Leadership is about making something happen or influencing how something is done or viewed in the world. It is about the collective capacity of a group, whether it be a community, movement, organisation or nation, working together to create change, and the individuals who make this happen. Leaders use power or influence within a group to achieve goals. The World YWCA believes that every woman has the potential and power to be a leader.

In the YWCA, women’s leadership refers to both women who take up leadership roles and also to a particular political and philosophical perspective that women bring to leadership. Recognising women’s leadership comes hand in hand with accepting that there are many types, styles and arenas of leadership. It also begins by making women’s leadership visible and valuable, and affirming the multiple ways that leadership can be exercised.

Throughout history, women have provided leadership in ensuring families function well and have necessities for development. They have managed the caring industry; looking after the sick, the elderly and children. They have resolved conflict and offered solutions for issues in communities, whether it be bringing clean water to a village or raising money for a local school to be established. They have developed priorities, budgets and action plans. Women have always exercised leadership, however as much of it has been performed in the private sphere, it has gone unrecognised and undervalued.

The YWCA believes that women’s contribution to leadership in both the private and public spheres needs to be recognised, and societies must value the most important life giving and forming necessities that go with caring and nurturing activities. A feminine way of leading includes helping the world to understand and respect the values that really matter. For these values to influence societies and ways of working, women’s leadership needs to expand into public decision making in large numbers, from kindergartens through to parliaments, businesses and institutions. Without a critical mass of women, women leaders are placed in compromising situations and often forced to give us their values to be respected as an equal with men.

Advocating for doors to be opened at all levels for women who are ready to take on positions of leadership is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Preparing and equipping women for quality leadership is also essential, including young women, so that leadership can be sustained over time. This means providing space and opportunities for women to practice and grow as leaders. It means policies that enable young women to be the leaders of today, and not just of tomorrow. It also means working to address those barriers that limit, confine and marginalise women from public leadership. Promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls will enable women to take up their place in the world.

By valuing women’s leadership and expanding women’s representation at all levels, the experiences, learnings and values that women bring as managers of families and communities can be applied to our nations and help bring about a better world for all of humanity.