FEMALES TO THE FORE Men usually command the lion’s share of the limelight in the business sphere, but women are increasingly doing it for themselves, meaning that female leaders can be just as inspiring, as Sally Percy relates here W hat does it take to be a successful business leader? Scour the internet and you’ll find plenty of advice on this topic – most of it either written by, or discussing the achievements of, men. Often, such advice will talk about the importance of following bold strategies, having the courage to make di cult decisions as well as being willing to take risks. It may also emphasise the need for a compelling vision and the significance of certain personal qualities such as self-awareness, self-belief and self-control.
other talented people. “Have a clear purpose, set a clear direction, but then give people a lane to run in,” advises Mette Lykke, CEO of Too Good To Go, a Denmark-based foodtech business that is on a mission to reduce global food waste. “Make sure to remove any barriers and really set people free. Then, naturally, they will want to have as much impact as they can.” Be curious . Rosalind Brewer, former CEO of US retail pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance, has a background as a chemist. She believes that a scientist’s innate curiosity can be an invaluable attribute in business. Speaking to the Today show in 2021, she said: “When you’re a scientist, you’re curious, you ask a lot of questions. You’re analytic. You look at data and that translates into business and some of the best business leaders are those who really challenge the status quo.” Don’t give up . Resilience has long been linked with success. Having the ability to pick yourself back up after a setback is an invaluable attribute in business. A great example of a female leader who has shown considerable resilience during her career is Melanie Perkins, co-founder
Of course, all this advice is perfectly valid – and female leaders are just as likely to subscribe to it as their male counterparts. But it’s not just male leaders who deserve recognition for their accomplishments and for the stirring example they set to others. The world’s most successful businesswomen can also teach us some valuable lessons about success. As part of the research I undertook for my book, I profiled some inspiring female leaders and I learned just as much from them as I did from the males. Here are a few important takeaways from female business icons. Embrace your sense of purpose . As a business leader, you have a huge opportunity to make the world a better place. Mary Barra, CEO of automotive giant General Motors, is helping to accelerate the clean energy revolution with her goal of phasing out the production of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. US entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe Herd founded the app Bumble because she wanted to challenge antiquated rules around dating and give women the power to make the first move. Özlem Türeci, co-founder of German biotechnology company BioNTech, wants to cure cancer, but she also helped to develop the pioneering vaccine that prevented people from dying of Covid-19. Empower others . You’ll never climb to the highest echelons of business if you try to do it all on your own. To achieve their vision, the most successful leaders make a point of seeking out and empowering
“Embrace your sense of purpose… as a business leader, you have a huge opportunity to make the world a better place”
36 | Ambition NOVEMBER 2023
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