The Queen Bee Effect: Rethinking Women’s Leadership
- synthosysltd
- Sep 14
- 1 min read
At a Women in Leadership event in London, Synthosys co-founder Dr Vanessa Pozzali delivered a powerful five-minute keynote on the much-debated Queen Bee effect.
Vanessa challenged the common narrative that women in senior roles hold others back. She explained that what is often labelled as “Queen Bee behaviour” is less about individuals and more about the systemic dynamics that constrain women’s advancement in leadership.
Her keynote reinforced a message that resonates across her work: progress will only happen when organisations stop placing the burden on women themselves and start addressing the cultural and structural forces that shape leadership opportunities.
Takeaway: The Queen Bee effect isn’t a personal flaw — it’s a systemic signal. Redesigning cultures, not blaming individuals, is the key to unlocking women’s leadership.
