46 mins: She is not a footnote

What you'll learn:

Frédérique Irwin went from accidentally starting a business in her living room to helping thousands of women scale their ventures and is now leading the National Women’s History Museum. She shares why traditional career and business advice often falls short for women, and what works instead.

💡 Women are navigating a complex game – but you don’t have to do it alone: In environments not designed with us in mind, you’re constantly reading who around you holds certain assumptions about who you are and what you need. The solution? Find allies who want to see women succeed and engage them with curiosity over complaints.

💡 Challenge the ‘risk-averse’ narrative – This narrative starts early and follows us into every boardroom and career decision – but it’s not true. Women may make decisions differently, but that doesn’t mean we’re more risk-averse.

💡 A met need is no longer motivating – Using Maslow’s hierarchy: once you’ve achieved your original goal (that promotion, financial security, proving yourself), that success stops driving you forward – and that’s ok! Regularly ask yourself: ‘What’s my career’s or business’ job for me now?’

💡 The underrepresentation gap is the biggest leak – If you don’t have half the population in every room where decisions are made, you’re solving complex problems with one arm tied behind your back. Every table, every industry, every level matters.

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