By Shannon Cudd
Broadway icon Chita Rivera’s death was announced (February 29, 2024). She was 91 at the time of her passing. The incredible singer, dancer, and actor will undoubtedly be remembered for her artistic contributions, but beyond the stage and screen, Rivera’s diligence, drive, and dedication to her professional community can teach us universal lessons about leadership and success in the modern workplace.
1. Collaboration is key
Rivera was certainly a diva, but not in the dramatic sense. Before she originated famous musical theater roles such as Velma Kelly in Chicago, she worked her way up from the chorus. In 2005, she told the New York Times that she still considered herself “a chorus dancer who went through the whole race,” which gave her the foundation to be able to tackle any role that came her way. No job was ever beneath her.
She utilized every teachable moment while dancing in the ensemble, soaking it up like a sponge. “There is something so constructive about being in the chorus,” she told Harvard Business Review last year. ”The audience is looking at every single position, and in the chorus you know that. You can’t hide.”
2. ‘You can always be better’
Rivera’s mantra when rehearsing and performing came from her childhood ballet teacher. “Ms. Jones used to say, ‘You can always be better,’ and that stuck with me. I really did try my best all the time,” she explained to HBR. Rivera’s work ethic earned her three Tony Awards, 10 nominations, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The West Side Story star believed in humility and lifelong learning. Her career was one of longevity as she never went more than three years without being part of a new production, which is chronicled in her 2023 memoir, Chita.
3. Great leaders are also great mentors
Rivera recognized her position as a role model and left behind a roadmap for future Broadway performers. “It’s not as much of a memoir as it is an opportunity for kids to realize that if they want this, they can have it—but they have to work hard,” she explained to the Times.
She also knew that time was finite. “Every moment could be the one when you drop dead, and every day is the first day of the rest of your life,” she mused to HBR. Workplaces would be more harmonious if we all followed Rivera’s example—bonus points for incorporating jazz hands.
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