We have the skills; we have the degrees; we have the experience. So why aren’t more of us in leadership positions?
More and more women graduate from universities and according to the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency, 69% of students studying medical technology-related degrees are women.
We can see many female employees occupying entry-level positions, even in male-dominated industries, but the higher we go in hierarchy, the less women we see.
Following the first ever “Women in Shipping Summit”, that took place during the London International Shipping Week this September, Kate Bollanou, Executive & Leadership Coach, came to this conclusion:
We have everything it takes to succeed! But do we have self-belief?
Speakers and delegates shared their knowledge and experience. Our goal was, first, to raise awareness of the issues women face in the workplace and, secondly, to find solutions to them.
It’s not enough to discuss about them and not take action.
In the same way, it’s not enough to study hard and excel as students if we don’t put our knowledge into action.
I’ve met so many ambitious women wanting to succeed in their field. But no matter how successful they seem to others, the majority of them doubt their abilities.
They feel that they’re not enough. Not old enough; not young enough; not smart enough; not experienced enough and the lists goes on.
Because of this belief, they end up holding themselves back. They are reluctant to put themselves forward and to take risks. They’re afraid that they’ll fail and if they do, they will be ridiculed.
Let me ask you this question: what would you do if you were more confident? Would you apply for that promotion? Would you be able to voice your opinion?
One thing we realised after at the Women in Shipping Summit was that confidence comes with action. The more you push yourself out of your comfort zone, the more confident you’ll feel about yourself.
If you’re applying for a different or a more senior position, one thing is sure: you won’t know how to do everything on the job description. If you knew, you’d already be in that position and there’d be no challenge!
The key to unlock your success is to adopt a Growth Mindset and to believe that you have the ability to figure things out, as long as you try and practice until you succeed.
Failure’s a part of our journey and you have everything it takes to succeed! All you have to do now is believe in yourself and have the courage to take the next step.
Author: Kate Bollanou
Executive &; Leadership Coach, WomanSpeak Circle Leader, National Business Award Winner 2019, Young Gender Balanced Leader Finalist 2019
