“What advice would you give your younger self?”

This is one of the most powerful questions I ask female leaders – whether in my keynotes, leading panel discussions, or for my podcast, The Whole Truth: Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia. Their answers are always packed with practical insights and actionable advice that anyone looking to move forward in their career can benefit from.

Over the past 20 years as an expert Women in Leadership Coach, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with women all over the world about their leadership experiences. I’ve listened to their challenges, celebrated their progress, and seen first-hand the impact of sharing these learnings. They bring out real stories, the lessons learned, and the key turning points that shaped these leaders’ journeys. The feedback I receive from these conversations always reinforces how valuable it is to hear directly from those who’ve walked the path before.

That’s why I wanted to bring these lessons together. In this blog, I’m sharing some of the best advice I’ve gathered from incredible female leaders. These are the strategies they wish they’d known earlier, the principles that have guided and shaped their success, and the insights they hope will light the way for the next generation.

 

1. Good enough is good enough: Let go of perfectionism.

Perfectionism can be a powerful driver – many high-achieving women I coach credit their success to high standards and attention to detail. But when taken too far, it can lead to overwork, self-criticism, and burnout. In the long run, perfectionism doesn’t serve us. There’s a saying in coaching ‘What got me here won’t get me there’. If you notice signs that perfectionism is holding you back rather than pushing you forward, it may be time to let it go.

However, letting go of perfectionism isn’t about lowering standards; it’s about creating space. Space for strategic thinking, building strong networks, mentoring others, and for reflecting on your leadership vision. What could you achieve with that extra time and energy? Where could you invest it instead?

“I was a perfectionist. I’d tell my younger self to be a little bit less controlling and support a little bit more kind of the younger people around me to kind of have a voice and to be able to build their profile.” – Siri Soosalu, Vice President Design, Womenswear at HUGO BOSS

The lesson? Let go of perfectionism. Say no more often. Be kinder to yourself. And remember, good enough really is good enough.

 

2. Stay true to your values and own your leadership style.

The most respected leaders aren’t those who try to fit in – they’re the ones who lead with integrity and confidence in their values. Whether it’s how you work, communicate, or lead, staying true to what you believe in builds credibility and trust.

“Integrity. I think always standing by what you believe, whether that’s the way you work, the way you communicate – never, ever navigate away from that. Because the moment you do, you lose a bit of yourself, and people can see it. That’s really important for people to trust you, to believe in you”. – Siri Soosalu, Vice President Design, Womenswear at HUGO BOSS

Many leaders I’ve spoken to have found real power in embracing their unique leadership style. Early in their careers, they sometimes felt pressure to conform, but their greatest progress came when they leaned into their strengths and led in a way that felt authentic to them. Bringing your whole self to leadership isn’t just about personal fulfilment – it creates stronger, more engaged teams and inspires others to do the same.

“I look back at who I was in the early stages in my career, and, I could have held my ground and embraced my own style. In certain industries and certain types of roles, you’re often up against some really big and quite loud characters, and there’s an expectation to be a certain way. It’s taken me a long time, probably too long, to say I am who I am, and my style has a lot of value. I would absolutely tell my younger self to lean into who I am, and not feel that I’m the wrong character, or need to be something that I’m not” – Jo Kerr, Head of Purpose at Brandpie

The lesson? Own your values, celebrate your strengths and lead with confidence. When you bring your whole authentic self to the table, you create a leadership style that is both impactful and inspiring.

 

3. Be bold, be curious and get yourself a mentor.

Successful leaders are those who jump into things feet first. One thing many of the leaders I speak to have in common is that they look back on the risks they took as pivotal moments in their careers. Even when things didn’t go to plan, those experiences shaped their growth and leadership journey. Fear of failure or rejection can hold many of us back, but in reality, the biggest regrets often come from the opportunities we didn’t take. And all too often, it’s women who hesitate to take the leap.

Their best advice? Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready. Take the chance, step into new opportunities, and trust that you’ll figure it out along the way. The biggest career breakthroughs often come from the bold moves you make, not the ones you hesitate on.

“I jump into a lot of things feet first. The idea is you fail fast, move on and get on with something else that you absolutely do enjoy. That’s kind of how I’ve led my life up to now. It’s a scary thing to do, and sometimes you have to be pushed. I really, really encourage people, to try things you absolutely can’t sit back and regret later. It’s not always in our nature as women to do that -women simply won’t apply for a role if they don’t qualify for 100% of what’s listed in the job itself, whereas men will apply for it if they only have 60% of the skills.” – Andrea Bright, C-Suite/Senior Exec

Alongside boldness, curiosity is key.

“The quality of the questions you ask yourself determines the quality of your life. It doesn’t have to be some grand thing, like, ‘I want to be a millionaire’, it can be as simple as ‘I’m really curious to learn about X’ or ‘What is it going to be like to live in the US for a couple of years’ or ‘What would it be like for me to transition into this role?’  The places where you’re not comfortable, that’s where the growth happens.” –  Dr Sade Mokuolu, Regional Business Development Manager, Life Sciences at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

Finally, don’t wait for opportunities to land in your lap. Seek them out and find people who can help guide you.

“If you’re growing your career, make sure you equip yourself. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it for you. Know where you’re going and have that goal. Find out what you need, watch other people in the role you want, and see what they do and how they do it. Most of it is just having the confidence to take the step.’ – Andrea Bright, C-Suite/Senior Exec

“The important thing is to keep learning. Always stay curious. I’m learning a lot from the 25-year-olds that I work with all the time. They’re so incredibly smart and see the world in a different way – that value is really important.” – Jo Kerr, Head of Purpose at Brandpie

The lesson? Be bold and jump feet first into new opportunities. Stay curious, ask questions, and surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you.

 

4. Balance empathy with self-assurance.

Great leaders listen. They engage with different perspectives, admit they don’t have all the answers, and create space for others to contribute. But alongside that humility, they also trust their inner voice, believe they belong in the room, and have something valuable to say.

“The aspiring leaders I see around me today all have this empathy. They question themselves because they do not think they’re perfect. They know there is room to grow, listen and engage with other people’s points of view. That’s really important you don’t think you know everything, because none of us do. You’ve got to have confidence. but also continually challenge yourself and challenge each other in a positive way”. – Siri Soosalu, Vice President Design, Womenswear at HUGO BOSS

The lesson? The best leaders know when to listen, when to reflect, and when to trust their own judgment. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about being open to learning.

 

5. Lift others as you climb.

Success isn’t just about getting ahead yourself – it’s about paying it forward and creating opportunities for others to grow, too. The best leaders build those around them, giving them space to grow, experiment, and fail. They understand that leadership is a collective journey. By mentoring future talent, offering guidance to peers, and sharing their networks, they create an environment where everyone can thrive.

The most successful leaders recognise the value of nurturing relationships, both as mentors and mentees, and surrounding themselves with allies who challenge and support them.

“If you are an aspiring leader, it’s really important you love leading people. Essentially, you have to love to see progress. You’ve got to care about people and want to build their profiles around you. You need to be able to nurture and encourage others and be inspired by the people around you” – Siri Soosalu, Vice President Design, Womenswear at HUGO BOSS

Investing in relationships strengthens the entire network and creates a ripple effect that benefits everyone.

“In my early career, I had a brilliant female mentor. She really was an inspiration, and I’ve tried to be that for others. I always tell people to reach out and build alliances. I love doing that with women in tech because that’s my background. LinkedIn is a fantastic source of finding those and there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of reaching out. That’s the whole point of it.” – Andrea Bright, C-Suite/Senior Exec

“Finding mentors – this is something I didn’t do in my early career at all and I wish I had. It doesn’t have to be a formal thing. It can just be listening to other people’s stories and being able to take something from those stories that may help you. It doesn’t have to be somebody senior either. Peer-to-peer mentorship is just as valuable. You can learn so much from somebody even at the same level because they bring in a different perspective that you might not have considered.” – Dr Sade Mokuolu, Regional Business Development Manager, Life Sciences at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

“Find great mentors –  I found this quite late in my career, but I’ve been lucky enough, certainly in the more recent years to have some particularly wonderful female leaders who have been an absolute inspiration and always had my back. That gave me a lot more confidence to really embrace who I was and embrace my leadership style.” – Jo Kerr, Head of Purpose at Brandpie

The lesson? Leadership thrives in collaboration. The more you invest in others and pay it forward, the stronger your own career will be.

 

Final thoughts: What advice would you give?

Leadership is an ongoing journey, and the most impactful leaders embrace growth, trust in themselves, and support those around them. As you reflect on your own leadership path, think about this: Who are you at your best? What impact do you want to have? And what legacy do you want to leave behind?

The experiences and lessons from these female leaders, along with those you know and admire, offer valuable insights.

If you’re looking to move forward in your career, here are the key lessons to take with you:

• Let go of perfectionism – good enough is good enough
• Stay true to your values and know who you are
• Be bold, take risks and jump feet first into new opportunities
• Balance empathy with self-assurance – listen, learn, and trust your inner voice
• Build strong relationships, find mentors, and pay it forward to help others grow

And finally, take a moment to reflect: What advice would you give your younger self? Chances are, it’s something you can still apply to your leadership journey today.

Want to hear more from these inspiring female leaders? Catch up on all the episodes from The Whole Truth: Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia here.