Championed by Chloe McCann and Aneka Abeywickrema, ElevateHer was created to give people across our profession a space to build meaningful relationships, hear different perspectives and learn from one another, regardless of role, seniority, professional background or gender.
The evening was hosted by Chloe and Aneka, and led by our panel of established leaders: Rob Harden, Chief Development Officer at Affinia, Nicki Ramsbottom, Marketing Director at Affinia, Harriet Hodgson-Grove, Audit and ESG Partner at UHY, and Katherine Lord, Director or Financial Services and Insurance Client Solutions at Tenth Revolution Group.
The evening took guests through a number of inspiring conversations. From navigating difficult conversations and learning to trust your instincts, to overcoming imposter syndrome and knowing when to let go, our panellists spoke honestly about the realities of leadership and the lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers.
There’s no single route to becoming a great leader, but there’s a lot we can learn when we create the space to share our experiences with each other.
Nicki Ramsbottom
Marketing Director – Affinia
“I’ve had to let go of the idea that being a good leader means you’re the person who does everything. Learning to delegate is a key part of the shift into a senior role. Ask yourself: ‘Is this for me, or is there someone else in my team who can do this?’
Katherine Lord
Director or Financial Services and Insurance Client Solutions – Tenth Revolution Group
I moved into a division that wasn’t profitable and had to make a difficult decision to let a senior manager go. I spoke to everyone, looked at the data and assessed who really knew their markets and teams. On reflection, I probably should’ve trusted my gut instinct more quickly.”
Harriet Hodgson-Grove
Audit and ESG Partner – UHY
“As a leader, you need a happy, healthy and prospering team to lead. Focus on giving constructive, timely and honest feedback, even when it means having difficult conversations. Following up with action is just as important, because that’s how your team grows and develops.”
Rob Harden
Chief Development Officer – Affinia
“I think of imposter syndrome as a bit of a superpower because it means I continue to have humility and empathy, which are really important qualities at Affinia. Often, it’s a specific situation I don’t feel equipped for, rather than the job itself. Identifying where that discomfort comes from can highlight opportunities to develop.”
One of the biggest themes of the evening was the transition from being great at what you do to empowering other people to be great at what they do. Nicki Ramsbottom reflected on one of the habits she’s had to let go of as she’s progressed into leadership:
Sometimes, taking the opportunity before you have complete confidence is part of the growth.
For Harriet Hodgson-Grove, the quality of the team around you is one of the biggest reflections of your success as a leader. Building trust requires time, honest communication and, importantly, a willingness to give constructive feedback.
Good leaders also need to act on what they hear. If you create a confident, reliable team who feel empowered to continuously improve, it will benefit both you and them in the long term.
Of course, leadership isn’t only about the moments that feel good. Katherine Lord shared her experience of stepping into a leadership position within an unprofitable division and quickly having to make a difficult decision. This was a key experience that shaped Katherine’s approach to difficult decisions and conversations as a leader.
And Katherine’s advice for anyone questioning whether they’re ready for their own next step? “Overcome your imposter syndrome and go for it.”
Imposter syndrome was a topic that resonated throughout the room, and Rob Harden offered a different perspective. His advice on how to help your team navigate imposter syndrome and cheer them on was something that everyone could relate to to some degree.
The conversations throughout the evening captured exactly what Chloe McCann and Aneka Abeywickrema wanted ElevateHer to provide.
Senior Accounts Solutions Manager
Affinia
ElevateHer was never meant to be just another networking event. It’s a movement to bring our profession together, celebrate what makes us great, and help each other thrive. I wanted to create a space where we could shine a light on just how talented, knowledgeable and capable the people within our profession truly are, regardless of role, position or gender.
Too often, we work alongside incredible people without taking the time to celebrate their achievements or recognise the value they bring. We wanted to change that.
Corporate Finance Manager
Affinia
ElevateHer was created as an opportunity for individuals of all levels and professional backgrounds to build meaningful relationships and collectively grow in their careers.
We created this event as a safe and inspiring space to access meaningful conversation and varying perspectives that support growth in all aspects of professional life. We are really proud of how it’s come together.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the openness, honesty and energy in the room. We’re particularly grateful to our panellists, Katherine Lord, Harriet HG, Nicki Ramsbottom and Rob Harden, for sharing their experiences so candidly and offering practical advice that others can take into their own careers and leadership journeys. And a special thank you to Chloe McCann and Aneka Abeywickrema, whose passion for ElevateHer and commitment to championing the network helped make the evening what it was.
We hope everyone left inspired by the conversations had, the connections made and the perspectives shared, with a little more confidence to take their next step. Because when we create space to connect, learn from one another and champion the people around us, we all have the opportunity to grow.
