women

International Women’s Day always makes me reflect on the years I’ve spent working at executive level and the many times I’ve been the only woman in the room. I’ve seen things change over the decades, slowly at first and then more visibly, as more women stepped into senior roles and made their impact felt. HR leadership has been one of the executive spaces where women are more represented. When I think back to the early days of my own career though, HR was still very much ‘Personnel’: admin heavy, process driven and its potential value not appreciated. The women HRDs I’ve admired most didn’t stay within those early boundaries. They saw the opportunity that came with being close to people, culture and organisational dynamics .They shaped strategy, challenged assumptions and influenced decisions far beyond their so‑called remit. They didn’t just support the organisation; they helped steer it. This International Women’s Day, I’m celebrating the women who continue to do that: the ones who use their voice, their insight and their influence to make organisations better places for everyone. And perhaps because of the women who shaped my own journey, I’m especially committed to supporting the next generation , often young women stepping into leadership for the first time. HR Mentoring Plus grew from that commitment: a way to offer the guidance, confidence and strategic perspective I wish I’d had earlier in my career. Here’s to the women who lead, the women who lift others up, and women finding their voice in rooms where it hasn’t always been heard.