As Barack Obama embarks on a second term as President of the United States of America, one word keeps popping up when I think of him: GRACE.

If you are a collector of Studio A!, you'll recall the November 2008 issue where I said he was good for our collective self-esteem. He and Michelle Obama, exude such grace under fire, it's inmutable. It's Empowering!

As a young business woman building a solid business in a fleeting world of gimmicks, saturation, fickle people and a fickle economy, the POTUS and FLOTUS have been a CONSTANT source of inspiration and motivation, just by being themselves.

Leadership conjures up so many divergent ideas. For some, it's a chance to 'rule', to 'control'. For some of us, it's an opportunity to INSPIRE. The leaders we love most, did just that. From Jesus to Gandhi, from MLK to JFK. It's no wonder President Obama was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize even before entering office. He generated hope and inspiration...WORLDWIDE.

What truly inspires me is the way he transcends negativity. It's as if he's OBLIVIOUS to it! He and Michelle, both, handle negative press, naysayers, etc, with such grace, calm and collectedness. They're aware of it, they acknowledge it, but they move past it. Always seeking 

common ground and goodness in others.

An important quality of leadership is being steadfast and resolute. The ability to make difficult decisions, despite incuring the 'wrath' of opponents, speaks to the FIRM resolve of a person who has weighed all options and is convicted of their decision. This, in stark contrast to those easily swayed by money, threats and special interests.

But what truly sealed the deal for me was watching President Obama's 'thank you' to his staff. You can tell a lot about a person by how they act when the world's NOT watching; a point made vividly clear this election cycle. While some were quick to call him 'weak', I saw a REAL man, a PERSON. I saw someone not much different from me or my husband. A young, idealistic black man who dared to defy convention...and SUCCEEDED! 

It's important to highlight race because the journey to TRUE equity for African-Americans in America is still in progress. And while some mud-slinging is par for the course in politics, no other president in history has endured as much hatred, defiance, threats to themselves and their families, as he has.

President Obama was no doubt overcome with a range of emotions, ranging from RELIEF to intense gratitude, and probably a bit of disbelief that he actually won again! I tell you what: there is nothing more BEAUTIFUL and POWERFUL than a man filled with sincere GRATITUDE and is not afraid to tell you so!  Most compelling was that his speech wasn't about him, it was about the ONENESS he exuded. When he addressed his team, he didn't address them as subordinates, but as individuals who were EQUALLY as capable of leadership as he is. 

Our society has grown accustomed to false bravado and egocentric pride. We have been conditioned to believe that these are the ethos of leadership...and it has cost us a bit of social capital at home and abroad. 

Graceful leadership teaches us to leverage our power to inspire self-reliance and leadership in others through collaboration. It teaches us to respect others' journey, no matter how different from our own. Graceful leadership empowers us to leave an enduring legacy not just in policies and buildings, but in the hearts and minds of the people we serve. THIS is the POWER OF TRANSFORMATION. A.