Female founders, more than just a hashtag.

It’s International Women’s History month, so we’re taking a short break from our usual scheduled fieldwork related blogs to talk about being women in business, being female leaders and how there’s still a long way to go.  

There’s a stereotypical image when we think of a female CEO. Towering Louboutin's, a fresh blow dry, red lippy that somehow never transfers to a glass, juggling investor meetings, whilst holding a Starbucks and a Birkin. We’ve all seen it, the Insta-worthy version of leaderships that makes it all look effortless. Glamourous. Easy.  

Want to know the truth? Being a female on the C-Suite isn’t Insta-worthy. It’s not Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, striding through a boardroom with unwavering confidence. It’s late nights, it’s being the only woman at the table (again), it’s proving yourself twice, to get half the recognition. It’s navigating the unspoken biases, the patronising “sweetheart” in meetings and of course, balancing on that impossible tightrope of being strong, but never aggressive, assertive, but never bossy. It’s being told to “smile!” when you’re just trying to get your job done.  

We’re not there yet 

It’s undeniable that we’ve made some progress. But when you look at the numbers, it paints a sobering picture. Women still only get 2% of venture capital funding worldwide. Female-led businesses are less likely to secure the larger investments, despite some studies showing that the returns are often stronger!  

Women in leadership often face microaggressions that chip away at confidence. They’re interrupted more in meetings, presumed to be the assistant, not the CEO, judged on their tone, their appearance and their work-life balance just to mention a few. Female leaders are way more likely to be asked about their family plans than their financial projections. When they do succeed, they’re ‘lucky’ not skilled.  

Whilst social media campaigns celebrate the rise of the “She-E-O" and the “Mumtreupeneurs,” the stark reality is that the climb is still steeper for women than for men.  

Standing on the shoulders of giants 

But let’s be clear: we didn’t get here alone. Every woman forging a path today walks in the footsteps of those who fought before her. Women who broke barriers, challenged norms, and refused to be silenced. The suffragettes who demanded the vote. The women who battled for workplace rights, for equal pay, for maternity leave. Those who shattered glass ceilings in industries where we were never meant to have a seat at the table.  

Gratitude isn’t just a nice sentiment, it’s fuel. It’s knowing that every hard-won battle has paved the way for another woman to go further, to dream bigger. And just as we stand on the shoulders of those who came before, including our Mum, Julie, we owe it to the next generation to keep pushing. To ensure that in 20, 30, 50 years, women in business won’t be writing these same words and our daughters won’t face what we’re facing.  

The real power of women in business 

So, what does real female leadership look like? It’s resilience. It’s fighting for a seat at the table and then making sure more women get to sit beside you. It’s pushing through the exhaustion, the doubt, the endless juggling act of professional ambition and personal responsibilities. 

It’s also about building differently. Creating businesses that value people as much as profit. Redefining leadership, not as dominance, but as collaboration. Supporting other women, not seeing them as competition. 

It’s knowing that success isn’t just about personal achievement, it’s about lifting others up along the way. It’s about mentoring, about advocating, about creating workplaces that don’t just accommodate women, but empower them. 

The work isn’t over 

International Women’s Month is a celebration, but it should also be a wake-up call. Progress has been made, but the playing field is still uneven. Women still have to work harder for the same opportunities. We’re still navigating spaces that weren’t designed for us. 

Here’s to the female founders doing the work, rewriting the rules, and refusing to accept the status quo. And here’s to the women who came before us, who fought, who sacrificed, who paved the way. The best way we can honour them? Keep going. Keep fighting. Keep making space for the next generation. 

Because the goal isn’t just to succeed in spite of the barriers, it’s to break them down completely. 

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