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Lessons from 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

Guest post by: Holly Murdoch

Article Overview: The best-selling book "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels were made into films in Sweden in 2009. Now, the U.S. movie version of the first book, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, opens in theaters this December.

Lessons from 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

Female movie character teaches strength Women in business can take away many lessons from the title character, Lisbeth Salander. Strong, extremely intelligent and resilient, Lisbeth is a young computer hacker who has overcome many personal challenges in her lifetime to excel in her career.

w2wlink asked some of its professional experts and contributors for their thoughts on what female business owners and CEOs can learn from Lisbeth Salander:

From Lauren Porat, co-founder of Urban Interns:

While I'm eternally impressed by Lisbeth's inner strength and resilience in the shadow of the terrible events that plagued her childhood, her computer and hacking skills also made a big impact on me. Programming tends to skew male today. Lisbeth's confidence before her machine and the way that she uses technology as a defensive weapon will hopefully inspire more girls to get involved in tech!

From Paige Arnof-Fenn, founder of Mavens And Moguls:

What makes Lisbeth in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" a strong leader is that she is confident, resourceful and wicked smart! She has a great balance of left and right brain, highly analytical and creative. I find her magnetic, passionate and curious - a great combination for successful leaders!

From Lisbeth McNabb, CEO of w2wlink:

The character Lisbeth in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" shows such mental toughness with her ability to take an unfair life event and build a new path, though her initial tragedy may be more extreme than most unfair events. Yet many have had unfairness, and one thing I admire about the strong women around me is the ability to recover and build new paths.

From Lauren Lemke, marketing and advertising professional:

In "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," Lisbeth demonstrates a resiliency that is crucial in the way she takes control of her adult life. The ability to become such a strong, independent woman despite being physically and mentally damaged speaks volumes to the strength of her character. Lisbeth's persistence in maintaining her sense of self throughout the novel is a skill that is crucial for women in becoming a successful leader. (Read more: 3 Questions to Determine Your Authenticity)

From Ryland Devero, marketing and social media professional:

Is the story of Lisbeth Salander your typical story of "girl power," or the empowerment of the modern woman? No, most certainly not. But that seems to be the hook in drawing the attention of a worldwide fan base that transcends gender, age and race. Lisbeth toes the line between apathy and activism, sometimes choosing to look out for only herself, and sometimes acting as a representative of a gender and/or class. I admired her ability to choose her own destiny and right the wrongs she experienced in her life. She fights for what she believed in and stands up for herself and for those who support her. Her strength, loyalty and dedication to her work are qualities that can be applied and mimicked in both personal and professional realities.

From Roz Mallet, president and CEO of PhaseNext Hospitality:

There are often no better lessons learned than those that require us to lead through adversity, and Lisbeth from "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" has seen plenty of adversity. None of us expect an easy path, and successfully steering through challenges with flexibility and tenacity teaches us how to stand up for ourselves and for those around us. Like Lisbeth's character, I'm always building my toolkit for the unexpected situation around the corner.

From Holly Murdoch, project manager of w2wlink:

Lisbeth Salander from "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" has great leadership quality and is a strong woman. She will work hard to get the job done and won't stop until there is a solution. She knows what she wants and will take the steps needed to be a leader for the task.

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Article Tags: advice, business, entrepreneur, leadership, movies, women



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