Influence, Inspire, Impact—Find Your Voice as a Leader

What percentage of global board seats do you think women currently hold? According to a Deloitte report, it’s only 19.7%. Despite progress over the years, the glass ceiling remains a stark reality for millions of women worldwide. 

This is why the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, March Forward For ALL Women and Girls, is more than just a call to action—it’s a reminder to fulfil the promises made 30 years ago with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. While significant strides have been made since then, there is still a long way to go in creating space for women in leadership roles.

This guide is an invitation to explore the current landscape of leadership, redefine authentic leadership, reflect on your unique leadership style, and take actionable steps to conquer the challenges ahead.

The Current Landscape of Women in Leadership

The Progress We’ve Made

The past decades have seen women breaking barriers and reshaping industries. Since the Beijing Declaration of 1995, more women than ever are occupying high-ranking positions, from corporate boardrooms to political offices. However, it’s clear we’re not yet where we need to be. Globally, women now hold 29% of C-suite positions according to McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report—a significant jump from previous decades.

The Gaps That Remain

While progress is undeniable, the gaps are glaring. Statistics from the World Economic Forum indicate that achieving gender parity in leadership could take another 134 years at the current pace. Bias, stereotypes, and systemic challenges prevent far too many talented women from climbing the leadership ladder.  Additionally, women of colour and LGBTQIA+ individuals face even greater obstacles in reaching leadership roles. As leaders, it’s essential to acknowledge and address these gaps to create a more inclusive future for all.

Understanding Authentic Leadership

If we’re to accelerate change, we must turn to authentic leadership—a style rooted in self-awareness and integrity. 

Authentic leadership is a method all leaders can adopt to lead with truth, transparency, and purpose. It’s about staying true to yourself while building trust and openness within your team. By anchoring leadership in personal values rather than imitating others, authentic leaders distinguish themselves. 

How to Practice Authentic Leadership 

1. Self-awareness – Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and core values. This self-knowledge forms the basis of authentic leadership. 
2. Relational transparency – Build honest and open communication with your team. 
3. Balanced processing – Make decisions fairly by considering multiple perspectives. 
4. Internalised moral perspective – Stay committed to your ethical principles, even during tough situations. 

This approach empowers leaders of all backgrounds to lead with integrity and purpose, breaking free from outdated leadership moulds and fostering true connection and impact.

Finding Your Leadership Voice

Your leadership voice is uniquely yours. It reflects your values, purpose, and approach to decision-making.  Take the time to reflect on these critical questions:

• What are my core values?
• What strengths set me apart?
• How can I inspire and influence others?

A valuable tool in leadership development is the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) Assessment. This framework helps uncover thinking preferences, from analytical to creative, and how they influence your leadership style. Whether you’re task-focused or people-oriented, the HBDI® assessment equips you to make decisions with greater self-awareness.

Overcoming Barriers

Identifying and addressing barriers is essential for unlocking your full potential as a leader. Here are some common challenges faced by women in leadership and how to overcome them:  

1. Bias in Recruitment – Women are often judged more harshly for leadership roles. 
2. Stereotypes – Traits like assertiveness are viewed negatively when exhibited by women. 
3. Lack of Support – Inequitable caregiving responsibilities often hold women back. 

Practical Strategies for Breaking Through

• Inclusive Leadership Development: Leadership development training equips individuals with tools like empathy, self-awareness, and strategic thinking to advocate effectively. It’s about building a culture of equity and growth, not just managing teams. 
• Mentorship and Support: Offering mentorship opportunities helps elevate underrepresented voices and supports career development for all. Leaders can guide others through challenges while advocating for inclusion at every level. Mentorship strengthens workplaces by building a pipeline of diverse talent. 
• Empowering Diverse Teams: Leaders who prioritise equity create environments where everyone can thrive. Empowering diverse voices leads to better decision-making and innovation. It builds a culture of shared responsibility and mutual respect. 
• Challenging Biases Actively: By addressing biases in hiring, promotions, and policies, leaders can dismantle systemic barriers. This could mean partnering with organisations that focus on underrepresented groups to expand the talent pool. This ensures access to a broader range of perspectives and abilities

Advocacy requires consistent action to ensure fairness and accountability. Leaders’ commitment to equity sets the tone for organisation-wide change.

Marching Forward for ALL Women and Girls

The 2025 International Women’s Day theme calls upon us all to bridge the gaps and ensure lasting change. It’s an opportunity to reflect on progress, but also to take action.No matter where you are in your leadership journey, you have the power to influence, inspire, and impact. Developing leadership skills and ustilising assessment and profiling tools encourages future leaders to challenge norms and inspire change. Together, we can build a more inclusive, diverse future.