Strength was a watchword at Inspiring Women 2015

A formidable line-up of inspiring women spoke at the London day of Management Today’s flagship conference series on 19th November 2015.

In perfect wordplay, the event featured both tremendously inspiring women and provided an opportunity for the mainly female audience to gather inspiration.

Strengths and approaches of positive leadership were the golden thread that ran through many contributions. Here are some of the key pieces of advice shared:

Karen Penney vice president and General Manager UK at American Express UK highlighted “We always talk about the things we are not very good at, rather than the things that we are really good at. I am a firm believer that if you have a strength you need to play to that strength, and try and add other bits to it.”

Chartered Management Institute CEO Ann Francke agreeed that if you want the best from people, play to their strengths, then build from there.

“I see the strength in each person.” stated Kim Winser OBE, CEO of Winser London in her keynote speech. Her suggestions include focusing on the strengths of different people to put a complementary team together, operating with energy and positivity, taking risks and keeping knowledge fresh. “Start with strengths and then work on weaknesses.”

Embracing challenge and resilience were also lauded. Cressida Dick CBE, of the FCO, previously the UK’s most senior female police officer, sums up the key attributes necessary for leadership as confidence, humility and resilience.

Alix Pryde, Vodafone’s UK Head of Innovation, suggested to bite off more than you can chew and stretch yourself. “I am really into failure, without failure you never learn. Some of the best feedback I had was after something has gone wrong and I have had to dig deep for resilience.”

Willingness to learn and being agile are key, stated Karen Penney. “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone” added Brie Rogers Lowery, ‎Deputy Managing Director and Europe & UK Director at Change.org.

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