Giving voice to our stories
7th March 2024
Author EditorPosted on Categories Business
As we embrace the theme of #InspiringInclusion for this year’s International Women’s Day, Helen Packham finds herself reflecting on her journey – a journey marked by challenges, self-discovery and irony.
My corporate career, which at points was focused on nurturing future leaders within financial services organisations, had a goal to achieve a 50/50 gender balance at senior levels. This has always been important to me as I have witnessed the challenges women have faced, including myself, many times over in my career.
I vividly recall a time when, despite her qualifications and experience, a female Managing Director couldn’t officially join the board, or even sit on the same floor as her male colleagues solely because of her gender. That was in 2005, and though progress has been made, the journey towards true inclusion continues.
However, my confession feels somewhat hypocritical. I, too, contributed to the unbalanced statistics of women leaders in senior positions, when I stepped away from my corporate career after becoming a mother. I wasn’t prepared for the colossal impact it would have on my brain capacity, confidence and identity within the workplace.
I was diagnosed with postnatal anxiety disorder and was having a hard time functioning in seemingly normal situations. I remember having to run out of a meeting and throw up in the toilet for fear of the spotlight being put on me. And the irony of this is, I had carved out a career that involved ‘standing up’ in front of people on a daily basis, and training and coaching leaders to be more effective in their behaviour and communication.
It got to a point where the negative self talk and limiting beliefs were showing up in my performance. So I ran away. I left the career I had been building since I was 18 years old, vowed never to stand up in front of a room full of people again, and kept myself safe and small at home. I lost my voice and didn’t feel worthy of it any more.
That voice would eventually be given space to emerge again through counselling, where I realised that my identity as a mother AND a business woman could co exist. So I started to re-define what I stood for and what was important to me. I rediscovered the strengths that could help others, and what goals I wanted to achieve, including standing in front of an audience again.
Giving a TEDx talk at the Brighton Dome was a pivotal moment in my life. I was able to squash any doubts about my career skills and turn them into something that could really do good in the world. My focus turned to giving voice to many women who wanted to share their stories. I set up programmes, events and workshops all focused on amplifying the voice of women (and men) so that they too could feel brave and courageous and help others with their words.
Returning to the corporate world as a leadership behaviour consultant allowed me to coach leaders on the integral role of communication, and how to present effectively, influence others, speak up and resolve conflict. I was also invited to become a curator and speaker coach for TEDx Moseley which enabled me to provide a platform for marginlised voices, particularly those of women, to be heard and celebrated.
Through my latest venture, The Words that Change Lives podcast, I continue to explore the power of effective communication in shaping narratives and providing tools and strategies for having more confident, honest conversations.
Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I am reminded of the importance of supporting each other in our journeys toward inclusion. While I may have stepped away from the corporate ladder, I am grateful for the opportunity to uplift and empower other women as they carve their paths and make their voices heard.
In the pursuit of #InspiringInclusion, let us continue to champion diversity, embrace our stories, and empower each other to create a world where every voice is valued and heard.
Connect with Helen
The Words that Change Lives Podcast is available to listen to here
https://link.chtbl.com/wordsthatchangelives
Watch Helen’s TEDx talk on Youtube
https://www.instagram.com/helenpackham/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenpackham/