In her career, Thompson served boots on the ground in Afghanistan during the War on Terror. Her role as a leader was as a totem of stability to those that served under her.
To be a trusted advisor who partners with each person I come in contact with, making an impact on everyone I mentor while leaving a legacy my grandchildren can be proud of.
Kate Raively Executive Assistant, American Water
To foster an inclusive environment in which passionate and innovative individuals can collaborate to make to make a social impact and bring about equity for others
Alexandra Arleo Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To be an authentic, inspirational leader who creates and achieves a vision for success for both organizations and the people in them in order to make a positive impact on the world through engineering.
Amy S. Fleischer, Ph.D. Dean, College of Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
To serve my community as a compassionate and truthful leader with the purpose of creating a more just and peaceful environment, empowering others to pursue equity and to contribute to the common good.
Soo Jin (Michelle) Han Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To act out of genuine compassion, accepting all diverse perspectives and pushing through difficulties to serve others and improve the world around me.
Kathleen Connor Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To empower and lead others and be an advocate for awareness and positive change regarding gender equity and women’s advancement through honest dialogue, mentorship, networking, education and the sharing of diverse perspectives.
Tessa Piontkowski Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To serve as an encouraging resource for others by using consistent methods such as mentorship and leadership development workshops in order to cultivate knowledge and personal growth. As a result, I hope that we can achieve justice for underserved communities
Gia Beaton Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
As a leader, I will work collaboratively with others to cultivate a space driven by awareness, respect, and compassion that serves to empower people of all identities and experiences.
Claire Schaefer Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To be a compassionate global leader who inspires lasting social change by uniting people around the world
Ashley Miller Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To dedicate myself to a lifelong intention to make a positive impact on the world and cultivate a global culture of justice and empathy alongside others who value these same principles.
Alexandra Keresztesy Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To create a cohesive community by educating and working with others. To grow together and individually to further our goals.
Tara Otegui Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To embody and promote a happy lifestyle and maintain close relationships with the friends and family around me. And, to treat everyone how I would like to be treated, take care of my health and set goals and aspirations for myself, to learn from my past and make way for the future.
Kerri Weston Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To use truth, my community, and love to bring about a fairer, more equitable future. When I move forward, I bring everyone with me.
Michael Creighton Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To create open environments where everyone feels their worth and feels comfortable sharing their story with anyone around the world.
Rachel Voloshin Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
To use my personal values of knowledge, responsibility, diversity, and communication to advocate for the equality of all people.
Daisha Crooks Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
Through accurately portraying multiple perspectives, I want to demonstrate both the beauty in difference and the extent to which we are all innately alike. I aspire to reach an equitable world for all because only then can we thrive as a global community.
Kaylan Purisima Lorenzini Leadership Ambassador
I lead by focusing my energy on the needs of the team. People always come first. The leader’s responsibility is to empower followers, develop their skills, and provide feedback. The environment is always changing, so you need to trust in your team. In turn, the team will trust in you to listen and make hard decisions.
U.S. Army Captain Jaqueline Thompson
It is important to be open, be yourself and let people see behind the layers. That’s what I’ve tried to do with my story and what I try to do as a leader and a speaker.
Jennifer Lynn Robinson, Esq. CEO of Purposeful Networking
I do what’s in the best interest of the organization. I put the patient or the staff member in the center. I treat people with dignity and respect, which means making hard decisions when you have to. Coming from a place of curiosity. Driving to quality and knowing that the money is going to follow quality and anchoring what you do in gratitude. That is how I lead every single day.
Sandra Gomberg CEO at Philadelphia COVID-19 Surge Initiative
I listen to the needs of the community and create models to address those needs and bridge the gap for the resources and opportunities, so individuals truly have the chance to achieve their self defined success.
Adela Mendoza Executive Director, Hispanic Alliance of South Carolina/ Founder, Student Dreamers Alliance
I lead by example. We have to be the change we want to see in the world. Simply realizing there is a problem is not enough. Helping and supporting others will bring about change.
Lynn Pagano Community Manager, The Co-Co
I lead through building authentic and meaningful and grounded relationships. I lead with a loving heart and spirit. I lead with a belief in community; I am you and you are me.
Michelle Molitor Executive Director, The Equity Lab
I lead by inspiring young activists and allies to take hands-on action on social justice issues they are passionate about; by encouraging them to transform feelings of helplessness into creative advocacy.
Leading as a collective, more can be seen and solved.
Tami Lee Co-Founder, Haven Media
Above all else, authenticity. I believe caring for and communicating with my staff authentically creates a rewarding and beneficial environment.
Ericka Plater Executive Director for the Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services
I speak my mind. I speak my truth. I’m authentic. I’m honest. People know they can come to me and that I’ll never ask them to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself. Leadership doesn’t have to be hierarchical. And it isn’t. Leadership is a decision.
Glenda Gracia-Rivera Director of Professional Development and Training, The Center for Women & Work at Rutgers University
"I lead by focusing my energy on the needs of the team. People always come first. The leader's responsibility is to empower followers, develop their skills, and provide feedback. The environment is always changing, so you need to trust in your team. In turn, the team will trust in you to listen and make hard decisions."
Walking through the aisles of a grocery store, Captain Jacqueline Thompson had on her U.S. Army attire. A proud Army logistics officer, Captain Thompson served in Afghanistan as a convoy commander and served in the military combat for over nine years. As she walked the aisles picking out groceries, her experiences were a badge of honor on her heart.
But then, people came up to her and thanked her for her husband’s service.
Captain Thompson is used to similar remarks, but wishes they weren’t so common.
“My main hope is that it becomes normal. That it’s not so much of a novelty,” Captain Thompson said about seeing women in roles like hers. “It’s ok to go into one of these fields and to enjoy it.”
Despite the commonality of others misinterpreting her role, those assumptions do not deter from Captain Thompson’s powerful experiences and her leadership insight.
Growing up, Captain Thompson never foresaw herself pursuing a career in the military. When she was in her third year of college she was exposed to instances where she observed the military was lacking leadership. She was inspired to join with the goal of pursuing a position in leadership. Attending combat training immediately following college, Captain Thompson unknowingly walked into what would become the calling of her life.
In her career, Captain Thompson served boots on the ground in Afghanistan during the War on Terror. Her role as a leader to those that served under her was, first and foremost, to be a totem of stability.
Captain Thompson remarked, “you are facing a threat and getting yourself mentally and emotionally prepared to swallow down those fears, because you know that everyone is going to be watching you. Everyone is going to be looking to you for guidance and leadership and making sure you’re walking out there confident ready to go.”
On the grounds in Afghanistan, there were times when Captain Thompson was in a line of forty military vehicles that had to discern whether an explosive device was lying hidden on the road in front of them. She described having to lean on her subordinates in the decision to either move forward or go back. For Captain Thompson, leadership has often dealt in life or death. However, it was never a question as to whether she wanted to take on that role.
“I was happy to be in that role because I knew I would be the person to accept that role with a care for my subordinates,” she said. “If anyone had to carry the burden, I wanted it to be me.”
As a leader, Captain Thompson described the importance of getting to know who you are leading. It’s by learning about her subordinates she was able to make the best decisions on missions. In her line of work, the right decision is of the utmost urgency.
“Assuming leadership in the military has been unlike any other leadership position. One thing that makes it absolutely unique is that you’re responsible for all aspects of that person’s life. You’re not just responsible for what happens in your nine to five… you’re responsible for their health, their morale, their welfare. Making sure they have a financial plan. Making sure that if they do deploy that their family is taken care of” and everything in between.
When Captain Thompson first joined the military, women were not allowed to serve in the infantry. She came up in a patriarchal society. By being in the military, she has served not only for our country, but for the women who couldn’t have dreamed of a life like Captain Thompson’s.
In 2015, the military made all roles available to women. “My one hope is that women keep pushing themselves,” she said. “I mean they already are. They are out there in the ranks.” Captain Thompson relayed that since women have had the opportunity to serve, there have been women in foxholes, driving tanks, and more.
Captain Thompson’s life has been one devoted to serving the United States in a way that is nothing short of intense, inspirational, and honorable. While she has faced microaggressions and discrimination throughout her career in regard to her gender, her perseverance is a testament to her commitment to her mission. Captain Thompson has served as an impactful role model to future generations.
Thankfully, not everyone thanks her for her husband’s service.
“I’ll never forget one time I was in uniform and stopped at a gas station and I was not near a military post. There was a girl with her father and she just pointed at me and said “Look it’s a girl soldier!” and you could just tell from the tone of her voice that it hadn’t even crossed her mind that women could be soldiers too. I think it’s important for young girls to see women not just in the army, but as airline pilots, and engineers, and working in construction… doing all these things.”
Captain Jacqueline Thompson is currently pursuing a degree in social-organizational psychology at Teachers College of Columbia University. From there, she will go on to teach as a professor at the United States Military Academy.