
Day to day, I’ve seen that empowerment often comes from sponsorship rather than mentorship alone. Having people actively back your ideas, advocate for you in rooms where decisions are made, and offer opportunities before you feel fully ‘ready’ can make a huge difference – it certainly has for me. Creating environments where women feel comfortable taking up space, asking questions, and shaping direction is one of the most powerful ways we can support lasting change.

Q: How can we better empower women in science today?
To empower women in science, we need to make the system fair, transparent, and supportive. Promotion, funding, and leadership criteria should be clear so everyone understands what is required to progress, and pay and resource allocation should be transparent to build trust and reduce inequality. Leaders should be trained to recognise different leadership styles, rather than valuing only one traditional model.
At the same time, normalising longer parental leave for men can help balance responsibilities at home and reduce the career impact often felt by women. Mentorship and team leadership should also count towards promotion, reflecting the full contribution individuals make. Above all, workplaces should focus on outcomes while enabling flexible ways of working, so talented scientists can thrive without unnecessary barriers.

We can support one another through opening doors, offering mentorship, and making connections. Very few reach success on their own, and thus we must strive to reach back and promote forward to shift the gender balance at all levels.