The Courage to Lead, Differently

After spending time at this year’s Women UNLIMITED Summit, hosted by The Hatchery, I left with a renewed sense of optimism about leadership and the women shaping the future of organisations across Queensland and beyond.

Across the event, we heard stories of courage, resilience, purpose and change. We heard from leaders navigating complexity, making difficult decisions, leading through uncertainty and creating impact in very different ways. What struck me most was not what these women had in common, but what made each of them different.

Every speaker led differently.

Different sectors. Different personalities. Different experiences. Different leadership styles.

Some were bold and outspoken. Others were thoughtful and understated. Some described rapid career progression, while others shared winding, unexpected journeys. Not one story resembled a straight line, and that may be the most important lesson of all.

For many women, there is still an unspoken pressure to conform to a particular leadership template. To be more decisive, less emotional, more commercial, more confident, more like someone else’s definition of a leader.

Having spent more than three decades as both a recruiter and leader, I have seen countless talented women expend enormous energy trying to become a version of leadership they believe is expected of them.

That energy is often misplaced.

The leaders who leave a lasting impact are rarely those who fit a mould perfectly. They are the ones who remain curious. The ones who continue learning. The ones who build trust, act with integrity and bring people with them.

The courage to lead differently starts with the courage to be yourself.

One of the themes of this year’s Women UNLIMITED Summit was leading through complexity and change. The reality is that leadership has never been more challenging. Expectations continue to rise, resources are often constrained, and leaders are expected to create certainty in circumstances that are anything but certain.

Yet leadership is not an arrival point. There is no magical moment when you finally feel completely qualified, entirely confident or fully prepared.

The most accomplished leaders are still learning. Still experimenting. Still getting things wrong from time to time. Still walking out of meetings wishing they had phrased something differently.

That is not a sign of inadequacy. It is a sign that you are doing the work.

If there is one message I hope attendees carried away from the summit, it is this: back yourself before you feel ready.

Apply for the role. Put your hand up for the project. Ask for the promotion. Seek out the board position. Start the conversation you have been delaying.

And when you do move forward, remember to reach back and support the women coming behind you. Every successful leader can point to someone who offered encouragement, advocacy or opportunity at a critical moment in their career.

At OnTalent, supporting women in leadership is not a sponsorship strategy. It is part of who we are. We are proud to partner with Women UNLIMITED because the conversations taking place in these rooms matter. They create connections, challenge thinking and remind us that leadership does not have to look one way. As part of our sponsorship this year, we were delighted to gift 25 attendees a copy of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s bestselling book A Different Kind of Power, a leadership story that reflects many of the themes explored throughout the summit: authenticity, courage, empathy and the confidence to lead in your own way. Leadership is strengthened when diverse voices are heard, shared and celebrated.

In fact, the future of leadership depends on it looking many different ways.

The most valuable moments often happen after the formal agenda ends, when people connect, share experiences and open doors for one another. That is where ideas become action and where confidence becomes opportunity.

And that is why these conversations matter.

If you need help reaching your full potential contact our coaching and mentoring professionals on 07 3305 5800 or [email protected]