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Essential Reads: Cowgirl Power - How to Kick Ass in Business and Life by Gay Gaddis

April 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken
Gay Gaddis

Gay Gaddis

In Cowgirl Power, US advertising CEO and cowgirl Gay Gaddis shares insights and examples for women to lead in their lives like fearless, risk-taking cowgirls. She shows them how to enhance and exude confidence, developing personal power on all fronts. 

 

As the owner of one of the largest female-owned independent agencies in the US and former chairman of C200, one of the country's top women's business organizations, Gay Gaddis knows a thing or two about empowerment. Gay's secrets of success have roots in the spirited strength of real cowgirls who were fearless risk-takers in everything they did. They've inspired Gay. As the owner of a fully operational Texas Longhorn Cattle Ranch, Gay is a true cowgirl. And she brings cowgirl power to the boardroom, as well. In Cowgirl Power, Gay shares her story and an inspiring action plan for women who are ready to blaze their own trail in business and in life. Whatever your goals - to start a family or your own business, to climb the corporate ladder, organize community outreach, or run for office, Gay says it all comes down to power: knowing how to develop it and not being afraid to take it when it comes your way. You build your own power through knowledge, hard work, excellence, creativity and good will and Gay's book has the Cowgirl Tool Kit that supplies all the tools to get there!

Gay's book and Cowgirl Power Toolkit will help you blaze a path to success, on your terms:

  • Taking responsibility for yourself
  • Building your own competence
  • Finding your assertiveness
  • Designing your own life
  • Building a kick-ass culture
  • Recognizing good ideas
  • Becoming a fearless leader

Author quotes

Cowgirl Power is not about changing you. You are just fine. It's about understanding your strengths, building on them, and unlocking your power to kick ass-your way.
There is nothing more powerful and enduring than earning trust. My business is totally based on trust.
It’s not all roses and bluebirds out there. There are times when you need to reach down into your gut and find the power to push yourself forward to success. 
Go with your gut and follow the interesting opportunities, and look for new connections every step of the way. Weave them together in creative, openhearted ways, and go build a successful life.

About the author

Gay Gaddis is CEO and Founder of T3. In 1989, she started her company after cashing in a $16,000 IRA. Today, T3 has offices nationwide and creates innovative digital marketing programs for Fortune 200 clients. T3 is a top-ranked innovation firm and one of the largest agencies owned by a woman. Gay has been nationally recognized for the unique family-friendly policies she has initiated at T3. Gay is on the Board of Directors of Monotype Imaging Holdings and on the Dean's Advisory Council to The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. She is also the first female Chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Gay is a regular contributor to Forbes, and her Texas landscapes have been featured in galleries in New York and Texas. She and her husband own the Double Heart Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

www.gaygaddis.com 


Why LoA loves it….

Being an entrepreneur takes confidence, and that can often be tested to the limit. US advertising CEO and cowgirl Gay Gaddis has some fascinating and truly unique insights to share on how to boost your confidence in business and in life. She brings all her experience of running both a hugely successful ad agency and a cattle ranch, and demonstrates that it is possible to design your own life with confidence.  --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa

In Essential Tags Books
← Carrie Leaver and Shona McDonald, two social entrepreneurs creating a unique new co-working space for startups in Cape TownConfidence For Women. My Personal Epiphany. →

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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LIONESSES OF AFRICA · AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace

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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
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Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
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Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures
Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Statement dressing…If you want to make a fashion statement, then how better to do that than with this dramatic bark-cloth dress by Afropian, the Pan-African lifestyle brand founded by Cameroonian entrepreneur Horte
Image of the Day / Vanhu Vamwe

Marvellous macrame…We have always been big fans of the uber-talented Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, co-founder of luxury Zimbabwean accessory brand, Vanhu Vamwe, together with husband Simba Nyawiri. This show-stopping co
Image of the Day / Midunu Chocolates

Chocolate love…We are big chocolate lovers at Lionesses of Africa, so we love these beautiful looking and fabulous tasting chocolates from Midunu Chocolates in Ghana, handcrafted by entrepreneur and chocol
Image of the Day / Adele’s Mohair

Mohair magic….Lovers of fine mohair will adore these beautiful, luxury yarns, courtesy of Adele’s Mohair, founded by Adele Cutten in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She has built a highly succes
Image of the Day / Kwesh

Relaxed style…We love these stylish yet relaxed Kwanza pants and matching tops from Juliana Nasasira, the Ugandan fashion designer and founder of Kwesh. Juliana launched Kwesh in 2012, a fashion brand focused on creat
Image of the Day / Dvyn Treat Batamba’s

Premium Coffee Experience…We love a great cup of coffee in a morning at Lionesses of Africa, and so we are fans of Dvyn Treat Batamba’s great coffee brand in Mozambique, co-founded by Emilia
Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
Image of the Day / Happy Coffee

Happy Coffee Experiences…If you are a fan of great coffee you will love Happy Coffee, founded by Princess Adeyinka Tekenah in Nigeria. She is a Coffee Entrepreneur and a Mom, and the founder of this growing ind
Image of the Day / Yococo

Vegan ice-cream heaven…If you are ice cream lovers like we are here at Lionesses of Africa, you will love the vegan ice cream from Yococo in South Africa, created by the talented Sinenhlanhla Ndlela. She is proving t
Image of the Day / The Joinery

Mini Box Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fabric con
Image of the Day / Afropian

Statement dressing…If you want to make a fashion statement, then how better to do that than with this dramatic bark-cloth dress by Afropian, the Pan-African lifestyle brand founded by Cameroonian entrepreneur Horte Image of the Day / Vanhu Vamwe

Marvellous macrame…We have always been big fans of the uber-talented Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, co-founder of luxury Zimbabwean accessory brand, Vanhu Vamwe, together with husband Simba Nyawiri. This show-stopping co Image of the Day / Midunu Chocolates

Chocolate love…We are big chocolate lovers at Lionesses of Africa, so we love these beautiful looking and fabulous tasting chocolates from Midunu Chocolates in Ghana, handcrafted by entrepreneur and chocol Image of the Day / Adele’s Mohair

Mohair magic….Lovers of fine mohair will adore these beautiful, luxury yarns, courtesy of Adele’s Mohair, founded by Adele Cutten in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She has built a highly succes Image of the Day / Kwesh

Relaxed style…We love these stylish yet relaxed Kwanza pants and matching tops from Juliana Nasasira, the Ugandan fashion designer and founder of Kwesh. Juliana launched Kwesh in 2012, a fashion brand focused on creat Image of the Day / Dvyn Treat Batamba’s

Premium Coffee Experience…We love a great cup of coffee in a morning at Lionesses of Africa, and so we are fans of Dvyn Treat Batamba’s great coffee brand in Mozambique, co-founded by Emilia Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / Happy Coffee

Happy Coffee Experiences…If you are a fan of great coffee you will love Happy Coffee, founded by Princess Adeyinka Tekenah in Nigeria. She is a Coffee Entrepreneur and a Mom, and the founder of this growing ind Image of the Day / Yococo

Vegan ice-cream heaven…If you are ice cream lovers like we are here at Lionesses of Africa, you will love the vegan ice cream from Yococo in South Africa, created by the talented Sinenhlanhla Ndlela. She is proving t Image of the Day / The Joinery

Mini Box Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fabric con

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

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Gladys Kgorane, an entrepreneur creating special events and wellness retreats for those looking for rest and relaxation
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Drienie Botes, an entrepreneur empowering women to achieve economic independence through beekeeping
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity
Gloria Sellwane Phala, a South African entrepreneur helping clients benefit from the transformative impact of yoga
Gloria Sellwane Phala, a South African entrepreneur helping clients benefit from the transformative impact of yoga
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Nondumiso Leshaba, a South African business builder providing professional business advisory and accounting services to SMEs

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

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Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out  by Fiona Soutter
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out by Fiona Soutter
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan

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