediate feedback to the organizers to consider why there were so few women - and perhaps men who may have skipped the event for similar reasons - in attendance. 

Often, the most valuable insights come from those outside the immediate environment, as they offer fresh perspectives unconstrained by entrenched norms. By adopting Queen Esther’s strategies, I hope we can each grow personally and professionally, becoming agents of change within our organizations and communities while embracing our genuine selves and unique approaches to leadership.