SHE x SHEIN—Women in Leadership: Rethinking Influence and Upskilling Her Way | 27 Nov 2024
To celebrate International Women's Day, SHE is releasing its Women in Leadership Report 2024, in collaboration with fashion powerhouse SHEIN.
Women continue to demonstrate leadership capabilities across different spheres of life, but barriers remain when it comes to formal workplace leadership. SHE’s Women in Leadership Report 2024, prepared in collaboration with SHEIN, examines the challenges women face in stepping into leadership roles and the steps needed to empower them further.
Key Findings
1. Women Are Leading—But Recognition Lags
Women are just as likely as men to take on leadership roles in community organizations, religious groups, and professional associations. However, when it comes to workplace leadership, men still outpace women in securing leadership roles—63% of men hold leadership positions compared to 49% of women.
2. Women Are Less Likely to See Themselves as Influencers
While men and women express similar levels of interest in shaping their workplaces and communities, women are less likely to actively pursue leadership positions. This hesitation is often tied to self-doubt and external barriers that make leadership seem less accessible.
3. Imposter Syndrome Holds Women Back
Nearly half of the women who aspire to influence their workplace have turned down leadership opportunities because they felt unqualified—compared to 39% of men. Internalized limiting beliefs remain a key barrier to career progression for women.
4. Microaggressions Undermine Female Leadership
75% of female leaders have experienced workplace microaggressions, including:
· Having their judgment questioned
· Being interrupted during discussions
· Others receiving credit for their ideas
· Being mistaken for junior staff These experiences contribute to a work environment where women feel less empowered to lead.
5. Women Invest Less Time in Upskilling
While 64% of men actively pursue professional development for career advancement, only 56% of women dedicate the same level of effort. The primary reason? Time constraints due to caregiving and other responsibilities, which disproportionately impact women.
6. The Skills Women Need vs. The Skills They Can Access
Women rank communication, networking, and leadership skills as top priorities for career growth. However, these skills are among the least accessible to them. Instead, they have greater access to training in areas like resume writing and project management, which do not always align with leadership advancement.
Moving Forward: What Needs to Change?
To bridge these gaps, organizations and policymakers must rethink how they support women’s leadership development.
The report recommends:
✅ Broader recognition of leadership roles beyond the workplace – acknowledging women's contributions in community leadership and integrating these skills into professional advancement.
✅ Challenging limiting beliefs – addressing imposter syndrome and unconscious bias in workplaces through mentorship and support programs.
✅ Better access to leadership skill-building – ensuring women receive targeted training in communication, networking, and strategic leadership.
✅ Flexible, accessible upskilling options – investing in mobile-based micro-courses and flexible training models to accommodate women’s caregiving responsibilities.
✅ Targeted research on subgroups of women – understanding the specific barriers faced by young professionals, mid-career women, and those re-entering the workforce.
Report Launch Event: Shaping Leadership towards an Era of Gender Equality
This report was launched at “Shaping Leadership towards an Era of Gender Equality,” an event organised by SHE and SHEIN, with Friendzone moderating the discussions.
Through heartfelt group conversations, participants reflected on what leadership means to them. For some, it was about making tough calls and managing people. Others viewed it more as guiding and empowering others, working alongside their team, and embracing mutual growth where leaders are open to learning from their team members as well.
The event also featured an insightful panel talk with:
· Annabella Ng, Senior Director of Global Public Affairs at SHEIN
· Stefanie Yuen Thio, Joint Managing Partner and Co-Founder of TSMP Law Corporation
· Sowmiya Venkatesan, Founder of Kechil Kitchen & Chef Moderated by:
· Charlene Lee, Director of Global Public Relations at SHEIN
The panelists encouraged women to embrace their authentic selves. Traits often associated with femininity, like empathy, which are sometimes considered undesirable in traditional leadership, were celebrated as powerful qualities that help build meaningful relationships with team members.
Together, participants reimagined leadership, exchanged valuable insights, and built strong networks to support one another on their leadership journeys.
Final Thoughts
Women are ready to lead, but systemic and internal barriers continue to slow progress. Addressing these challenges requires organizational commitment, policy changes, and cultural shifts to ensure that leadership pathways are truly inclusive.
Read the full Women in Leadership Report 2024 report for more insights on empowering women in leadership.