Having worked in the field of female leadership for 15 years, I’ve heard some of the worst advice given to aspiring women leaders. Don’t get me wrong – this advice is well-intentioned, but it completely misses the mark. It fails to acknowledge the fundamental differences in the pathways to leadership for men and women and

As we enter 2025, companies have an incredible opportunity to create meaningful changes for women in the workplace. While some progress has been made, there are still significant gaps that need addressing. Here are the five barriers threatening the future of female leadership which companies should focus on to better support women and create sustainable

Around 30 years ago, I watched a sketch on The Fast Show that stuck with me. It featured a workplace meeting where a woman shares an idea, only for her colleagues to ignore her. Moments later, a man repeats the same suggestion, and the room erupts with praise. It was a comedic yet sharp critique

There are moments in life when we feel scared, nervous, or uncertain, yet somehow, we muster the courage to speak up, rise up, or take action. But why is it that in some situations, we find the strength to act, while in others, we remain silent, passive, or frozen? Courage is a puzzling skill. It

In today’s competitive professional landscape, one crucial aspect of career success often gets neglected: building a strong profile. But achieving this is more complex than it may initially seem. It’s not just about doing great work; it’s about making sure the right people know about it. So, what does it really mean to have a

When it comes to leadership, there is still a prevailing belief that the specific attributes needed by women and men to be promoted to leadership roles differ. Despite years of research on these varying expectations, it’s hard to ignore how these lists continue to underscore that gender stereotypes are still very much in play. The

We’ve all been there. A colleague asks for a last-minute favour, your manager has another ‘urgent’ task that needs your immediate attention, a co-worker brings you into help when they have overextended themselves. The urge to say yes can be overwhelming. But what if saying no is actually the key to unlocking your career potential

Most of us would like to think of ourselves as high performers. Yet we can often have the wrong idea about what performance means. Work is not performance. Performance is not activity. Being busy is not performance. Performance is not the amount of activity, and just being smart is not performance either. True performance is

Last year, we launched a podcast ‘Finding Your EPIC®’ to complement our Elevate programme, which has supported emerging female leaders for eight years. The podcast’s goal was for senior women to share the moments they discovered their superpowers. These stories were meant to inspire other women to tap into their own strengths and use them effectively

In the realm of corporate career advancement, women often find themselves lagging behind their male counterparts. Among the various explanations offered for this phenomenon, one frequently cited reason is the supposed lack of confidence among women. In my 15 years of coaching senior women, I’ve encountered numerous instances where women have been criticised for actions

In our day-to-day lives, we are mainly engaged in two fundamental activities: problem-solving and collaborating with others. The latter presents a challenge that permeates every level of an organisation. According to a recent McKinsey survey involving 100 CEOs, senior-level executives struggle with effectively engaging with their board members and establishing connections with stakeholders. Meanwhile, for

Approximately a decade ago, Hewlett-Packard conducted an internal study revealing that men tend to apply for a job when they meet approximately 60% of the qualifications, whereas women typically apply only if they meet 100% of the requirements1. This statistic was widely circulated, leading to the conclusion that women need to have more confidence in