Consider this: companies led by women CEOs have generated a 223% return on equity over ten years, as mentioned by 20 First. These numbers underline the value women bring to the table. So, what is the skillsеt that lets women not only secure leading roles but also drive exceptional business performance in 2025? Let's explore.

Cultivating the next generation

One of the biggest concerns leaders have are developing the next generation, attracting and retaining top talent, and maintaining an engaged team. For me, it starts with recognising perseverance and proactivity. When I started my career at Flowwow, I wasn’t so good at sales. It was through gathering feedback and implementing it further, learning not to take complaints too personal, that I learned. The other pillar is all about open communication and growing a specialist, even when it comes with surpassing my own skills. It's about making them to dive into processes, trusting to work independently, and giving them the freedom to achieve new heights. You cannot be everywhere and supervise each task.

Empowering through trust

Delegation isn't just about offloading tasks; it's a strategic tool for team development. Moreover, it increases a leader's productivity and frees up time for strategic planning, critical thinking and decision-making. Still, many leaders often find it difficult to delegate, due to overwhelm or lack of confidence and inexperience. I believe, it’s a must, if you don’t want to hinder gross and miss the chance to develop hidden potential. According to a study published by Harvard Business Review, women leaders are more likely to experience burnout than male leaders, often due to societal norms. I once handed over 95% of my tasks, and within a week, a significant backlog appeared. This taught me the importance of clear distribution and realistic resource allocation. Building a reliable team and going side by side is a great asset.

Navigating the agile landscape

While research by BMC Research shows women often excel at multitasking, it's more about strategic adaptability than simply juggling tasks. The leading roles demand navigating a variety of areas daily, from product to data, especially in a startup environment where 100% delegation isn't always possible. The ability to adapt and be flexible is crucial, especially during crises. For example, during the pandemic, we transformed Flowwow from a floral marketplace into a broader e-commerce platform, launching over ten new categories in just two months and handling 800,000 orders. It was a lot of work to do – onboarding new team members and establishing complex processes across diverse markets. Even when going through my maternity leave, I tried to delegate as much as possible, but I found I could be in a ‘supervisor’ mode only for the first month. It's about leading by example and showing resilience to inspire your team.

Self-improving

ADP's report reveals only 3.8% of employees learn new skills on their jobs within two years. Moreover, while 22% of men feel their employers invest in their career advancement, only 15% of women feel the same. Over my time at Flowwow, I've delved into the technical side, understanding how to scale infrastructure for peak days, handling over 200,000 orders. I'm also deeply interested in AI, using it to streamline tasks and exploring new applications for our business. It's about staying curious, identifying skill gaps, and proactively learning. 

Making data-driven decisions

Accenture's research found that women leadership boosts digital transformation by 38%. For me, data isn't just numbers, but credibility. Early in my career, I had a lesson that beautiful reports don't always equal results. I hired a sales manager who excelled at crafting confident reports, and as I did not delve into the operational part, six months later I discovered it all was smoke and mirrors. We had to rebuild an entire department. That experience taught me the vital importance of backing up words with solid, measurable data. 

Managing work-life balance

Harmonising work and life isn't just a women's issue, but it's often more pronounced for us, given societal expectations. A survey by Bloom UK showed that 93% of women experienced mental health issues due to poor work-life balance. When asked which benefits they value most, the most common answers were flexible schedule (49%) and maternity leave (48%). As a mother and leader, I've learned to integrate my responsibilities. My day might start with a morning workout, followed by focused work sessions, punctuated by time with my child. And we also encourage our team to thrive outside of Flowwow, offering benefits like sports, language and professional courses, flexible schedules. This fosters happier, more productive, and loyal employees.

By developing these skills, women leaders can not only achieve more in their careers in 2025 but also drive meaningful change and inspire future generations. Let us continue to champion gender diversity and empower women to lead with confidence, innovation, and unwavering resilience.

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