Good news! There’s been a 50%^[1] rise in the number of females on the boards of the UK’s top listed companies in the past five years, along with a surge in female SME business owners (31% rise)^[2]. To continue this growth, we have asked inspirational leaders of global heavyweight companies and founders of innovative fast growth startups, what career lies women tell themselves that could be holding them back to making it to the top:

Name: Kim Atkinson

Job Title: VP of Communications

Company: SmileDirectClub

About: SmileDirectClub is an oral care company and creator of the first medtech platform for teeth straightening.

Career lie 1: “Don’t challenge the status quo.”
I’ve learned that companies that champion this sort of thinking are not open to new ideas, and it’s a sign that it may be time to look for a role where you can continue to grow and learn. We can thrive in an environment where we’re encouraged to dream up improvements and provide value as opposed to cultures that restrict thought out of fear of change.

Career lie 2: “Don’t leave a job too early.”
I once resigned from a new job after the first week because everything about the role felt wrong for me at the time. I struggled with the decision and leaving the employer in a bind — and they were lovely people and a great company. I approached them and transparently said the job was the wrong fit for me, and to my surprise, they completely understood and accepted my resignation. I don’t even include the role on my resume. Trust your instincts and be honest when a job isn’t the right fit – you may be able to transition into a different role at the company or give yourself time to find the next opportunity

Name: Vivien Wong

Job Title: Co founder

Company: Little Moons

About: Little Moon’s brings the spirit of snacking to the ice cream category and is Europe’s leading mochi brand, where the company’s treats are enjoyed every second.

Career lie 1: “I am inadequate, I don’t have what it takes”
Women tend to be more critical of their ability than men – however, usually they are more able and qualified for a role then the men who apply.

Career lie 2: “Emotions are only for crazy women”
Emotional intelligence is a super power in the work place. Keep in touch with your emotions and of those around you.

Name: Nikki Vadera

Job Title: Marketing Director UK & IRE

Company: Henkel, Laundry and Home Care

About: Henkel operates worldwide with leading innovations, brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry and Home Care, Adhesive Technologies and Beauty Care.

Career lie 1: “You need to tick every box on the job profile”
This is most definitely not the case. A lot of learning is on the job and many people have transferrable skills, even if they are outside the industry or function of the role being applied to.  It’s also important to shape a role into the way you see it optimal for the organisation, and therefore it’s actually benefit not to tick every box!

Career lie 2: “You have to dull your personality for senior positions”
What I have found in my career is that being myself has in fact helped me to stand out. I’ve been in senior roles at quite a young age in comparison to my counterparts and the energy, positivity and outlook that I have brought has been deemed refreshing. Of course maintaining professionalism and delivering in your role is key, but you can’t forget to let your personality shine!

Name: Lisa Krapinger

Job Title: Chief Marketing Officer

Company: breathe ilo

About: Accurately predict your most fertile days by breathing into the breathe ilo device for just one minute per day. The self-learning algorithm gets to know you better with each cycle

Career lie 1: “As a woman you need to decide if you want to have a family or a career.“
Actually you can have both you just need to plan, organise and want it. There are plenty of good examples of mumpreneurs who show that it is possible to build a company and have kids. You need courage and to trust in yourself to make it possible.

Career lie 2: “You can‘t start a business with your closest family and friends, because it will break through the challenges.“
Actually the best advice I can give to someone is to start the business with your husband/best friend, because you will grow through the challenges when there is no one else, who will better understand why you are working 24/7 if you don’t share the same passion and goals? Some experiences cannot be shared in conversation if they have not been experienced together.

High res image: Credits: Oliver Wolf Fotografie

Name: Katia Lang and Karina Vazirova

Job titles: Co-founders

Company: Fem Tech Lab

About: FemTech Lab is the first independent FemTech accelerator, headquartered in London, UK. It’s designed to provide tailored support to each participating start-up, following their aims and objectives in terms of Funding.

Career lie 1: “We won’t be liked if we’re confident or if we sell ourselves.”
As a result, women tend to underplay their own achievements in fear of appearing arrogant. It is easier to do this and big up others’ achievements, than talk about yourself with the same high regard. But it is important for women to learn how to be champions of their own work and accomplishments – just like they would for a friend.

Career lie 2: “You’ll be happier once you’re successful”
Yes, it is proven that success in both life and work has a positive impact on our mental health. But heavily relying on success to happen to improve your mental well-being can encourage continuous dissatisfaction and feelings of disappointment, putting an immense amount of pressure on yourself that eventually ripples into your team. We are taught that the road to success is a stressful one. Accept that failures are part of the ride.

Name: Delphine Remy-Boutang

Job Title: CEO the Bureau & JFD, President GEN France

Company: JFD

About: JFD is the leading international movement improving the representation of women and girls who are changing the world through digital entrepreneurship and digital professions.

Career lie 1: “You need to be good at math to start a tech business.”
Art, music, design, and literature are all creative fields that are affected by digital. It is important to raise awareness on these issues. Computer programming is a language and it is a woman – Ada Lovelace, who created it in 1843.

Career lie 2: “Women have no leadership quality compared to men.”
An Icelander school teacher asked her students what they want to be when they grow up. A little girl answered: “President!” The teacher asks a little boy if he too sees himself as President. He answers no, it’s a girl’s job.

Vigdis Finnbogadottir was the first woman head of state in the world to be elected by universal suffrage, as the head of Iceland, in 1980. Representation is key!

Name: Geeta Sidhu-Robb

Job Title: CEO and Founder

Company: Nosh Detox

About: Nosh Detox, the UK’s first ever home detoxification and weight-loss food and juice delivery service.

Career Lie 1: ‘I need to know how to do everything before I apply for a job.’
Study after study proves that men will apply for a job just because they ‘think they can do it’ and women don’t apply for a job unless they know they can do it. You are expected to learn on the job. As long as you have all the basic qualifications, you can stretch yourself when applying for jobs because that is how it’s meant to work.

Career Lie 2: The ‘Work / Life Balance’
As a working single parent my whole adult life, allow me to assure you this is a total and utter myth. You will always not do enough. You will always feel a little guilty. You will always think you need to do more. Get over it. The only way to thrive – and not just get through every day surviving – is to accept this. Then work out what your absolute priorities are and farm out or forget about the rest. Oh, and hire house help.

Name: Christina Colmer McHugh

Job Title: CEO and Co-founder

Company: Moodbeam

About: Moodbeam is the behind the first wearable device for mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Career lie 1: “You need to have worked in technology all your life to create a tech company”
Technology is only ever created to solve a problem. Keep the end goal in sight at all times and remember your ‘why’ Just because it doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. Never be afraid to try. If you’re starting from zero, what have you got to lose?

Career lie 2: “Female, 40 and a mum will hold you back from making your mark”
I’d like to think we have enough examples of why the opposite is in fact true – myself included. We need to take every opportunity to start telling our daughters at the breakfast table that for them, everything is possible. The conversations need to begin, What do you want to be when you grow up? And, what do you want to be known for when you’re older?

Name: Rebecca Oatley

Job Title: Founder

Company: Cherish PR

About: An independent agency operating at the heart of the digital economy. Working with the world’s leading innovators and challenger brands that are changing the future: including tech, environmental and social progress.

Career lie 1: “I could never go it alone”
Being on the payroll and working in a team is great but before I started my own agency, I struggled with truly understanding if I was good at my job. I often thought that I was just a reflection of other people around me and that I would fail if I ever went it alone. When I finally started Cherish, I didn’t think the agency would last because I wasn’t really good at my job and I would be found out! Eighteen years on, I know that’s not true!

Career lie 2:” I don’t deserve that pay rise”
I think women really struggle with their own self-worth and it’s potentially their biggest downfall. Men will pick the big number with noughts on the end, with the innate belief that they’re worth it, and yet women will struggle with feelings of guilt around whether their worth it. C’mon ladies, of course you are!  Believe that you are great and that you deserve every penny.

Name: Christina Rebel

Job Title: Chief Innovation Officer, Head of Data Intelligence and Co founder of Wikifactory

Company: Wiki Factory

About: Wikifactory is the world’s first social platform and online collaboration system to design, prototype and produce real things in virtual teams with nothing but a laptop and an internet connection.

Career lie 1: “You can’t excel as an entrepreneur and be a mother at the same time”
Becoming a mother made me realise that an emphatic, adaptive and nurturing culture is what a start-up needs to get through the hard times. Balance is everything, so I know the joy of spending quality time with my son, will in turn make me more productive when I work. I take greater ownership of my schedule and have forged an attitude that allows me to handle any situation or challenge, whether it’s at home or work. 

Career lie 2: “You have to be an expert in your field”
In software there is a term, “specialisation is for insects” and when I started working in the manufacturing space for Wikifactory, I struggled with imposter syndrome, but I remembered that life starts beyond the frontier of your comfort zone. Understanding all aspects of running a business and working in technology has helped me to bring my team together. And empathising with them and communicating well is what helps me strive