Inspiring Women: What I’ve Learnt - by Elle Birrell King

3 min read

Elle is a level 3 digital marketing apprentice at Cremarc and a chair for the Women's Network.

International Women's Day is coming up! This has made me reflect on some of the amazing women who have inspired me recently. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jackie Scully, Executive Director at publishing agency Think, for the latest edition of the Inspiring Women's Series – and she certainly did that.

Jackie talked about resisting the urge to fall into the cycle of comparison, gaining an understanding of your values, as well as revisiting and redefining success throughout your career. What she had to say has made me re-think what it means to be successful; previously, my definition of success was characterised by comparison and societal pressures. Additionally, a TED Talk by Brené Brown, an American professor known for her research about vulnerability and leadership, has also contributed to my new outlook. So, here are some of the lessons that I have learnt from these two inspirational women. 

Don't let others' definitions of success define yours.

The key lesson I learnt from Jackie was the importance of not defining your own success by the achievements of others. Success means different things to different people – there is no universal definition. So, don't simply base your definition on what you see on social media… Just because one person's view of success is to be an astronaut doesn't mean that must be yours! Of course, it's human nature to compare yourself with others, so it's crucial to remember that this comparison cycle will not change the outcome of your success; instead, spend the time focusing on your development. In addition, it is vital to remember that your definition of success constantly evolves; when you were little it might have been to speak in the school play; one day, it could be to lead an event in front of 100 people; the following year, it could be 10,000. As you develop, so should your definition.  

Take opportunities and go out of your comfort zone

One lesson I have learnt from Brené and Jackie, even through my apprenticeship experience, is the importance of taking opportunities that are outside your comfort zone. Having the courage to take such opportunities can be difficult as people are often too afraid of making mistakes. However, I have found that I have developed and learned the most when I have taken risks and things have not necessarily gone to plan. According to Brené, 'It's not about winning. It's not about losing. It's about showing up'; this quote really illustrates how essential taking these opportunities are to your development as it simply doesn't matter about the result; it's the things you learn on the way. Trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone will increase the likelihood of meeting new people and receiving other opportunities. When you open yourself up to events you wouldn't usually participate in you never know what other opportunities will pop up. As my mum often says (with annoying regularity) “you can make your own luck”.

Be authentic 

When Jackie was asked for advice on leadership, I was surprised by her response short and seemingly simple response: “be authentic”. Too often, we hear words such as 'assertive' and 'confident' being associated with leadership; rarely do we associate 'authenticity' with strong leadership. This is supported by research conducted by the University of Nebraska, where they found that authentic leadership is one of the strongest forecasters of job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and workplace productivity. But what does authentic leadership mean? 

Authentic leadership is a management style where leaders are genuine, self-aware and transparent. Leaders must clearly understand their strengths, weaknesses, and values – you cannot practice authenticity if you don't know who you are or what you stand for. Spend time reflecting on your behaviour and seek feedback from your colleagues to practise self-awareness. To foster authenticity, you must remain straightforward and honest with your colleagues; if things go wrong, be honest and provide areas to improve. Although authenticity is seemingly a straightforward and simple concept, you must make a conscious effort to develop it over time continually.

If you want to learn more about defining your success, getting out of your comfort zone and being authentic, watch the recordings from these inspirational women below:

Define Your Own Success with Jackie Scully, Executive Director at Think 
The Power Of Vulnerability | Brené Brown 
Brené Brown on Shame, Perfectionism and Vulnerability | Happy Place Podcast 

Don't hesitate to connect on the Hub or LinkedIn if you have any questions; I am always open for any follow-up conversations.