Support, Not Stereotypes.

Initially I was cautious of using terms like ‘nurturing’ to describe leadership style, for fear of sounding too soft or maternal – as a woman wanting to succeed in her career, I was always made to feel like I should underplay the ‘feminine’ in order to be taken seriously. But actually, ‘nurturing’ is a great way to describe CTL's culture: collaborative, supportive, and with everyone helping each other to thrive, rather than a competitive, individualistic energy. As proof, we've seen women from our team consecutively make the 30UnderThirty list for the last three years - but, regardless of gender, at CTL you benefit from a culture of trust and flexibility. 

It's not about softness; it's about mutual respect, and understanding that life outside work matters, however high our professional expectations. In this kind of environment, people feel empowered to be themselves - and, because we have a culture of fairness, driven by leadership, people are judged on merit, and motivated to be their best selves.

Why Passion Matters

Even in this culture, it's important to be passionate about what you do. To a woman considering a career in this business, I'd say: if you're passionate about the work, go for it - and stick with it.

When I got into the industry, I saw a clear imbalance, where entry level roles were mostly held by young women and leadership positions were overwhelmingly male. Things are gradually shifting and I’m seeing more and more women in leadership roles; we need to go further (and faster: #AccelerateAction!) - but I hope we're moving towards a situation where women can have long lasting careers and grow, without feeling the need to leave our industry when they start a family. It's still not easy - the juggle is certainly real! - but if you're dedicated, the rewards are significant.

On The Shoulders of Giants

Even within my main client base, historically mostly male-led, I’ve seen a noticeable shift towards more balanced representation of women over the seven years I've worked with them. I hope this reflects a broader trend in the workplace – and that it picks up speed.

Ultimately, if we want to #AccelerateAction we need to stop equating women and femininity with ‘weakness’ and reducing ourselves to stereotypes; success in any role, whatever your gender, should depend on passion and ability to do the job well.

International Women’s Day is an important reminder of the progress we’ve made and the struggles that remain. Ideally, we wouldn’t even need a day dedicated to promoting gender equality but, for now, it’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, the hard work of those who fought for this progress, and our gratitude to those who continue to push boundaries in a bid to accelerate it. I’m where I am today because of the work done by women before me, and that’s worth acknowledging.