A study of bridging leadership in Brazil produced in cooperation with ABDL
This examines bridging leadership among business, civil society, and government sectors. Edna Roland was born poor, black and female in the Brazilian North. Normally, these characteristics would combine to guarantee a life of hardship and poverty. Instead, Edna is an internationally recognized voice on behalf of women and against racism and discrimination. Her personal journey shares poignant parallels with the history and evolution of the black movement in Brazil; her actions have influenced public policies and have led to the inclusion of the black community in public life, particularly where issues of gender and health are concerned. Many in Brazil still do not acknowledge the racial problems that exist in that country and the divides created by that posture. According to Edna, if the divides are not recognized, they cannot be bridged and the issue will not be confronted. This study describes Roland's ability to reach across conventional frontiers, form alliances, and play new roles. This ability seems to have brought a new fire to the black movement in Brazil, and a new light to the problem of racism in that country; a problem that, until recently, the non-black Brazilian society preferred to ignore.
Bridging leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on creating and sustaining effective working relationships among key partners and stakeholders. By "bridging" different perspectives and opinions often found across the breadth of different stakeholders, a common agenda can begin to be developed and shared in order to solve social and economic problems.