In The Loop- December 6, 2024
“I want every little girl who’s been told she is bossy, to be told she has leadership skills” – Sheryl Sandberg. That infamous quote a couple years back has been the mantra for women’s leadership for many. After the past week’s focus on the former Governor M. Jodi Rell’s passing, I think that iconic quote should read something like this going forward for little girls and boys in CT:
“I want every little girl and boy in Connecticut, who’s ever been told they’re too bossy, too quiet, or too different, to be told they have the potential to lead with civility, respect, and grace—values that define true leadership.”
Governor Rell arrived in Hartford in 1985 with a sense of caring, desperate to help people no matter who they were, what they did or their situation. She quickly earned the respect of her Republican caucus was elected deputy Republican leader and then honored to be selected as a candidate for Lt. Governor on the Rowland ticket. Governor Rell was more successful than she would ever have imagined. To her surprise, her calm, collective and direct leadership (sprinkled with a lot of civility, respect and intuitiveness) would be called upon again as she was elevated to serve as Connecticut’s 87th Governor under difficult circumstances.
And she led while doing it “her way”.
This past week Connecticut paid tribute to her as a leader who “stood for something,“, never deviated from her core values and brought the state of Connecticut together. Republicans, of course, arrived at the capitol on Tuesday along with leading Democrats, state employees representing dozens of state agencies, ordinary people from across the state, and her long-time TEAM Rell to send her off on an adventure with her beloved husband, the late Lou Rell.
Folks representing Connecticut’s Fidelio Seeing Eye Dog organization and the University of Hartford’s Governor M. Jodi Rell were there to recognize her efforts to support the many things true to her heart-public service, civility and going good not just doing well.
She has been missed since she left public office. She has stayed active in her retirement serving as the state’s leading crusader for the return of civility, respect and collaboration in public service. For this was, and will be, her lasting legacy.
As hundreds showed their respect to Connecticut’s “People’s Governor” at the Capitol where she lay in state in the same spot she greeted residents the day she was sworn in as Connecticut’s 87th Governor. This time her portrait, borrowed from the Connecticut State Library, reminded viewers that she was the real deal.
At the end of the day, “Jodi” lived up to her pledge on that day in July of 2004. She served Connecticut to the best of her ability – and man it was the best.