Author: Laura Mariani
For 5 days, Laura Mariani, management consultant, and founder of The People's Alchemist and entrepreneurial lifestyle blog The Alchemist About Town, is sharing with us stories of 5 leading ladies who have inspired her.
So far she has discussed her icons Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel and the controversial Margaret Thatcher, and their lasting impact on society as a whole. Today is all about another impressive lady: Jackie Kennedy.
A couple of months ago I went to see the Jackie Kennedy's biopic which reminded me how much I admired her and the influence she had and continues to have in my personal and professional life.
The movie itself is poetry in motion and focuses on the assassination of John F. Kennedy but from the perspective of his widow, her poised appearance, showing the will required to keep control in the worst of circumstances.
The result is a gorgeous, multi layered portrait of a woman determined to put public image ahead of private feelings and Natalie Portman is absolutely superb in her interpretation.
The movie shows the different layers of Jackie’s character , a vision of affectation and depth, images of the inevitable pain that comes at this time: Jackie showering off her husband’s blood, Jackie’s face in the window of a car that reflects droves of bystanders, Jackie changing into her red dress to dance in sorrow to ‘Camelot’.
Behind the scenes one can see her refusal to change clothes on the flight back to Washington to let Americans see the blood; her refusal to take sleeping pills that might dull her capacity to arrange the funeral, whose planning she dominated. She stipulated the riderless horse in the procession and the eternal flame by the grave at Arlington.
In public, what the world saw was a figure of admirable self-control, a black-veiled widow who walked beside the coffin with her head up, who reminded 3-year-old John Jr. to salute at the service and who looked with dignity on the proceedings.
You may ask why she has inspired me? She is not a woman in business, or in politics or an entrepreneur. True. She was a wife, mother , above of all, a woman .
For me she was an example of quiet but effective and impactful leadership.
Jacqueline ( her actual name pronounced à la française ) was well-bred, well-read, well-traveled, a Francophile, a woman who spoke in that soft breathy whisper that movie stars used at the time. It was a voice refined in an era when girls were groomed to hide their intelligence not to frighten men away.
She became influential in terms of culture by raising America's profile abroad and showing the necessity to have a cultural life. She raised it by raising the standards and she did so by example - beauty , brilliance and having the best of the best in the White House.She had the quiet confidence of her intelligence and innate sense that she could accomplish anything she set out to.
She loved history and understood people's need for heroes and the necessity of pageantry and symbols, a master at shaping public appearance she privately moulded John F Kennedy's public persona in that she played a vital role in reshaping the modern presidency by popularising the Camelot image. She:
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Was behind the modern look of Air Force One ( persuaded the government to paint “United States of America” on the plane)
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Redecorated the Oval Office, giving it an elegant homey feel,
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Created the manicured Rose Garden on the grounds of the White House as it's known today
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Drove the restoration of the White House
She devoted much of her life making him into the great president he so badly always wanted to be. She coined the epitaph of the Kennedy Administration - Camelot -- a magic moment in American history, from a song JFK loved most . . . 'Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot...
. . There'll never be another Camelot again."
In making the attempt, no matter the result, she encouraged others to raise their expectations and to consider what is possible, whatever their situation in life.
Personally she was an example on how you can make the best out of your circumstances, with dignity, whilst under extreme pressure; on how you can create your life " as you want it to be". Professionally she provided me a "roadmap" on how it is actually possible to shape culture, quietly but with relentless determination and "to lead without leading", having impact and influence without people even realising and still achieve your objectives.
And finally , from a fashion point of view, her style was and is timeless.
Read Laura's Posts on Audrey Hepburn here, Coco Chanel here and Margaret Thatcher here
About the Author:
Laura Mariani is the founder of the lifestyle blog The Alchemist About Town - a lifestyle blog for entrepreneurs, business owners and their employees wanting to experience the best of British food, culture, travel and lifestyle.
Laura is a management consultant and Vice Chair of Islington Commerce of Chamber. Founder of The People Alchemist (a boutique management consultancy), she started The Alchemist About Town after a successful career as Senior director within global brands in FMCG, Retail and Media to mention a few. The blog was born after Laura found limited lifestyle blogs for the modern day business owner/entrepreneurs wanting all things food, fashion and lifestyle, that ties within their unique lifestyle, whilst showcasing the very best of British.
To find out more, you can click here. And Laura can be contacted through laura@thepeoplealchemist.com, and found on twitter @PeopleAlchemist and on instagram @thealchemistabouttown
