Circles of Collaboration

What if the opposite of leader wasn’t follower-but collaborator?

For centuries, women have gathered in circles, where every voice matters, decisions are shared, and progress is made together. Circles of Collaboration explores this time-tested method, tracing its history and revealing how you can harness its power to achieve your goals faster and with a stronger, more supportive network. Circles of Collaboration gives you the blueprint-practical tools, real-world examples, and the inspiration you need to build your own collaborative circle to achieve your vision.

Author Biography

Christine’s journey into understanding the profound impact of gender on every aspect of life began in the 1990s after she became a single mother, launched her marketing and strategy consultancy, and navigated life post-divorce. In 1993, she founded the Women’s Resource Center in New York City, dedicated to empowering women through education and advocacy. She has served on numerous boards of directors, including Empower Her Network, which supports the recovery of trafficked women, and Women’s World of Backgammon, which she co-founded to increase women’s participation in competitive backgammon from 14% to nearly 30% in just three years. A passionate advocate for women in media, Christine reviews films and television for Her Screen Thoughts, offering insights from a female perspective to a devoted audience. She remains committed to amplifying Women in Film’s mission to reshape the cultural perception of women in American storytelling. Christine also advises women philanthropists focused on leveraging their wealth to create meaningful change for women worldwide. As a sought-after speaker, Christine has addressed audiences across the country on women’s evolving roles in business. These interactions revealed how women can harness their innate strengths and unique perspectives to revolutionize corporations and entrepreneurship. Her thought leadership has been featured in The New York Times, Newsweek, and her widely read blogs, including The Voice Inside My Head, on Substack. Christine is also a novelist. Her book, Flight of the Starling, follows a middle-aged photographer’s journey to the Middle East to rescue her billionaire friend’s daughter, who was trafficked decades earlier-from a woman of means to a black ops operator. With Circles of Collaboration, Christine explores the rich history of women gathering in circles, an age-old practice, and how this approach can transform both the journey to success and the outcome. Drawing from history, her own experiences, and those of the many women who have gone before us, she outlines how collaboration, when rooted in an organized approach to the people we gather around us, can drive success, both personally and professionally. For nearly two decades, Leslie Grossman has been a trailblazer in leadership, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. An accomplished executive coach, dynamic keynote speaker, and highly regarded researcher, Leslie transforms executives and entrepreneurs alike with her insights and actionable strategies for success. Leslie made her mark in New York City by founding the Women’s Leadership Exchange, the first national conference program for women entrepreneurs and executives. Over its 10-year run, she built a powerful platform that inspired thousands of women to reach new heights in their careers and businesses. Today, as Faculty Director and Senior Fellow of the Executive Women’s Leadership Program at The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, Leslie is a thought leader shaping the next generation of women leaders. Leslie is the author of three impactful books, including her latest, Start with Vision (Apricity Publishing). This practical handbook equips women to craft and achieve their personal and professional visions through the 7 Tenets of Leadership: Vision, Presence, Communication, Mindset, Collaboration Circles, Courage, and Confidence. Her innovative framework provides a clear pathway for women to excel at every career stage. Her previous books include LINK OUT: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connections (Wiley) and SELLsation: How Companies Can Capture Today’s Hottest Market, Women Entrepreneurs and Executives (WPE Press).Leslie’s programs and presentations are uniquely tailored to resonate across diverse settings, including corporate environments, academic institutions, and women’s organizations. Whether she’s addressing senior executives, college students, or professional networks, or leading workshops online or in person, Leslie’s presentations are designed to connect deeply, offering audiences the tools to break barriers, step into leadership, and create a legacy of impact. With her research on women in senior leadership, Leslie offers unparalleled expertise and fresh perspectives. From running a communications business in NYC to launching a groundbreaking leadership conference and an intensive program for executive women at GWU, Leslie has a track record of transforming ideas into successful movements. Her programs seamlessly adapt to corporate, academic, and organizational contexts, ensuring meaningful impact in every environment. Leslie grew up in York, PA, raised her family in New York, and currently lives in Connecticut. She is a mom to two successful adults, married to a supportive and patient husband, and a grandparent to four amazing children-two boys and two girls.