Landi Jac Of Circle of Excellence On How We Can Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management
An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Exposure — Like most people who desire to grow, we need to expose woman to more experiences, in business and life. It’s more impactful to take a female leader to a wine farm where she can observe how to tell a good story so that she can do the same when pitching for investors. There is more value in showing a woman how to act in a boardroom than trying to teach her the pitfalls.
Despite strides towards equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership and management roles across various sectors. In this series, we would like to discuss the barriers to female advancement in these areas and explore actionable strategies for change. We are talking with accomplished women leaders, executives, and pioneers who have navigated these challenges successfully, to hear their experiences, tactics, and advice to inspire and guide the next generation of women toward achieving their full potential in leadership and management roles. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Landi Jac.
Landi Jac’s extensive travel and work in over 50 countries have given her the reputation of a true Global Citizen. Known for achieving unprecedented business acceleration in her own and other companies, Landi has become a sought-after authority and international speaker.
Her pioneering strategies for business growth and mindset potential are implemented in boardrooms, universities and schools all over the world. In 2020, she received accreditation from Education Alliance Finland, a global standard for quality education; won the APAC Eco Conscious Leadership Development Award; as well as the Global Speakers Federation Presidents’ Award for contribution to industry.
As an international best-selling author, Landi believes in a world where business integrates with spirituality and consciousness; and where interspecies communication and the laws of nature are incorporated in the vision of world leaders. She continues to break barriers with her husband, Mike Handcock, calls Cape Town her home, doesn’t use email for communication and dance like rockstar in her free time.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I studied Industrial Psychology, and one day a guy in a black suit approached me in the University cafeteria. He introduced himself as a secret service agent and asked me if I have any interest in becoming an Industrial Spy (no jokes!). He explained that the role requires me to work for Bank A, while seeping strategic intelligence to Bank B. He told me that financially I will be looked after very well but noted that the death penalty applies should I get caught. So — I declined the offer.
This incident gave me an insatiable thirst to understand what’s happening in the corporate boardrooms of the world. What is so important in there that people will give up their lives for it? As an employee, I entered the business world as a Human Resources professional, but ended up as a Performance Management Specialist who became increasingly responsible for court cases and drug busts! After too many death threats, exited and start building my own international business consulting firm. These days I’m travelling the world with my husband, managing our multiple companies as Chief Executive Officer. The Circle of Excellence Group shows conscious leaders how to step into their next level, from a business growth and personal development perspective. To achieve this, we run events worldwide, and speak on international stages.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I think the spy guy is up there, but my day job is certainly not boring! The people in our eco-system are super interesting. We work with leaders who want to make a real difference in the world, ranging from Olympians, to scientists, speakers, CEO’s and authors and coaches.
We have a client in Malaysia who has started their school around a kitchen table, and these days run an international school that attracts investors such as Facebook and Google. When I visited that school for the first time, the kids blew my mind with their intelligence and good manners! The questions we asked them was complicated, and they answered it better than some of the executive teams we work with in boardrooms.
A company we owned before COVID was called Soul Journeys. Travelers with a love for ancient wisdom would join us from all over the world, and then we travel together for 11 days to sacred sites. To witness people’s experiences during these travels were amazing. The transformations, letting goes, deep work and inspirational stories that came from these tours will stay with me for a long time. One guy arrived as a complete alcoholic, then walked around a fire in the Sahara Desert, and left sober. Until today, he has not touched alcohol.
My career has showed me the world, unimaginable metamorphosis in people, unexplainable phenomena, more airports that I can count, and many cultures and customs. The most interesting is when an entrepreneur discovers that they have permission to be themselves, and that it’s the very thing that makes them unique that will attract clients to their products and services.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your path to leadership?
When working as an employee in Human Capital Management, I contacted some manager to come see me in my office. He arrived in tears, worried that I’m about to fire him. At that point, my collogues nicknamed me “Betty Bulldog”, and now with this guy crying, I realized that I’ve become an ugly person. I’ve learned that leadership is a great responsibility — it demands that you show up as the best version of yourself. For that to be possible, you have to be willing to work on yourself ALL THE TIME.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
This may sound cliché, but my parents and husband have played pivotal roles in my career. During my Masters degree, I needed to conclude some research for my thesis. My Dad accompanied me to a top Director in a reputable bank, hoping I can convince her to give me all her middle managers for the study. This woman was tough and influential, and worked from one of the top floors in the tall building. On the way up, I stressed. My Dad looked me in the eyes and said — “Landi, if you want to play with the big boys, don’t p**s like a puppy”! I blinked, processed it, and was never intimated by a person in authority ever again.
My Mom is an artist. She’s taught me from a very young age that nothing is impossible. As a child, she sat for hours, mentoring me on poetry that I performed from stage. Hard work pays off. She unwavering confidence in me has given me wings to fly. If you don’t have someone that believes in you — find one.
In 2013, a colleague convinced me to attend a competition for business owners, called Entrepreneur X-Factor. I attended reluctantly but lit up the moment I entered the room. There he was, Mike Handcock, my future husband. When we started dating, he invited me to one of his events, where he was to appear as a professional speaker. At the back of the room, he whispered in my ear “you are on in 20 minutes”, and that is how my career as an international speaker started. His belief in me is goosebump material. He has exposed me to so much business intelligence, and life experiences, but mostly love. I will always be grateful for him.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
The Alchemist. The Celestine Prophecy. The Initiation. The Road Less Travelled. What If You Where God? A Little Light on the Spiritual Laws. How Not to Diet. The Choice. The Greatest Salesman in the World. The Medical Medium series. All these books popped open mind that was restricted to the limiting beliefs of those around me. I believe that books find out, and not the other way around. In the words of Lao Tzu, “when the student is ready, the teacher appears”.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
In the song Nature Boy by Eden Ahbez, released in 1948, Nat King Cole sings “”The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, Is just to love and be loved in return”. This line, made famous by the 2001 film Moulin Rouge, has been by true north in business and life ever since. Wherever you focus your energy — and whatever you love with all your heart — will grow and expand. It can be a message to the world, your business, a special person, a lifestyle, or a dream.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
The world is already a good place if you are willing to look for beauty in difficult circumstances. We travel some years to over 20 countries to show people the world and inspire our clients to play a bigger game.
Personally, I love encouraging corporate leaders to stretch themselves into the next version of themselves. I like to dress up for most occasions in my unique style that hopefully encourages people to show themselves and express who they are. Mostly, I strive to live life extraordinary and in such a way that those who choose to be in my ecosystem feels encouraged by my example.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 31.7% of top executive positions across industries are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from leadership and management?
There’s two things for me –
Firstly, we must be able to distinguish between the opportunities that exist for a woman born in privilege versus a woman born in poverty. In modern times, that’s the root cause of equity.
Secondly, there is an overemphasis on men — what they have done in the past, is still doing today or may do in the future. All women must focus on their own skills development and take responsibility for their career advancement with the resources they have available to them. We are living in danger zone where woman empowerment may be confused with female entitlement. In other words, “I deserve this role because I’m a female”, as opposed to “I deserve this role because I worked hard for it and therefore deserve to be successful”.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become leaders and managers?
There are remarkable women out there who’s sober in their approach about business and life. They put in the hard work and accept that life can be unfair. These are the woman who use their brains, and resources to climb whatever mountains are in front of them. They carve out new opportunities, and don’t give up. They point more fingers at themselves than those around them, an ultimately grow into powerful and creative problem solvers.
These are the female leaders that needs to rise so that future generations have an example what it looks like when a woman step into her power. Be that as a CEO, world leader, mother, artist, partner, or manager.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management?”
1 . Exposure — Like most people who desire to grow, we need to expose woman to more experiences, in business and life. It’s more impactful to take a female leader to a wine farm where she can observe how to tell a good story so that she can do the same when pitching for investors. There is more value in showing a woman how to act in a boardroom than trying to teach her the pitfalls.
2 . Commitment and Discipline — If a woman does not have a proven track record of success in any area of her life, she needs to go back to basics. Showing up repeatedly with an openness to learn new things are essential for success. In performance reviews, woman must be held accountable at the same level as men in order the cultivate discipline.
3 . Confidence — Bravery is the buzz word in 2024, as it’s the Chinese Year of the Wood Dragon. Woman must be encouraged to face their fears and venture into unknown places so that they can learn and grow. In the Circle of Excellence Group we encourage our female leaders to up their game, increase their prices and face their fears head on. That way their kids may follow their lead.
4 . Competition — Stop telling woman that life is equitable and fair. It sets female leaders up for a big surprise and catches them off guard. I tell my clients that I prepare them for war. It’s not to scare anyone, but rather equip them with the armor that is required for the game of life. Let’s teach females how to persuade, how to influence, how to position themselves, how to rule (ha-ha) — as opposed to painting a picture of perfection.
5 . Events — We need more female leadership events that engages with men. Real life is not kitted with boardrooms filled with females or companies that employs only females. Woman leaders need to work together with male leaders to move things forward. Leadership conferences with diverse panels, and institutions such as the Global Dialogue Foundation and The Human Library are the future.
In your opinion, what systemic changes are needed to facilitate more equitable access for women to leadership roles?
Governments, world leaders and influencers should encourage woman from as young as possible to take responsibility for their own education. Never in history has knowledge been so accessible. The narrative needs to change from female empowerment to self-mastery and taking responsibility for your own future. The more skills you acquire, the more sought after you become by employers, companies, and society. If a woman is on a mission to impact the world in a positive way, go online an learn. Study. Borrow books. Ask a thousand questions. Be hungry for intelligence.
What strategies have you found most effective in mentoring and supporting other women to pursue leadership positions?
I mentor female leaders from all over the world, and many believe that they do not deserve the award, the prices they charge, or the media coverage they receive. I help them realize their worth by redefining their identity, increasing their global positioning, teaching them the latest skills in sales and marketing, and showing them the qualities in themselves that make them highly unique. Personal branding plays a massive role in how others perceive your message.
How would you advise a woman leader about how to navigate the challenges of being a woman in a leadership role within a male-dominated industry?
Be the best at what you do. Know who you are, decide on your values, and then put strong boundaries in place. If you compromise on those boundaries, you have lost the game. Be brave enough to stick to your convictions. Focus daily on the task at hand, and not who’s male and who’s female — it will only drain your energy and distort your perception of reality.
How do you balance the demand for authoritative leadership with the stereotypical expectations of female behavior in professional settings?
Those stereotypical expectations of female behavior in professional settings are as much in the mind of the female leader as it is in the minds of those expecting it. Stereotypes are only changed by those who are brave enough to be themselves. Who you are inside is the truth. What others want you to be is the lie.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
It would be a platform or annual event that allows leaders across borders, industries, and cultures to share their experiences, resources and learnings with each other. We need more examples of what good leadership looks like, so that future generations have the know-how to shape the new world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Our website is www.circleofexcellence.biz. I provide professional insights on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/landijac/ and people can follow my travel adventures on Instagram @landi_jac
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Landi Jac Of Circle of Excellence On How We Can Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.