How Synthosys is Driving Change for Women in Leadership
On 19 November, Synthosys proudly participated in the Women in Leadership Conference, hosted by the Institute of Professional Development (InPD). This influential event brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and allies to discuss the barriers women face in leadership and explore solutions to create inclusive workplaces.
At Synthosys, we recognise that organisations thrive when women are empowered to lead. However, systemic challenges and unconscious biases continue to hinder progress. Our mission is to dismantle these barriers through culture assessments, leadership coaching, and strategic interventions.
The Reality of Gender Inequality in Leadership
The conference highlighted stark statistics that reflect the ongoing gender disparity in leadership:
✅ Women make up 60% of the workforce but hold just 15% of FTSE 350 executive roles.
✅ 50% of women report anxiety due to the pressure of balancing work and private life.
✅ Women still bear a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities, including childcare, elder care, and household management.
✅ Despite 42% of FTSE 350 board members being women, only 15% hold executive positions—showing that board presence doesn’t always translate to real influence.
This gap is further reinforced by hidden workplace biases that impact women’s career progression. Health-related challenges such as fertility issues, miscarriage, menopause, and menstruation remain unmet needs in many organisations—adding to the barriers women face in leadership.
Understanding the Barriers to Women’s Leadership
Even when women break through to leadership, they often struggle with ingrained biases and systemic obstacles.
The Queen Bee Phenomenon: A Barrier to Change
One of the most thought-provoking discussions at the event centred around the Queen Bee phenomenon—a dynamic where women in senior roles inadvertently reinforce biases that held them back. Studies show that female managers are often more critical of women employees than they are of men, creating a cycle of exclusion.
We asked the audience:What prevents women in leadership from driving systemic change?
This led to a deep reflection on unconscious biases and how they shape workplace dynamics.
How Synthosys Helps Organisations Overcome Gender Barriers
At Synthosys, we take a multi-level approach to tackling gender inequality in leadership.
1️⃣ Personal Level: Breaking Internalised Biases
From an early age, women internalise societal messages that limit their confidence. Studies show that:
🔹 Men apply for jobs when they meet 50% of the qualifications, while women wait until they meet 100%.
🔹 Only 7% of women negotiate their first salary, compared to 57% of men.
At Synthosys, we offer:
📌 Leadership Mental Fitness → Helping leaders identify and challenge self-limiting beliefs.
📌 Executive Coaching → Equipping women with the tools to navigate leadership with confidence.
2️⃣ Group Level: Creating Inclusive Team Dynamics
Women in leadership often face contradictory expectations—they must be assertive yet empathetic, strong yet nurturing. This double standard leads to increased scrutiny and bias in performance evaluations.
Our solutions include:
📌 Leadership Supervision → Supporting leaders in navigating complex team dynamics.
📌 Team Dynamics Assessments → Helping organisations foster psychologically safe workplaces.
By creating open conversations and trust, we challenge stereotypes and build more inclusive leadership cultures.
3️⃣ Systemic Level: Reshaping Organisational Culture
Long-standing cultural norms and biases still disadvantage women in leadership. One example is the Motherhood Penalty—where women’s careers often stall after having children, while men are seen as more reliable after becoming fathers.
🔹 Through techniques like Social Dreaming and Psychodrama, we help leaders uncover and address these unconscious biases.
🔹 Our Culture & Team Dynamics Assessment (4C Model) offers deep insights into hidden barriers within organisations.
By identifying and addressing these challenges, we support long-term cultural change.
Key Takeaways from the Women in Leadership Conference
The event was a powerful platform for change, featuring remarkable speakers like:
✨ Ann Francke OBE – Championing gender equality in leadership.
✨ Nova Lorraine – Empowering women entrepreneurs.
✨ Dr Victoria Smith-Collins & Dr Iris Palmer – Exploring policy-driven change.
✨ Dr Tarek Jomaa & Mike Binning – Discussing male allyship in leadership.
The discussions underscored a critical point:🚀 Gender equality isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s an organisational priority.
On International Men’s Mental Health Day, we also highlighted how dismantling patriarchal systems benefits everyone—not just women.
Building a Future of Inclusive Leadership
At Synthosys, we are committed to helping organisations drive sustainable change by:
✅ Addressing personal biases through leadership coaching.
✅ Fostering inclusive team dynamics with culture assessments.
✅ Challenging systemic norms through tailored interventions.
🚀 Is your organisation ready to embrace inclusive leadership?
