Women in leadership newsletter
Welcome to the inaugural edition of my newsletter, "Women in Leadership," where we explore the evolving role of women in leadership positions, from the boardroom to the global stage and within our communities and homes.
In a world where leadership is often defined by traditional norms, women are redefining what it means to lead. The rise of leaders like Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President of the United States, and Christine Lagarde, the first woman to head the European Central Bank, showcases how women are not just participating but transforming leadership at the highest levels. Christine Lagarde, known for her resilience, strategic thinking, and commitment to gender equality, is a prime example of how women are reshaping the very fabric of leadership, challenging outdated norms and paving the way for future generations.
But leadership isn't confined to high-profile roles. It’s present in our everyday decisions, the communities we foster, and the values we uphold in our personal and professional lives. As women, we lead in our careers, in our homes, and through the ripple effect our actions create.
I believe our time is now. Women possess unique life skills—empathy, collaboration, communication, and creativity—that are becoming increasingly valuable in a world where non-human intelligence is on the rise. These are the skills that complement and augment technology, making us essential in the evolving landscape of leadership.
This newsletter will delve into the multifaceted aspects of leadership for women—how we can champion each other in the workplace, navigate the complexities of work-life balance, and break through barriers in various industries. We’ll also examine how popular culture reflects and influences our perceptions of female leadership, drawing lessons from those who have made their mark on the world stage.
Whether you’re striving for a leadership role, supporting female leaders, or simply interested in the evolving dynamics of leadership, this newsletter is for you. Together, let’s explore how we can inspire, uplift, and lead with purpose—in our careers and beyond.
What Makes Women CEOs Different?
The journey to the top for women CEOs is distinct, marked by unique challenges, traits, and motivations that set them apart from their male counterparts. According to a landmark study by Korn Ferry, which included in-depth interviews with 57 women CEOs, six key insights highlight what differentiates women in these roles.
Longer, More Diverse Career Paths: Women CEOs often work harder and longer to reach the top, typically being older than their male peers by about four years. Their careers span more roles, industries, and companies, reflecting a broad and varied experience base.
Purpose-Driven Leadership: A significant majority of these women leaders are driven by a deep sense of purpose, focusing on the positive impact their companies can have on communities and the world. This intrinsic motivation to make a difference is a hallmark of their leadership style.
Resilience and Risk-Taking: Women CEOs exhibit defining traits such as courage, resilience, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. These traits are crucial in steering their companies through complex and uncertain environments, making them well-suited to lead in today’s fast-changing world.
Team-Oriented Approach: Unlike the often individualistic focus seen in traditional leadership, women CEOs tend to leverage the power of teams, showing higher levels of humility and a propensity to share credit with others. This collaborative approach is linked to their effectiveness in achieving organisational goals.
Mentorship and Sponsorship: Interestingly, many women CEOs did not initially aim for the top role. It was often the encouragement of mentors or sponsors that propelled them to aim for the CEO position. This highlights the importance of support systems in the career advancement of women.
STEM and Financial Expertise: A strong foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) or financial fields is common among these women, providing them with the analytical skills necessary for effective decision-making in business.
These insights suggest that women CEOs bring a different, often more inclusive, and purpose-driven leadership style, which can be a powerful asset in today’s complex and rapidly evolving business landscape. As organisations seek to build more diverse and effective leadership teams, these traits and experiences offer a roadmap for nurturing future women leaders.
For more detailed insights, you can explore the full study by Korn Ferry.
What leadership theory can teach us about dealing with tough times
A while back I faced a series of significant challenges that tested my resilience and leadership. Concerns around my mother’s well-being, family health issues, and distressing news about a former employer, which impacted friends and colleagues I deeply care about, all converged at the same time. It was a period that truly made me take stock of how to cope when life’s hurdles seem to align against you.
While I know that everyone goes through tough times, often far worse than my own experiences, these challenges led me to reflect deeply on the best strategies to navigate such periods. During these times of personal or professional adversity, it's not unusual to experience doubt about whether we're truly equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
A conversation with a colleague reminded me of the coping mechanisms I’ve relied on, many of which mirror the leadership philosophy we taught at IBM, known as Positive Leadership Edge. This approach, centered on growth, resilience, engagement, agility, and trust, became particularly relevant as I worked through those difficulties.
First, adopting a growth mindset was crucial. This mindset embraces continuous learning and development, recognizing that discomfort can be a catalyst for growth. IBM’s former CEO, Ginni Rometty, wisely said, “growth and comfort do not coexist.” This truth became even clearer to me during that time.
Next, resilience played a vital role. Cultivating personal resilience—especially when feeling at your lowest—is key to bringing positive energy into your life and work. Many successful leaders attribute their achievements to the ability to bounce back from setbacks, a lesson I found invaluable.
Engagement and inclusion, built on the belief that “I believe, I belong, and I matter,” also helped. This belief has been ingrained in me since childhood and became a cornerstone in navigating those challenges, allowing me to show up as my best self despite adversity.
The fourth element, agility, along with respect, openness, empathy, and courage, was critical. These traits, admired in leaders and heroes alike, were qualities I leaned on heavily during that time. Lee Kuan Yew’s journey, which I’ve long admired, served as a powerful reminder of the importance of these attributes.
Finally, transparency and trust formed the foundation of my approach. Trust in friends, family, and colleagues was essential in overcoming those tough moments. It’s the bedrock upon which lasting relationships—and effective leadership—are built.
When I reflect on these principles—growth, resilience, engagement, agility, and trust—I see how they formed the acronym GREAT, and how they were instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges. These principles not only underpin great leadership but also provide a roadmap for dealing with life’s challenges.
The journey of self-improvement never truly ends, and I continue to apply these principles in both my professional and personal life. How do you apply positive leadership in your life and career? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
The Value & Glory of Goal Setting in 2024
As we move through 2024, it's important to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that have shaped us. The past few years have given us a fresh perspective on who we are and where we want to go. With that in mind, I’ve honed my 4-step approach to goal setting, designed to help us not just build back, but build better, and turn our unique talents into the skills the world needs.
1 - Reflect on Accomplishments: Start by listing all your achievements across every aspect of your life over the past year. Lay them out like a puzzle to create a real-time picture of where you stand today.
2 - Focus on Passion and Growth: Identify what you truly loved doing, the new skills you’ve developed, and what 2024 is asking of you that might be different from before.
3 - Make Goals SMART: Transform your goals into something SMART—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic (this one’s always a challenge as I tend to dream big!), and Time-Bound.
4 - Set a Breakthrough Goal: Finally, establish one "wow" breakthrough goal that will propel you to new heights and bring your vision to life in a powerful way.
Goal setting is more than just planning; it’s about aligning your passions, skills, and aspirations with what the world needs right now.
Looking for more tips on goal setting? This Forbes article has some great insights: Forbes Article.
"If you can see it, you can be it"
"If you can see it, you can be it" is a powerful reminder that visibility and representation are key to empowerment. When we see people like us achieving great things, it expands our own sense of what's possible. This quote is especially relevant for women in leadership, where seeing other women excel in positions of power can inspire the next generation to reach even higher.
In work, personal life, or any other sphere, this idea fuels ambition and fosters the belief that no dream is too big. It's about breaking barriers, challenging norms, and paving the way for others to follow. Remember, the more diverse and inclusive our role models, the broader the possibilities for all of us.
So, let’s continue to support, uplift, and showcase those who are breaking new ground—because when we see it, we truly can be it.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: The Journey of Emma and Daniel
In a bustling city, two ambitious professionals, Emma and Daniel, embarked on their quest to reach the pinnacle of their careers. Both were passionate, driven, and eager to make their mark in the world of business. Yet, their paths to leadership, while intersecting, showcased distinct challenges and strategies influenced by their unique experiences.
Emma’s Journey: Navigating the Labyrinth
Emma started her career with a clear vision: to become a leading figure in her industry. Her initial goals were precise and achievable, reflecting her desire to climb the corporate ladder step by step. She focused on mastering her current role, seeking mentorship, and expanding her skills. Emma set short-term goals like mastering new software and leading small projects, progressively building a solid foundation for her long-term ambitions.
However, Emma soon encountered a complex labyrinth of barriers. Despite her competence, she noticed a recurring theme: her accomplishments were often overlooked or credited to her male counterparts. This reality pushed Emma to rethink her approach. She realised that visibility and self-promotion were just as crucial as her actual performance. Emma began setting goals that included networking with influential leaders, seeking sponsorship from senior executives, and confidently advocating for her contributions.
Her goal-setting process became a blend of tactical steps and strategic visibility. Emma also joined professional networks tailored for women, which provided a platform to share experiences and strategies with others facing similar challenges. These connections proved invaluable, offering support and practical advice on overcoming barriers unique to women in leadership.
Daniel’s Journey: The Traditional Path
Daniel, on the other hand, took a more traditional approach to his career advancement. His goals were straightforward: excel in his role, take on high-profile projects, and climb the corporate ladder based on merit alone. His strategy focused on enhancing his skills, building a strong work ethic, and leveraging his achievements to gain promotions.
For Daniel, the path was more linear. He had fewer obstacles related to gender dynamics and could focus primarily on demonstrating his abilities and results. His goal-setting was largely about personal performance and professional growth, with less emphasis on navigating systemic biases or building networks outside his immediate work environment.
Crossroads: A Lesson in Inclusivity
As Emma and Daniel’s careers progressed, they eventually found themselves at similar levels within their organisations. However, their experiences had shaped their leadership styles differently. Emma’s approach was marked by a keen awareness of the need for systemic change and inclusive leadership. She set goals not only for her career but also for fostering a supportive environment for others. Emma actively worked on creating pathways for women and underrepresented groups, championing policies that addressed gender bias and promoting a culture of equity.
Daniel, while successful, noticed the growing influence of Emma’s initiatives and understood the importance of inclusivity in leadership. He began to appreciate the additional layers of strategy that Emma had mastered and started to incorporate these lessons into his own leadership approach.
The Takeaway
Emma and Daniel’s journeys illustrate that while the core principles of goal setting—setting clear objectives, measuring progress, and adapting strategies—remain the same, the context in which these goals are pursued can vary significantly. For women like Emma, achieving leadership involves not just personal development but also navigating and transforming systemic challenges. For men like Daniel, the focus often remains more on personal performance within a less biased framework.
The ultimate lesson is that effective leadership is enriched by understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by different groups. By learning from each other’s experiences and embracing inclusive practices, both men and women can contribute to a more equitable and dynamic leadership landscape.
What Amazing Bosses Do Differently - Time to Bring It On
We all need to see and experience extraordinary and brilliant leadership.
This Harvard Business School article is still best in class as its core is focused on caring for your team as individuals and building personal relationships, not deploying a holistic, one size fits all approach: https://buff.ly/3fpLVKk
Here's a reminder of a recent post about 'being a better boss'! https://buff.ly/2UMqLhT
My Top Tips:
1) Go big on meaning. Most employees value jobs that let them contribute and make a difference, and many organisations now emphasise meaning and purpose in the hopes of fostering engagement. But this is also the manager’s responsibility. You can’t just rely on incentives like bonuses, stock options, or raises.
2) Emphasise learning in your team, as we continue through this vortex of change; my nirvana of learning over winning!
3) Focus on feedback. A recent Society for Human Resource Management survey of managers in the US found that “only 2% provide ongoing feedback to their employees.” Just 2%! Many bosses limit themselves to the dreaded “performance review” and often mingle developmental feedback with discussions about compensation and promotion, rendering the former much less effective.
I have spent more time on feedback in my career as you can read here: https://buff.ly/2UMqJGN. Feedback is a gift and must be a constant stream of giving.
For me, exceptional bosses are more important than ever with the future of work reforming around us, where we need employees to bring 200% of themselves to their work, with all their honesty vulnerability, trust, understanding and empathy to your physiological safely bond as the leader
Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History! ✊
This graphic really resonated with me. The lovely Angela Kurien Murze sent it to me on a week where I had been repeatedly labelled as “assertive, “difficult”, and adding “too much energy in the room!”. On this special week when women and girls have been celebrated all around the world, I am proud to be paying tribute to the extraordinary women who do NOT behave, and act outside of the norms assigned to them by the patriarchy. I salute all of you, particularly the female fighters in Ukraine. I am proud of you, and I encourage you to keep fighting, and misbehaving!
The Power of Active Listening: Beyond Absorption to Dynamic Engagement
Today, we dive into the art of active listening and explore how it can transform our daily interactions into opportunities for growth, connection, and innovation.
As someone who's facing the challenges of worsening hearing loss, I've come to appreciate listening from a new perspective. Traditionally, we might think of ourselves as sponges, simply soaking up the words and ideas of others. But what if, instead, we approached conversations like trampolines—actively engaging, bouncing ideas back and forth, and elevating each interaction to new heights?
This shift in mindset invites us to see ourselves not as passive recipients of information but as dynamic participants in every discussion. By viewing conversations as collaborative exchanges, we can create an environment where ideas flourish, connections deepen, and innovation thrives.
Being a "trampoline listener" means embracing curiosity, responding thoughtfully, and valuing the diverse perspectives that others bring to the table. It's about moving beyond mere understanding and towards a richer dialogue that encourages creativity and fosters stronger relationships.
As we move forward this week, let's all strive to be trampoline listeners—open to new ideas, eager to engage, and committed to making every conversation meaningful. Together, we can spark deeper connections and make a lasting impact in our interactions, both at work and beyond.
The Power of Leadership Rituals in Achieving Success
Leadership rituals are more than just routines; they are essential components of consistent and impactful leadership. These rituals create a structured framework that allows leaders to build trust, drive performance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
1. Establishing Predictability and Trust Rituals, such as regular check-ins, team meetings, or open-door policies, establish predictability in a leader's actions. This predictability is crucial for building trust within the team. When team members know that a leader will consistently follow through on their commitments, it creates a stable environment where they feel secure and valued. This trust, in turn, enhances team cohesion and morale, both essential for long-term success.
2. Enhancing Focus and Clarity Rituals help leaders maintain focus on what truly matters. For instance, starting the week with a Monday morning meeting ensures that everyone is aligned on priorities, while end-of-day reflections allow a leader to assess progress and plan for the next steps. These rituals serve as touch points that keep a leader and their team centred on their goals, reducing the risk of distractions and fostering a sense of purpose.
3. Promoting a Growth Mindset Incorporating rituals that emphasise learning and development, such as regular feedback sessions or personal reflection times, encourages a growth mindset within the organisation. Leaders who ritualise learning demonstrate their commitment to personal and professional growth, which inspires their teams to adopt the same mindset. This focus on continuous improvement can lead to innovative thinking and a competitive edge in the marketplace.
4. Strengthening Organisational Culture Leadership rituals are powerful tools for shaping and reinforcing organisational culture. For example, holding quarterly social events or recognising team achievements in a ritualised manner can instil a sense of belonging and reinforce the values of the organisation. These rituals help embed a culture where every team member feels connected to the organisation's mission and motivated to contribute to its success.
5. Driving Consistent Performance Rituals help leaders maintain consistency in their actions, which is key to driving performance. By establishing rituals such as setting weekly goals or conducting regular one-to-ones with direct reports, leaders can ensure that their teams remain focused and productive. This consistency in leadership practices leads to steady and reliable performance, which is critical for achieving long-term success.
In summary, leadership rituals are crucial for creating a structured and positive environment where teams can thrive. They foster trust, maintain focus, promote a growth mindset, strengthen organisational culture, and drive consistent performance. By incorporating these rituals into their leadership style, leaders can significantly enhance their effectiveness and the overall success of their organisation.
Being a Better Boss - Top Tips (For Urgent Consumption)
I was astounded and frankly horrified to read the research and this v impactful article: https://t.co/ZJvrrHwObH
Despite the $15 billion companies spend annually on managerial and leadership development, bad bosses are common in the American workforce. A study by the American Psychological Association found that 75% of Americans say their “boss is the most stressful part of their workday.”
Here are my top 3 tips to not being one of those bosses!
1. Share your leadership philosophy and approach, what makes you tick and discuss this at online or in-person town hall sessions, ensuring a holistic view of your strengths, vulnerabilities, key needs and goals are shared.
2. Walk the floor, physically and virtually (open invite VCs), where employees can join or not, to share what’s on their minds. Be visible, with time to listen.
3. With your direct reports every month have 1:1’s with no fixed agenda, just a place to share, discuss and openly communicate, make sure the airtime split, is 75% those who work for you talking and the remainder you responding and sharing stories.
So please share your experiences, advice and opinions on the boss as the most stressful or best part of your workday!
As we conclude this edition of our newsletter, let’s remember that the journey towards gender parity in leadership is ongoing. Every story of success, every breakthrough, and every leader who paves the way for others is a step closer to a more equitable world. We hope these insights and stories inspire you to champion women in leadership, both within your own circles and beyond.
On 12th September, I’ll be diving deeper into these themes during my talk at the Norfolk Cathedral. This event will focus on the critical role of women in leadership and how we can all contribute to a more inclusive future. I’d love for you to join the conversation and help us continue the push for progress.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of women who are shaping the future of leadership. Stay tuned for our next issue, where we’ll continue to highlight the voices and experiences that drive change and innovation.
Until then, keep leading with courage and compassion.
Warmest