The Leadership Experience Blog

Margaret Knight, Inventor of the Paper Grocery Bag (and 87 other Inventions)

grocery shopping inventions inventors leaders leadership leading margaret knight paper bag women Aug 03, 2021

In her time, she was called "the most famous woman inventor,” but today, chances are, you’ve never even heard of Margaret Eloise Knight. It’s unfortunate, because If you do any grocery shopping, you have her to thank for making it so much easier. Her invention created a product that is as unassuming as it is ubiquitous.

A self-taught engineer, Margaret Knight invented the machine to produce flat-bottomed paper bags, and then founded the Eastern Paper Bag Company in 1870, creating paper bags for groceries very similar to the ones used today.

During her lifetime, as a woman-inventor during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, she overcame a surprising amount of adversity to achieve both her goals and the recognition she deserved—at a time when few women held intellectual property. Here is her story…

Early Years and Early Inventions

Margaret E. Knight was born in York, Maine on February 14, 1838 to Hannah Teal and James Knight. After her father died, “Mattie,” as her parents nickna...

Jacqueline Cochran: Aviation Pioneer

aviation cosmetics jacqueline cochrane leaders leadership leading pioneers veterans world war ii Jun 30, 2021

Jacqueline Cochran was an American pilot and business executive who pioneered women's aviation—and she was one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation.

Jackie Cochran rose to become one of history’s most accomplished female aviators.

As an aviation pioneer, her life was characterized by a series of “Firsts”: she was the first civilian awarded the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal; the first woman to break the sound barrier (1953); the first woman to break Mach 2 (1960); the first woman to pilot a bomber across the North Atlantic (1941); the first woman inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame; the first pilot to make an instrument landing; the first woman President of the Federation Aeronautique lnt'l; and the first pilot to fly above 20,000 feet with an oxygen mask; the first woman to compete in the famous Bendix Trophy Transcontinental Race across the U.S. (1934)—and was the first woman to win it (1938).

Cochran was the wartime head of the Women Airforce Serv

...

Sir John Herschel: The Preeminent Astronomer who also Invented the Blueprint...and much more!

astronomy botany chemistry history john herschel leaders leadership leading photography pioneers Jun 05, 2021

Sir John Herschel was Victorian England’s scientist, astronomer, pioneer photographer, and mathematician, often considered the equal of Sir Isaac Newton.

Among many other achievements, He was also a chemist and inventor, experimental photographer who invented the blueprint in 1842, which allowed for the rapid, and accurate, production of an unlimited number of copies of technical drawings.

Herschel originated the use of the Julian day system in astronomy. He named seven moons of Saturn and four moons of Uranus – the seventh planet, discovered by his father Sir William Herschel.

He made many contributions to the science of photography when it first emerged in 1839.

A full appreciation of Sir John Herschel and all of his contributions that continue to positively impact us today, however, can be gained with even a cursory review of his life story.

Early life

Sir John Frederick William Herschel was the only child of Mary Pitt and the respected, British astronomer, William

...

Tenzing Norgay: Master Sherpa and Sirdar of Mount Everest

edmund hillary expeditions history humility india leaders leadership leadership by example leading mount everest mountaineering nepal persistence sherpa tenzing norgay tibet May 31, 2021

If there was ever anyone who deserved to get to the summit of Mount Everest first, it was Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

Still, today, he’s the most famous and respected citizen of the Indian hill town of Darjeeling. He spoke 7 languages, but never learned how to write.

He became an ambassador of Sherpa mountaineering, best known for being one of the two men who first reached the summit of Mount Everest.

At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand, became the first explorers to reach the rooftop of the world at 29,035 feet above sea level— the highest point on earth.

At that moment, Tenzing Norgay had no idea how his life would ultimately change. His story goes well beyond the Summit of Mount Everest.

Time would name Norgay as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

The Life of Tenzing Norgay

There are conflicting accounts of Norgay's early life. The account given in his autobiography is that he was a born in Tibet,

...

Joan of Arc: The Short but Eventful life of the Maid of Lorraine

france history inspiration joan of arc leaders leadership leading martyrs otd saints May 22, 2021

This is a good time to remind ourselves about the life and death of Joan of Arc, because it was on May 9, 1920, that Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV. This is also the month she was executed. She led the French armies against the English during the Hundred Years' War. After seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII, Joan was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake in 1431, at the age of 19. By the time she was officially canonized in 1920, the Maid of Orléans, as she was known, had long been considered one of history’s greatest saints, and an enduring symbol of French unity and nationalism. Also nicknamed the "Maid of Lorraine," Joan of Arc is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Hundred Years War.

Born around 1412, Jeanne d’Arc (or in English, Joan of Arc) was the daughter of Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romée, a peasant family from the village of Domrémy, in northeastern France.

During th

...

Edward R. Murrow’s Story— and his Enduring Influence on Journalism

cbs edward r. murrow history journalism journalist leaders leadership leading news otd radio stories tv world war ii Apr 27, 2021

"Good night, and good luck”...It was a nightly close immortalized by Emmy-winning journalist Edward R. Murrow following each of his broadcasts. He gained prominence during World War II with live broadcasts from Europe. Reporting from the front, he flew with 25 combat missions in Europe during the war.

Edward R. Murrow brought rooftop reports of the Blitz of London into America's living rooms before this country entered World War II. After the war, Murrow and his team of reporters brought news to the new medium of television.

A pioneer of radio and television news broadcasting, Murrow produced a series of reports on his television program See It Now that helped lead to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Murrow won four Peabody awards, the Medal of Freedom, and as an American was knighted an honorary commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, Bill Downs, Dan Rather, and Alexander Kendrick consider Murrow one of journalism's gr

...

The Unfortunate Story of Henry Faulds: The Father of Forensic Fingerprinting who Died On This Day, Unacknowledged

crime fingerprinting forensics henry faulds history innovation leading otd Mar 19, 2021

Henry Faulds was a Scottish doctor, missionary and scientist who has become widely known as the "Father of Fingerprinting." In 1880, he was the first to suggest using fingerprints for criminal investigations using a classification system that he developed. But during his lifetime, he never received the credit for his discovery. Here is his story...

Henry Faulds was born on June 1, 1843 in Beith, Scotland. His parents were initially wealthy but lost much of their fortunes following the City of Glasgow bank collapse in 1855.

Unable to continue his education, Henry had to drop out of school as a 13 year old to take up a job and to help support his family. He found employment as a clerk. Later on he became apprenticed to a shawl manufacturer. After working for a few years he decided to further his education. He was a bright young man and at the age of 21 he started attending classes in mathematics, logic, and classics at Glasgow University.

However, it was not long before he reali

...

Leadership By Example: 1LT Alonzo H. Cushing in Gettysburg

battle civil war gettysburg history leaders leadership leading Jul 03, 2019

Many things to think about today on the eve of our nation’s independence, but if you’re looking for a great example of all that is right about America, here is one young man who 156 years ago this afternoon—led by example, who wouldn’t quit, and who sacrificed himself at a place called “The Angle,” near a weed-choked corpse of trees on Cemetery Ridge in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

His name is 1st Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing. He was 22 years-old and an experienced veteran of numerous battles. At Gettysburg, he commanded Battery A, 4th United States Artillery. He died defending a vital part of the Union line against Pickett's Charge, and although mortally wounded would not leave his post. Grasping his intestines with one hand and the lanyard of his gun with the other, he shouted above the chaos of the battle to his Sergeant, Frederick Fuger standing beside him, "I’ll give them one more shot!" Seconds later a Confederate bullet struck him through the mouth, killing him instantly. His lifel...

The Dick Winters Leadership Monument in Normandy, France

101st airborne 75th anniversary airborne army band of brothers battle of normandy d-day dday dick winters dick winters leadership monument dickwinters education experiential learning invasion john fenzel johnfenzel leaders leadership leadership experience leading marie du mont memorial military monument normandy paratroopers sights sites st. marie du mont stories story storytelling tour utah beach veteran veterans video virtual virtual tour war world war ii ww2 wwii May 29, 2019

Whenever I'm in Normandy, I always make a point to visit the Dick Winter's Leadership Monument. You can't miss it. It's right off the causeway on your way to Utah Beach. In many ways, I believe it represents all of the values and principles of leadership that should be recognized during any visit here, and in any study of D-Day and the Battle for Normandy. Here's a quick video from that monument to the young leaders who fought and won this monumental battle.



Paratroopers from 2d Battalion, 506th PIR loading for their Albany mission, 
intended to jump on the DZ "C" in Hiesville at 0120 hours. 

This photo was taken on Upottery airfield in Devon on the evening of June 5, 1944. 
The aircraft is a C-47 (#42-93004 from 94th Squadron - 439th Troop Carrier Group - 
Chalk number # 78 - serial # 12). The pilot (back) is 2nd Lt. Martin N. Neill. 
2nd Lt.  Carl E. George (co-pilot) helps the paratroopers to board.  


William G. Olanie, Frank D. Griffin, Robert J. Noody, Lester T. Hegland

The 506th PI...

Two Step