CareerTalk

The Survival Illusion:

What We Normalise Shapes More Than We Realise.

There are moments when strength is not strength at all, but survival wearing a convincing mask. Behavioural science shows that the human brain adapts quickly to what is repeated, not to what is healthy. Over time, what begins as coping quietly becomes normal. This is where many women find themselves, functioning, achieving, holding everything together, while their bodies, boundaries and self-worth pay the price.

One of the most overlooked patterns is how unprocessed trauma quietly shapes our relationships and identity. Neuroscience tells us that the nervous system learns safety through familiarity. When emotional inconsistency, over-responsibility or manipulation is repeated, the brain stops questioning it. We begin to call endurance “resilience,” even as stress hormones remain elevated and self-trust erodes. This is not weakness, it is biology adapting to survive.

The same patterns show up powerfully in toxic workplaces and…

From Intention to Impact:

How Great Leaders Engineer Careers, Not Just Goals.

Most leaders are not failing because they lack ambition. They are failing because their goals are under-designed for the reality they operate in.

In complex organisations, fast-moving markets and pressure-heavy careers, how you set goals matters as much as what you set.

Research consistently shows that goal clarity, emotional commitment and structural follow-through are among the strongest predictors of leadership performance, not motivation alone.

When the Old Chapter Ends, the Real Strategy Begins.

Every year, over 60 percent of professionals say they feel stuck in their careers, yet fewer than 14 percent take structured action toward change.

Meanwhile, the Kauffman Foundation reports that nearly half of new businesses are launched by people over 40 and Black women are now the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom and United States, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.

Women in Leadership 2025:

What the Trends Mean for Black and Minority Women and What Must Happen Next.

Something has shifted in leadership, but not in the way headlines suggest. Progress has not disappeared. It has slowed, narrowed and quietly changed direction and for Black and minority women, that change has been felt first and hardest.

The leadership story of 2025 is not one of collapse, but it is no longer one of momentum either. After nearly a decade of steady progress, the pace of advancement for women has slowed and in some cases quietly reversed. According to LinkedIn State of Women in Leadership 2025, gains that once felt inevitable have stalled over the past two years.

What is often missed in headline summaries is who feels this slowdown most sharply. Black and minority women, already navigating steeper structural barriers, are absorbing the greatest impact.

The Generational Career Blueprint.

Every generation carries a psychological script shaped by its economy, technology, politics and trauma. These scripts do not simply influence attitudes, they quietly shape career choices, risk-taking, leadership styles and even what women believe is possible for them.

When you look at the workplace through a generational lens, you realise this is not just about age. It is about how each era was trained to survive.

Let’s look at why every era thinks differently and how it shapes careers, ambition and leadership for women today

Five Techniques to Dress for Success

When we dress well, we feel well.

The right outfit can elevate confidence, shift our energy and influence how we show up in every room. Yet putting together a successful outfit is not always as simple as it seems.

A successful outfit is more than matching pieces. It is a cohesive, refined look where every element blends with intention. It should compliment your shape, reflect your personality and help you feel polished, grounded and ready to lead.

This feature breaks down five techniques that help women create outfits that feel stylish, complete and aligned.