I was recently invited to speak on a panel at the Women of Influence Forum 2026 that had the theme of ‘Lifting Others as We Rise’ – an experience that gave me both time to reflect and a renewed sense of responsibility.
Spaces like this matter. They create room for honest conversations about leadership, ambition, doubt, and the realities many women navigate as they progress in their careers. They remind us that leadership doesn’t happen in isolation – and that who we see, support, and learn from along the way really counts.
The Women of Influence Network itself is something really special. Founded by two amazing women (Julie and Ceilidh) leading in the Cabinet Office, it’s growing from strength to strength and creating a space for women in government to connect, support one another, and develop as leaders. I feel very lucky to be part of it – not just as a speaker on the panel, but as a mentor within the programme. I’ve already had the privilege of mentoring one woman and look forward to continuing to support others.
What’s particularly meaningful for me is how this all came about – through connections. I first met Julie through Charity Leadership Scotland, where she is a mentor on the ‘First Year in Post’ programme (another great resource for CEOs). Her support during that time, and since, has been invaluable – not just to me personally, but also to my team, who she later supported on a development day. And it was through that relationship that I was invited into this network. It’s a powerful reminder that connections matter – they open doors, create opportunities, and often lead you somewhere you never expected.
Our panel was titled ‘Leading out Loud: Authenticity, Vulnerability and Shared Success’ and the first question we were asked was:
“Have any of you ever had a ‘gate’ opened for you by another woman that changed your trajectory?”
What struck me was how others struggled to answer that.
I found that quite worrying.
Because for me, there has always been someone.
The Power of Being Seen Early
Early in my career, working in a drug treatment service, I had a manager called Tracy.
She saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. She gave me opportunities – real ones. I led on our local naloxone programme, was encouraged to stretch beyond my comfort zone, and stepped into her role on an acting basis when she moved on. She didn’t just delegate – she invested. She mentored me, challenged me, and backed me.
And that was really empowering.
There have been many women in my life who have supported and influenced me since – but Tracy represents something really pivotal: that early moment where someone opens a door and says, you can do this – get on with it.
It made me reflect on how important it is that more women have that experience. That we don’t leave people searching for role models – but actively become them.
From “Helping People” to Leading People
I’ve always wanted to help people.
That’s been the thread through everything I’ve done – from mental health nursing, to working with people who use drugs, to now leading a drugs policy charity.
But helping changes shape as you move into leadership.
Early on, it was direct, one-to-one support. Now, it’s about creating the conditions where others can do their best work – where they can grow, feel supported, and ultimately make a difference themselves. That shift – from doing to enabling – has been one of the biggest learning curves in my leadership journey.
Learning (and Unlearning) Leadership
At times I think back to an early appraisal I had maybe a year or so after qualifying as a mental health nurse.
I was described as autocratic. (Yes Philip, I’m talking about you. Ha!)
When I think about that, I can only imagine what people’s experience of me must have been like.
At the time, it was probably a reflection of how strongly I felt about the work. I’ve always had a deep sense of responsibility to the people we serve – and a belief that poor practice, stigma, or discrimination should be challenged.
I still believe that.
I often come back to the phrase: “what you permit, you promote.”
Because in the environments I’ve worked in – particularly with people who use drugs – staying silent in the face of stigma or poor treatment doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like agreement.
In these moments there’s a little voice in my mind asking me things like:
- What would people who use drugs think if I stayed quiet right now?
- What would their family think of the care they’re receiving?
That sense of accountability has driven me to speak up.
But what I’ve learned over time is that how you speak up matters just as much as whether you do.
Courage and Compassion: Both Are Needed
If I’m honest, I haven’t always got that balance right.
There have been times where passion has come across as harshness. Where my intent – to challenge, to protect, to advocate – has been right, but my delivery hasn’t brought people with me.
And that’s the shift in my leadership over the years. Well, my intention anyway – I don’t get it right all the time.
But, at least in my mindset, I’ve moved from feeling that I have to call things out to recognising the importance of bringing people along.
Because real, lasting change doesn’t happen when people feel shut down – it happens when they feel able to reflect, understand, and do better.
So when I was asked what I’d tell my younger self on her first day on the nursing ward, my answer was something along these lines:
Stay true to your values.
Speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
But remember – how you do that matters.
Be brave enough to challenge, and thoughtful enough to bring people with you.
Lifting Others as We Rise – And Letting Ourselves Be Lifted
The theme throughout the day was “lifting others as you rise.”
For me, that shows up in coaching, mentoring, and creating opportunities for others – just as Tracy did for me.
It also features in how I lead day to day.
Wellbeing isn’t a side conversation – it’s central. Because the work we do is complex and often emotionally heavy, and if we want people to sustain their impact, we have to support them properly.
I’ve learned that:
- Caring deeply doesn’t mean carrying everything
- Boundaries are essential, not optional
- And leadership is as much about who you support as who you become
Final Reflection
I left the event feeling really inspired and with a few main thoughts:
We need more visible examples of women supporting women.
More people willing to open doors.
More leaders willing to be both courageous and compassionate.
And perhaps most importantly – we need to remember that influence isn’t always about position.
Sometimes, it’s about being the person who sees potential and creates opportunities to step up.
As I continue this journey – now as a CEO, but still someone who fundamentally just wants to help – I carry that with me.
Because leadership, at its best, is simply helping at scale.
And making sure you’re not the only one rising.
leading in practice 