Matriarchal Leadership: Returning the Power of Collective Women-1
Beyond Hierachy-Beyond Domination-Leadership as it was meant to be—rooted in balance, reciprocity, and collective strength.
We have been conditioned to believe that leadership is about power over—hierarchies, dominance, control.
But that is not the only way, and it was never the original way.
There is a leadership model that predates colonization, patriarchy, and corporate extraction. A leadership rooted in reciprocity, sustainability, and collective wisdom.
A leadership that does not fear power but redistributes it.
Matriarchal leadership is not patriarchy in reverse. It is not about replacing one form of domination with another. It is a completely different system—one that prioritizes interconnection over hierarchy, shared responsibility over individualism, and long-term care over short-term extraction.
And yet, every time this conversation emerges, it is met with resistance. Because for those who have only ever known patriarchal structures, the idea of a different way feels like a threat.
But what if leadership wasn’t something to take—but something to hold, nurture, and pass on?
What makes this conversation different—and why I’m uniquely positioned to host it—is that I don’t just study leadership; I’ve lived the reality of navigating spaces where patriarchal systems dominate, while deeply understanding and practicing matriarchal leadership principles.
My work is rooted in Indigenous knowledge, ancestral intelligence, and decolonial frameworks, combined with real-world experience in leadership, decision-making, and systems change.
I’ve spent years challenging the default structures that uphold male overrepresentation, while also guiding people toward leadership models that foster reciprocity, collective well-being, and sustainability.
This series isn’t just about theory—it’s about unlearning, reimagining, and reclaiming leadership in ways that serve us all.
Let’s build something better—together!
Why Conversations About Leadership Are Stuck: The Misunderstanding of Matriarchy
Lately, I’ve watched conversation after conversation in various communities spiral into unproductive, harmful debates. The pattern is familiar—someone brings up the failures of patriarchal leadership, the cycles of harm it has perpetuated, and the desperate need for change. Then, without fail, someone—usually a man—responds with fear, with resistance, with the assumption that matriarchy is simply patriarchy in reverse.
They say things like:
“So, you just want to flip the power dynamic and do to men what’s been done to women?”
“You’re just advocating for female domination instead of male domination.”
“So if women are in charge, does that mean men won’t have rights?”
The level of misunderstanding is exhausting.
Because the truth is, matriarchy and patriarchy are not opposites.
Patriarchy vs. Matriarchy: Not a Battle for Power, But a Shift in Values
Patriarchy is a system rooted in hierarchy, control, and extraction.
It operates through domination, where power is concentrated at the top, resources are hoarded, and leadership is often about maintaining authority rather than serving the collective.
Matriarchy, on the other hand, is not about reversing oppression—it’s about restructuring leadership entirely.
It values reciprocity, shared power, and sustainability. It prioritizes the long-term well-being of the whole rather than individual accumulation of power. Matriarchal leadership has existed for centuries in Indigenous, African, and other non-Western societies, functioning through consensus, nurturance, and deep accountability to the community.
Yet, because so many only know leadership through the lens of patriarchal domination, they can’t imagine an alternative that isn’t just more of the same with different faces in power.
The Harm of This Misunderstanding
When people equate matriarchy with patriarchy-in-reverse, the conversation gets stuck.
Instead of exploring new models of leadership that serve everyone, we get:
Defensiveness from men who think they’ll be “punished” the way women have been.
Shallow discourse that focuses only on gendered power struggles rather than systemic shifts.
Missed opportunities for collective growth because the conversation becomes a battle rather than an exploration of solutions.
And so, instead of working toward real change, these conversations circle around fear, anger, and mistrust—leaving everyone exactly where they started.
How We Move Forward
We need to redefine the conversation. Instead of framing this as a battle of men vs. women, we must talk about leadership structures and the values they uphold.
We need to educate on what matriarchal leadership actually is. It’s not a mirror of patriarchy—it’s a completely different way of leading.
We need to name the real issue: fear. Many men fear matriarchy because they assume leadership can only exist through domination, the way patriarchy has conditioned them to believe. But leadership built on reciprocity is not something to fear—it’s something that creates a better world for everyone.
So, the next time someone assumes matriarchy is just patriarchy flipped, ask them:
“What makes you think leadership must always be about dominance?”
“Why do you assume women would lead with the same harm that patriarchy has created?”
“What if leadership wasn’t about power over others, but power with others?”
Because that’s the real conversation. And that’s the shift we need.
What to Expect in This Series
This is a 7 part series for Leaders + Learners where you and I take an honest look at “Matriarchal Leadership” series.
Here is a succinct outline of what you can expect in this first of seven posts in this series here on Verbal Vortexes.
Thank you for joining me and my mind-heart-gut approach to where we can do the work both internally (with our inner game) and externally (our expression the outer game)
Series Outline:
1. Reclaiming Matriarchal Leadership: What It Really Means
2. Matriarchal Leadership Across Cultures and Time
3. The Core Pillars of Matriarchal Leadership
4. How Patriarchy Hijacked Leadership and How We Take It Back
5. Matriarchal Leadership in Practice: How We Lead Differently
6. Personalizing Matriarchal Leadership: What This Means for You
7. Matriarchal Leadership for the Future
RESTORATION IN ACTION
Part of restoration is recognizing and paying for emotional and intellectual labor instead of only honoring physical labor.
The first in this series is free.
You are asked to become a paid member to access the rest of the series. In each series the first part is complimentary and a small section of each part in the series is available to subscribers with the FULL part for paid subscribers only.
Those who honor and take action to rebalance reciprocity are appreciated.
A gentle reminder, this body of work you are reading and listening to here on Verbal Vortexes is produced from Dyslexic Thinking. What do you know or remember learning with me about Dyslexic Thinking?
P.S. Founder Members receive a 1-on-1 session with me and all my written guides + workbooks.
Final Thoughts: Why This Series?
Matriarchal leadership is not just an alternative leadership style—it is a return to a way of leading that prioritizes collective well-being over extraction and individual gain. It is leadership for survival, for thriving, and for the future we want to create.
This series will challenge, inspire, and equip us with the tools to reclaim leadership in ways that honor all of us.
We definitely need this reframe. It's not about shifting who's in power anymore, it's about rewiring power altogether into a world in balance and harmony xoxo