Five years ago, Lois drew upon this vast experience when she founded the Woman’s Leadership Institute (WLI), a unique, 12- month program of mentoring, coaching, training, and organizational consulting that strives to teach women how to be leaders and advance within their companies. Lois is a firm believer that once women are in high-level positions, they will influence changes in their own organizations that impact women and their families, as well as serve in leadership positions in their communities.
Prior to founding WLI Lois had been a successful independent organizational consultant and trainer since 1975 for companies to help them with their workplace, managerial and leadership issues. “We didn’t want to just impact individual women and then send them back to the same organization,” says Lois. “ We also want to teach organizations how to attract, attain and advance women.”
Lois has been married for 33 years to her beloved husband, Arn, whom she met in college. She credits their long-term wedded bliss to a shared love of adventure and learning. Their most recent adventure has been settling into their new Frank Lloyd Wright designed prairie style home on 25 acres near the Platte River.
Lois has donated extensive time and energies over the years toward helping women’s organizations in Colorado through speeches and workshops. Her topics include recognition of volunteers, celebrations, leadership challenges, the mentor-protégé relationship and networking. Recently she was awarded the prestigious “Star Among Stars” award from the Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition CWLC.
And if that isn’t enough, she is also cited in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who of American Authors, and Who’s Who of Consultants and Trainers. Some of her books include Moving Up! Women, A Woman’s Complete Guide to Leadership, The Sexes at Work—Improving Work Relationships Between Men and Women, 50 Activities for Developing Leaders, Vol. I and Vol. II, Faultless Facilitation-A Resource Guide and Instructor’s Manual, and Learning From Conflict. She has just completed a book with Ken Blanchard (her mentor and author of The One Minute Manager) and Mario Tamayo called Celebrate .
What gives a woman/man style: Confidence and the way they hold themselves. Style has nothing to do with the wrinkles on your face, the car you drive or the clothes you wear. It’s more in a firm handshake and how you look people in the eye and really listen.
Favorite Restaurant: Racine’s
What are your volunteer activities? Most of my energy goes towards my volunteer work with Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition. I am also on the board of the Women’s Vision Foundation and involved with the American Society of Training and Development, and the Rocky Mountain Rag Time Festival.
Who is your hero and why? My heroine is Susan B. Anthony due to her persistence and organizational skills. No matter what she just kept on going, failure was impossible, which is especially amazing due to the fact that she had so little resources like cars, airplanes, telephones.
If your life were a movie, whom would you want to play your part? Sally Field, because she has a certain feistiness about her.
Saturday night at midnight, you are most likely: Reading a book.
Do you have any Pets? Four cats and an Australian Shepherd. The last two cats just showed up and we keep collecting them.
What one word describes you best? Generous
How would you like others to describe you? Generous
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My doctorate in 1974, each book I have written and the Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition “Star Among Stars” award because I was being honored by my peers.
What was your first job? I was an elementary school teacher
What word or expression do you use too much? “You know”
If there were one thing you would change about yourself, what would it be? I would like to be more patient.
What is your greatest indulgence? Chocolate ice cream.
Which talent would you most like to have? I would like to be a better ballroom dancer
What is your current state of mind? Satisfied because our Women’s Leadership Institute has just started its 4th class, my husband and I are having a great new adventure building our house, I have great friends and colleagues and I just finished another book. I’m so very grateful as well.
What is your most treasured possession? I collect women’s statues and try to get one for myself every time I finish a book. I only have 12 right now, some inside, some out in the garden, so I owe myself a few!
What is the quality you most like in a man? Flexibility and a sense of adventure
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Same
What are some of your favorite books, who are your favorite writers? I read a lot of historical novels and I usually go through certain eras. Of all kinds. I love James Mitchner and the reason we moved to Colorado is from my reading Centennial. Ironically, we now live exactly in the spot in Greeley that he wrote about.
What is the best advice you have ever received? You can do it!
