Anna Rosenberg: Middlewoman as Mediator

Imagine hiring a mediator, or working as one, who was an immigrant with barely a high school diploma; had no advanced degrees; had no training or certificates in mediation; had no role models, and was not bound by any formal ethical standards or statutes.

Nonetheless, she developed a flourishing practice as a labor relations mediator in the public and private sectors. By age 37 she was the subject of a New Yorker profile hailing her as “Middlewoman.” (Profiles, “Middlewoman,” by Richard O. Boyer, the New Yorker, April 23, 1938, pp. 24-29). During her extraordinary career, she served as FDR’s personal envoy to wartime Europe. Afterwards, she became the top woman in government during the Truman years. Later, she became the first person awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Far from imaginary, these facts describe a real person: Anna M. Rosenberg.
Born in Budapest in 1900, Anna’s family immigrated to New York when she was a child. Her introduction to mediation came when, as a gutsy student, she resolved a wartime strike in two New York high schools. That brought her to the attention of local and state politicians. Thereafter– it is no exaggeration to say– her continuing accomplishments catapulted her to heights even she could not have imagined as a girl.

What was it about Anna Rosenberg that enabled her to achieve such success, and what can mediators today learn from her example?

• She exuded confidence despite her small stature: 5 feet 3 inches, 115 lbs.
• She made sure to educate herself about the dynamics of a conflict before diving in to mediate it; and she was a quick study.
• She was persistent, energetic, and worked hard even when those around her were ready to quit. Once, despite being ill in bed with fever, she donned hip boots and entered a flooded subway to inspect signal devices at the heart of a dispute in impasse.
• She preferred to talk through issues rather than engage in written or impersonal exchanges of information. Her outlook was optimistic and positive. She commanded respect equally of labor and management. Her good friend Mayor LaGuardia said: “She knows more about labor relations and human relations than any man in the country.” (Boyer, ibid, at p.24.)
• She was mindful of her strengths and weaknesses. By turns, she could be candid or coy, chastising or empathetic, as the situation warranted. Once, she shocked a union official into signing an agreement by scolding him. She said: “What kind of a labor leader do you think you are, withholding raises from poor little people who need them?” (Boyer, ibid, at p. 28.)
• She was respectful, honest, and discrete. In this way, she earned the trust of those with whom she worked. She was content to let others claim credit for any agreement reached. She has been described aptly as “a sort of middlewoman in ideas, a kind of switchboard through which enemies can make connections.” (Boyer, ibid, at p. 29.)
• She was likeable enough. Her expressions of concern for the well-being of antagonistic parties was genuine. She ended her phone conversations with her signature endearment: “G’bye, dollink.” (Boyer, ibid, at p.24.)
• She was practical and creative, not wedded to using a single framework for mediation. And, she was aware that she was working in a man’s world. Summarizing her career, she said:” I never tried to be anything but what I was…You don’t have to be like a man to succeed. If you know your stuff, you’ll be alright.” (The Confidante by Christopher C. Gorham at p. 307.)

Mediators today work in an environment radically different from the one in which Anna Rosenberg did. However, many of us aspire to practice our craft like she did. As a mediator who looks for inspiration in many sources, I heartily recommend The Confidante. It is a compelling, authoritative biography of Anna M. Rosenberg. The author brings to light the untold story of a path-breaking woman who deserves our attention—as a mediator and much more.

Nancy Shuger

Nancy B. Shuger served as an Associate Judge on the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (1993 to 2011). Now she sits as a recalled Senior Judge and has a private mediation business. Her practice is multi-cultural, focusing primarily on family, small business, workplace, and congregational mediations. She is… MORE