Held By Others, We Lead Change

The fifth session of our Spring Programme took place on Monday with a focus on resilience. Sophie Lawrence, one of the current participants, sent us this following the session. We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful feedback. Credit to the current cohort of wonderful women changemakers for coming with us on this journey and creating the magic.


An overwhelming sense of lightness. 
Those dark knotted alleyways lurking within –
Eased out with grace,
And a knowing, supportive smile.
A female chain of understanding,
Growing stronger by the week.

Power that once faltered
Suddenly lit with intense clarity.
Seeing others around you in a new technicolour of understanding.

The secret of your own personal growth –
For the moment at least can be kept within.
Let us enjoy floating around.
For a while.

And then it can be let out to fly high,
Soaring and swerving.
With new trust and resilience and knowing –
That however much it crushes back down again,
We can pick up the pieces.
And, again if we need.
Painting colourful images that are true to ourself. 
A unique space, unlike no other that we’ve entered before,
Held by others – 
We lead change.

More information on our Autumn Programme and apply here.

Join us on International Women’s Day

Friday 8th March marks International Women’s Day.

We’re making the most of the incredible range of events at the Southbank Centre with a She Leads Change trip to the Women of the World festival.

Why not join us, for any or all of it?

12.30pm: lunch at Le Pain Quotidien on the Southbank

2-5.30pm: WOW: What now? (please book your own ticket via the Southbank Centre)

5.30-8pm: Music & drinks in the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer – we’ll be to the left of the stage area

8pm onwards: Informal continuation of the evening with dinner and drinks

Please drop Laura an email if you would like to join us. We look forward to seeing you on International Women’s Day.

12 Months of She Leads Change

1 – WE ARE ONE

Just over a year ago we had a series of requests for coaching, from these came the idea for a curated programme of peer-led support.. that has led to a growing community of connected, confident changemakers.

2 – KINDNESS

Radical generosity is a core value of She Leads Change.

“I’d like to thank you all for your kindness – at every touchpoint of the programme there is a brilliant, caring, intelligent, passionate woman who genuinely cares about your journey; who wants to help you plant those seeds because she knows that once you start doing so you’re going to grow something amazing…because she believes in you.” – SLC participant

3 – IMPACT

In our first year, we’ve had more than 50 brilliant, brave, beautiful women on She Leads Change, supported by 45 coaches from all over the world, 3 great facilitators and a dedicated core team. We’ve witnessed transformation and growth – both personal and professional. We’ve seen people step up into positions of increased responsibility, change their work culture, take on new challenges and be braver, more confident and more purposeful.

“I’m much clearer about my purpose and far more confident about living it.” – SLC participant

4 – GRATEFUL

This is not one story, it is OUR story and we give a very special thanks to Antonia, Steph and Jo who were there at the beginning and have given so much of their unique gifts to co-create She Leads Change. We are also grateful to our incredible group of facilitators, coaches and advisors – you give us confidence to do the work and make the change possible.

5 – SUPPORT

She Leads Change provides a supportive and safe space in which to undertake self-exploration with help from others.

“…spending time with women you would otherwise never cross the paths of, who bring entirely new perspectives and experiences to your life while sharing a powerful journey together is something truly valuable and rewarding.” – SLC participant.

6 – CO-CREATION

This idea underpins all of our work together. People don’t only join – they create together. We are excited at the way our SLC community has grown: gathering on a regular basis to support, encourage and empower one another. If you’re passionate about leading change and want to invest with us into the future of She Leads Change, let us know what you can offer – what you’d like to co-create – we’d love to hear from you.

“I’d like to lead change for millions, and I think I can – but not alone” – SLC participant

7 – CONFIDENCE

We have heard how participants have greater appetite to step into opportunities, rather than waiting on the sidelines until ‘ready’; how they are less afraid to get out there and be their best selves.

“I’m now more confident to step up, to hold a room. I’m more aware (and sure) of my strengths, and where I want to spend my (emotional) energy. I feel more content with myself and what I have to offer to the world.”

8 – PASS IT ON

Who do you know, who could do with a dose of brave?

Could you introduce us to your corporate, friend, colleague, family member you feel would benefit from our transformative leadership programme?

Do you have someone in mind, you could sponsor? We have started a sponsorship programme to ensure we have the type of diverse group to create transformation at scale.

9 – INFLUENCE

The companies that some of the participants are from have contacted us to send more people. They have seen big changes and have joined our journey.

“I am more aware of my strengths, of my relationships and of my own journey. How I have been shaped and of how I want to shape my own future. I feel more influential and more central to my own story, and know more about my values.” – SLC participant

10 – COMMUNITY

We are launching a community of women co-creating and enabling change in the world. Curious? Get in touch if you’d like to join the movement.

“It really has helped me show up differently. There hasn’t been a a big a-ha moment, but a wonderful journey where I’ve discovered so much more about myself, how I’m being, and how I want to be.” – current SLC participant.

11 – SELF DISCOVERY

It’s a space for self discovery and to take some time out for yourself.

“…and to realise that everyone is going through a certain amount of the same issues and challenges as you, makes you feel less alone.” – SLC participant

12 – LEAD CHANGE

If you are a woman working to create positive impact, the world needs you to be your most powerful self, to operate from a place of confidence and abundance.

“You encouraged a room full of women from a variety of backgrounds and at different places in their lives to dig deep, stare at our wounds, own our fears, and grow…we have been opened and exposed and now with the knowledge that we are enough, we go forward because we lead change.” – SLC participant

Find out more and apply here. Or say hello@sheleadschange.org if you would like to speak to us about a programme for your company or have any great ideas for how we could work together!

A conversation with your future self…

Jo Living, a past participant of She Leads Change, and now a core team member shared a powerful visualisation on Future Self at our opening session of She Leads Change.

So many of you raved about it, we felt we just had to share!

Live Big!

IMG_4331

Don’t live in the basement of your potential! We love this quote. It makes us think of what’s possible when we decide to move out of our basement and into our living area: that space where we can invite others to join us. Where connection happens, where conversation takes place and where collaboration is possible…It’s not always easy to throw open our front door and invite others in…it can feel uncomfortable, it requires bravery, it calls for vulnerability and it takes guts.

But, it opens up possibility, it creates opportunity and it builds community.

This is an open invitation to join us for an informal evening of connection, conversation and collaboration with some like-minded, courageous, purpose-driven change-makers!

Come and meet those involved in She Leads Change – either as a past participant, coach, mentor, advisor, core team member – future participant – or even curious friend! Do spread the word…we’d be delighted to meet you, to understand both what you are looking for and what you could bring!

Come. Join.

Live big. Our door is wide open.

Places are limited, so registration is imperative and please, if your circumstances change and you are unable to join us, let us know so we can open the space for another…

Sign up here: Open Session Registration

We have a mailing list! Do sign up…

She Leads Change began with a big idea and a small group of women in November last year. Our community has grown, and we’ve welcomed incredible people from all spheres who are participating, mentoring, advising and supporting the programme’s inception and growth.

So we’re delighted to share that we now have a mailing list! Many of you have been following us through our news blogs; we’ll now be able to communicate more effectively, as well as keep you up to date with our events, new cohorts and invitations to get more involved and shape She Leads Change as we grow.

You can choose what you’d like to hear about and sign up here: http://eepurl.com/diMmlf. Please do!

 

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