Commanding Your Leadership Journey: Women Taking Charge of the Future
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." — Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Meta
In 2024, women in leadership are no longer a “nice-to-have”—they are essential for driving business success and creating a diverse, innovative pipeline for future leaders. The journey to leadership, however, requires strategic planning, self-advocacy, and mentorship. Sheryl Sandberg emphasises this in her book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead", stating: “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Research shows that companies with at least 30% of women in leadership roles are 12x more likely to be in the top 20% for financial performance (Conference Board, Ready-Now Leaders Report). Cindy Adams, Chief Learning Officer at Leadership Circle, notes that women leaders score significantly higher in core competencies like relating, authenticity, and systems awareness, which sets them apart as strong, effective leaders (Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 2023).
But how do we ensure more women break through and thrive at the top? According to IBM’s 2023 Women Leaders Report, there remains an underrepresentation of women in middle management, threatening the future pipeline of female leaders. To close the gap, women must take ownership of their career paths by developing a clear roadmap with key elements like self-advocacy, mentorship, and the pursuit of diverse experiences.
It’s crucial for today’s women leaders to pay it forward—mentoring the next generation of female leaders. This intergenerational focus not only leaves a legacy but also creates sustainable leadership for the future, where diverse perspectives can shape more inclusive and competitive workplaces. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2023) warns that without this focused effort, gender parity will continue to lag behind for over 100 years.
It’s Time for Women to Take Control of Their Leadership Journey
The future of leadership is in women’s hands, but to get there, women need to take bold steps and claim their space in decision-making rooms. Waiting for an invitation or permission won't suffice—it’s time to step up and take that seat. Start building your legacy today, set the stage for the next generation, and create lasting change in the workplace.
Women need to lead with intention, focusing on cultivating diverse experiences, advocating for themselves, and mentoring others to rise alongside them. Research proves that women leaders are transformative, bringing more creativity, emotional intelligence, and resilience to the table than ever before. As Cindy Adams from Leadership Circle emphasises, women outperform men in essential leadership traits, including collaboration and authenticity—traits that are critical in today's competitive, evolving workplace.
But it’s not just about personal success. When women rise, teams thrive, companies innovate, and entire communities benefit. Building stronger pipelines of women leaders isn’t only a moral imperative, it’s a business necessity. Organisations with more women in leadership consistently outperform their peers in financial success and innovation (Conference Board). Yet the path forward requires women to drive the conversation, demand opportunities, and create strategies that break the systemic barriers holding them back.
So, what are women going to do to rise to the top?
Develop a clear career roadmap: Identify where you want to go, and build the skills needed to get there.
Advocate for yourself: Don’t be afraid to step forward and claim your achievements.
Find a mentor, be a mentor: We rise by lifting others. Women should actively engage in creating intergenerational mentorship.
Take diverse experiences seriously: Seek out roles and challenges that stretch your abilities, broaden your horizons, and help you see the bigger picture.
The bottom line is this: we can’t wait for change; we must be the change. Like, share, and comment to join this movement of empowered women leading the charge, breaking down barriers, and paving the way for future leaders.
Together, we can close the gender gap and build a future where women thrive at every level of leadership.
Sources:
Sheryl Sandberg, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead"
Kevin Kruse, "New Research: Women More Effective Than Men In All Leadership Measures", Forbes, March 31, 2023
Ready-Now Leaders Report, Conference Board
IBM’s 2023 Women Leaders Report
World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2023)