Stop Waiting. Start Leading.

Last week, I spoke at an International Women’s Day event. As I looked around the room, I saw it – nodding heads, concerned expressions, that moment when the reality of the statistics I shared truly landed.

The numbers speak for themselves.

  • Only one in eightCEO appointments last year went to women. The year before, it was one in four. We are going backwards.
  • Women hold just nine percentof CEO roles in ASX 300 companies.
  • Women over 45 are the fastest-growing demographic of homelessnessin Australia.

 

These are not just numbers. They are careers, livelihoods, lives.

What I love most about these conversations is when they don’t stay in the room. When they turn into action. Because leadership is not about talking about change. It is about leading it.

And here is the truth – we don’t wait for change to happen. We are the change.

Lead Yourself First

Leadership is not a title. It is not about waiting to be chosen, promoted, or given permission.

It starts with you.

It is the way you show up. The standards you hold. The voice you use. The action you take.

You cannot lead others until you lead yourself first.

So ask yourself: are you making choices that move you forward, or are you staying in the same place, waiting?

Challenge What Holds You Back

We all have bias. Some conscious. Some unconscious. And it is not just something that exists out there – it exists in you.

  • Have you ever thought, she is not ready for that promotion—but would have backed a man in the same situation?
  • Have you ever told yourself, I need to be more prepared before I put my hand up?
  • Have you ever stayed silent in a meeting instead of backing yourself?

 

We need to stop waiting and start doing.

If we want more women in leadership, more seats at the table, more equality, we need to step up, speak up, and back ourselves and each other—without hesitation.

Use Your Seat to Make Space for Others

If you have influence, use it.

  • Speak the names of talented women in rooms they are not in.
  • Advocate for them in hiring, promotion, and leadership discussions.
  • Challenge outdated norms when you see them.

 

Not when it is easy. Not when it is convenient. Every time.

Because every time we let something slide, every time we say nothing, we send a message – this is okay.What Happens Next?

The most powerful part of International Women’s Day is not the speeches. It is not the panels or the events.

It is what happens after.Because awareness is not enough. Action is what moves the needle.

So here is my challenge to you—what choice will you make today that your future self, and the women around you, will thank you for?