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MPWMost Powerful Women

A tough boss’s secret behind her style

By
Patricia Sellers
Patricia Sellers
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By
Patricia Sellers
Patricia Sellers
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May 15, 2013, 3:24 PM ET

Christine Quinn, the mayoral candidate contending to become the first woman in charge of New York City, isn’t shy about displaying her true self to the public. She proved that this week by disclosing that she battled bulimia and alcoholism for 10 years until entering a rehab clinic at age 26.

That revelation is stunning—particularly in light of what Quinn, 46, said on Monday at the Fortune Most Powerful Women dinner about learning to accept her own style: loud, volatile, hot-headed and lots of other things that leaders, especially women, are not supposed to be.

This two-minute clip of Quinn talking with me will make any tough boss feel a little better about her–or his–style of leadership:

[cnnmoney-video vid=/video/news/2013/05/14/n-fortune-most-powerful-women-christine-quinn.fortune]

About the Author
By Patricia Sellers
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