On Friday 7 March, 2025, Kent Business School hosted a powerful, hybrid MBA Guest Lecture in celebration of International Women’s Day. Entitled ‘Permission to lead: overcoming self-doubt as a woman in leadership’, the event brought together an inspiring panel of women leaders who shared their personal journeys, struggles with imposter syndrome, and strategies for making their voices heard in leadership.
Organised by Kent MBA students Kait Austin and Jodie Devlin, the panel featured:
- Professor Connson Locke, Professor of Management, London School of Economics
- Reneé Blanchard, Entrepreneur and former owner of Church Alley Coffee Bar
- Nova Marshall, Visual Artist, Creative Producer, and Director
- Dr Samantha Evans, Senior Lecturer in HRM and EDI Lead at Kent Business School
The discussion aligned with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #Accelerate Action, focusing on closing the gender gap in leadership and overcoming self-doubts, and also addressing questions from the 50-strong audience.
The confidence gap: breaking through self-doubt
One of the central themes of the discussion was imposter syndrome, something all the panelists had experienced at some point in their careers.
“If you don’t view yourself as a leader, nobody else will,” suggested Professor Connson Locke.
Professor Locke shared how, early in her career, she believed men and women faced the same challenges — until research and personal experience proved otherwise. “If you’ve ever felt imposter syndrome, it’s because you’ve had a success,” she explained. “Take that as an opportunity to pat yourself on the back.” She recommended keeping a ‘smile file’ — a collection of positive feedback and achievements — to counter self-doubt.
Nova Marshall recalled a defining moment when she was invited to present at the UK Parliament. “I remember thinking, ‘Why do they want me to speak?’” she said. “But when you’re passionate about something, that passion is infectious. You have to eat that anxiety and just say yes.”
Making your voice heard in leadership
For many women, stepping into leadership means overcoming the challenge of being heard in male-dominated spaces.
“Women don’t negotiate as well as men — unless they’re advocating for someone else,” noted Professor Locke. “We can use this to our advantage by framing leadership as serving others.”
Dr Samantha Evans, an expert in equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), emphasised that leadership is about advocacy: “I push for change because of my values — fairness, justice, inclusion, and belonging. It’s not just about me, but about those I represent.”
For some, the best approach was to redefine leadership altogether. Nova Marshall noted, “I got tired of asking permission. I created my own leadership space where I didn’t have to seek approval.”
The role of resilience and risk taking
Confidence is often built through taking risks — something the panelists strongly encouraged.
“You have to do things scared,” said Reneé Blanchard. “Fear and self-doubt don’t mean you’re making the wrong decision. Often, we just need to push through the discomfort.”
Professor Locke, who has worked in multiple industries and countries, acknowledged that every major career change she made initially felt like a mistake. “The first six months after a big change, I’ve always regretted it,” she admitted. “But then it settles, and I realise I’ve grown.”
Nova Marshall shared how she surrounds herself with a ‘fan club’ of supportive voices: “When self-doubt creeps in, I go to my top ten people who remind me of my wins.”
Structural barriers and the path forward
Beyond individual challenges, the panel also discussed systemic barriers to women in leadership, including workplace biases, the gender pay gap, and caregiving responsibilities.
Dr Evans pointed out how workplace cultures often reward traditional male leadership styles while overlooking women’s contributions: “We need to challenge these perceptions and redefine leadership to be more inclusive. The best leadership styles — transformational, participative, inclusive — are traits more commonly associated with women. We need to start valuing them.”
The discussion also touched on the ‘glass escalator’ effect — how men in female-dominated fields (eg. nursing) are often fast-tracked into leadership. Professor Locke explained, “Men are encouraged to move into leadership roles because leadership is seen as more ‘agentic’ — a traditionally masculine trait. We need to recognise this bias and ensure leadership roles are awarded based on ability, not gender.”
Some final advice on leading with confidence
To close the event, each panelist shared one piece of advice for women struggling with self-doubt:
- Reneé Blanchard: “Get to know yourself. Learn how your body reacts to different situations. Fear is a signal, not a stop sign.”
- Professor Connson Locke: “Think of confidence like a muscle — it strengthens with use. The goal isn’t to eliminate self-doubt, but to make that voice so quiet that it doesn’t stop you.”
- Dr Samantha Evans: “Talk to other women. You’ll be amazed at what you get back when you share your experiences.”
- Nova Marshall: “Find your fan club. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your strength.”
This event served as an important reminder that while challenges remain, women’s leadership journeys are rich with resilience, passion, and impact. By supporting each other, redefining leadership, and pushing through self-doubt, we can accelerate progress and build a future where women in leadership is not the exception, but the norm.