Woman, unlock your potential

I hardly ever think about myself as a female leader, I am just me. But I know this is how others perceive me. I also know that I owe it to women, especially those who hesitate if they should aim higher, to help them unleash their potential.

I hope that this short list of guiding principles, which helped me along my journey, will help girls from all walks of life feel empowered to drive change and make this world a better place.

Stay true to your values

As a teenager as well as the university I have always been a very good student but a shy one. I lacked confidence and I could never be considered a natural-born leader. However, I never hesitated to stand up and act in alignment with my deep beliefs. Even if as a result I was laughed at by my peers. I strongly believe that this integrity with my values took me where I am today.

It required a fair bit of courage, but I did not think about it back then. What mattered to me was following what I believed in, in the deepest possible way. Following my “why” rather than aligning with what the majority expected from me.

Stay who you are

Remember, the biggest value you bring to the table is the fact that you have a different perspective or point of view. Don’t try to be who you are not. Don’t try to be like other people in the room. It’s not easy to stand out from the crowd, but if you do, you make this crowd much more interesting.

On numerous occasions, I had to step into a room full of males. I know how intimidating it feels. What helps me in these moments is changing my perspective and remembering that when I open the door and step inside, I immediately make the room a better place. I make it more diverse.

Always remember that in male-dominated contexts, as a woman, you bring value by default.

Use your superpowers

What are your superpowers? I do not mean skills, but abilities that are uniquely yours. It really is worth recognizing them and using these superpowers in a conscious way. If you are unsure what they are, ask your friends, colleagues, or loved ones to help you define what is special about you. What do they value the most?

It really helped me when I identified empathy as one of my gifts. Empathy helps me bring the right people together, it allows me to sense trouble before others do, and it helps me build trust with people. By knowing my strengths and using my superpower smartly, I know when I should step in and when I should let other people lead.

Never stop growing up

From the moment we become officially recognized as adults, we forget about growing up and solely focus on expanding our skills toolkit. We read business books, we take courses, and we dive deep into new technologies or frameworks.

Very few of us reflect on how we interact with other people, and the world outside us. Are we self-aware and in control of our behaviour? Do people want to be around us? Are we considered wise or mature as individuals?

Sometimes it is external events that force us to “grow up” quickly. These often become the defining moments of our lives. But we do not really want these abrupt external interactions (like losing a job or experiencing personal tragedy) to force us to grow up.

Be the one who is in control of your own development. Force yourself to be the “dumbest person in the room”, accept ambiguity and discomfort, and let it shape you and help you grow up.

Learn from men. Help them learn from you.

I must admit, I love working with men. To be honest, I think I would struggle to succeed in a female-dominated environment. Along my journey, I have met countless numbers of amazing men. Many of them became my mentors and influenced who I am today.

This is why I find the men-women dispute challenging. It’s not about quota or ticking the diversity box. It’s about learning from one another, noticing differences in how we view the world and expanding our own horizons through other people.

Be genuinely interested in what others have to offer. Learn from men and help them learn from you. We all have a lot to offer.

I hope you will find guiding principles helpful. Let me know what you think and share your own experiences.

Photo by Kasia Derenda on Unsplash