As social animals, humans use the term ‘alpha’ to refer to a particular person with the highest authority or influence within the group. While the strongest and most influential man becomes the power figure among males, the woman’s ability to charm and win people rightfully give her the title “alpha female”.
Contrary to popular beliefs, alpha females are not just found in the corporate offices where they serve as lady bosses and are stereotyped as enjoying terrorizing employees with their pushy and demanding persona.
The real alpha female is the dominant woman in any group setting. She stands out by her exceptional intelligence, beauty and or talent. She uses these traits to influence the people around her.
Here are the most common types of alpha females. Which one represents you? Which one are you working on?
1. CEO/Lady Boss
But of course, the female CEO is the stereotypical alpha female possessing power and control over an entire corporation. Her intelligence is outstanding. Her people-skill is impressive. She has a lot of self-esteem and leadership. She knows how to win over people, allowing her to easily climb the corporate ladder. In her early years, she is usually the smartest girl in class and or the teacher’s pet or she could be the Student Body President. Her intelligence and drive are given positive reinforcement by many people around her. Hence, she is motivated to stand out and serve as inspiration to others especially as a mentor to young women. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Indra Nooyi (CEO of PepsiCo), Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook), Melinda Gates (wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).
2. A-list Actress/Supermodel/Award-Winning Entertainer
Her sex appeal stands out wherever she goes. People follow her. Men desire her and ordinary women often hate her. But she doesn’t care — it’s not her fault that she’s born fabulous. She capitalizes on her looks to get what she wants. With her outstanding appeal, she masters confidence and the art of persuasive marketing to promote herself and her cause. Early in life, she’s probably the most popular girl in the campus, the cheerleader, and the prom queen. If she used to be an “ugly duckling” anyway, she has definitely come out of her shell and has developed the knack to charm people. She knows the right clothes to wear, the right words to say, and the right thing to do in order to exert her influence. Had she been not working in the entertainment industry, she probably would have a bright future as a Public Relations Executive or a Marketing Manager. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Angelina Jolie (Actress), Gisele Bundchen (Supermodel), Lady Gaga (Musician).
3. Editor-in-Chief/
Journalist (Of International Publication)
With a passion for journalism and keeping up with the latest trends around her, this alpha female works her way as an innovator in the media. In most cases (like 99%), she’s involved in the school publication in her youth. An excellent writer, critic and media presenter, she readily influences people as soon as they read into her write-ups and gets a piece of her mind. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Jill Abramson (New York Times Executive Editor), Arianna Huffington (co-founder of the Huffington Post), Anna Wintour (Vogue EIC).
4. Fashion Designer (With Her Own Clothing Label)
Too cool for school. This alpha female probably stands out in her early years as the rebel one, never following the crowd and opting to dress in a pleasingly atypical way. In college, she most likely takes up art or fashion design rather than going to traditional schools and “make mama proud”. This alpha female has managed to create her own fashion label by trusting herself and by looking for inspiration wherever she goes, even into the underground scenes. An avante-garde and a visionary, she crafts the trends because she will never settle for the status quo. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Coco Chanel (Chanel), Donna Karan (Donna Karan New York), Stella McCartney (Stella McCartney).
5. Top Defense Lawyer
Opinionated bitch. That’s how haters call her. But it doesn’t matter as long as she wins the argument. She’s gifted not just with the ability to think fast and the nerve to speak what’s on her mind, but also the charisma to persuade her audience. Probably a captain of the debating team in her student life, this alpha female uses the gift of speech to argue both sides of any issue and win over the jury. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Mary Jo White (Debevoise & Plimpton), Michele A. Roberts (Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld), Carol Elder Bruce (Bracewell & Guiliani).
6. World-Renowned Politician
It takes exceptional guts for a woman to win a seat in the male-dominated world of politics. But the female politician is gifted with level-headedness that enables her to weigh both sides of every issue and appease the demands of the people. When the going gets tough, this alpha female also has enough reservoir of shrewdness needed to push her way. After all, she’s a politician, not a caregiver. Most remarkable alpha female in this category: Angela Merkel, (Germany’s chancellor), Hillary Clinton (US Secretary of State), Dilma Rousseff (Brazil’s President).
7. Team Ca
ptain
As a sportswoman, competition runs in the veins of this alpha female. Confident and self-motivated, she is also a natural born leader with the ability to lead teammates and inflame them to give their best performance. Full of self-assurance and vigor, the other women look up to her as the “person in charge”. In return, she influences the whole team’s psyche including their ability to handle successes and setbacks. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Carla Overbeck (USA National Soccer Team), Gabrielle Reece (Women’s Beach Volleyball League), Lisa Leslie (Women’s National Basketball Association).
8. International Artist
/Inventor/Scientist
She’s the eternal art or science nerd. In school, she spends countless hours in the art studio or science lab, helps design sets of school plays or create the designs herself, or serves as the layout artist of the yearbook. In the work place, she has had countless artworks or inventions that continuously hone her creativity and give visual life to her and everybody else’s ideas. Why she’s an alpha female? Because she’s untouched. She can just sit in one corner mastering her craft but her exceptional talent makes its way into the mainstream media and wins the world. She doesn’t care so much about the world except for her craft, but the world care so much about her and her craft. Most remarkable alpha females in this category: Grace Hopper (Computer Scientist), Kathryn Bigelow (Filmmaker), Annie Leibovitz (Portrait Photographer).
