Companies will hire male CEOs and then spend MILLIONS teaching them how to think like a woman.

Or, in other words… 

“What's the one thing you would change in the world today to make the world better? Balance the hyper-masculinity with more femininity. Our world is suffering from hyper-masculinity. Sadly as we empower women today, we force them to become masculine. The best leaders came from their feminine. My biggest failure has been not tapping into my feminine side.” 

- Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer for Google X 

The Impact of Women on Innovation

Did you know…? 

• Women are 83.7% more likely to introduce product innovations (PMCID) 
• Women are 56% more likely to implement process innovations (PMCID) 
• Women-owned businesses outpace men's growth rate by 94.3% for number of firms, 252.8% for employment, and 82% for revenue (from 2019-2023, Wells Fargo) 

So when I say, as I always say, 

“Lead like a woman.” 

I’m not just saying it. 

Overcoming Fear and Embracing Power

As women, we grow up seeing only masculine power. Our prototypes of power are men (and sometimes women) behaving and acting in a masculine environment. That's what success is “supposed” to look like. 

But let me tell you what I think.

I speak on stage or TV once a week, minimum. And I remember back in 2018-2019, I used to be terrified. So I made a commitment to myself. I told myself that every time I speak publicly, I will say this: “I’m a very powerful woman.” 

And yes, in the beginning, it would just traumatise me. I was waiting for someone to go, “No, you’re not.” But then I got better. It became a fact about me.

So when I think about power and what success really looks like, I say, “Lead like a woman.” And between WCorp and my wider business portfolio, I’ve helped thousands of women to scale their businesses and lead international teams with ease and confidence. 

Current Landscape of Women in Leadership

Despite the progress made, there’s still work to be done. As of 2025, women hold only 35.2% of leadership roles in FTSE 350 companies (FTSE Women Leaders Review 2024). This underrepresentation is even more pronounced at the highest levels, with women occupying just 15% of Chair positions, 8% of CEO roles, and 18% of Finance Director positions (Pipeline Women Count Report 2024). 

Still, there’s cause for optimism. The number of women in senior management roles globally has generally been steadily increasing. This trend suggests that businesses are just beginning to recognize the value of diverse leadership - like the 25% increased likelihood of above-average profitability (McKinsey). 

Strategies for Accelerating Progress

To accelerate progress, organizations need to implement targeted strategies, like: 

1. Fostering ongoing peer connections for women in leadership
2. Evaluating inclusion data in candidate searches
3. Implementing mentorship programs
4. Addressing unconscious bias in hiring and promotion processes

Reframe your thinking. Stop wasting time and money trying to master masculinity in the workplace. Instead, lead like a woman.

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