Dear Female MAT CEO,
It’s my belief that the role you are in is really one that no one has truly prepared you for. This role, MAT CEO, is still evolving and although there may be similarities in operations and strategy, how these elements are held is as unique as each woman who steps into the role.
What no one tells you is, as you grapple with the outer expectations of the role, such as:
- The complexity of leading a Trust through multiple cycles of transition
- The expectations of staff, governors, parents, Ofsted etc
There is an inner story that also needs to be attended to. A story that invites you to ask questions such as:
- The emotional weight of being one of the few — or the only one — at the table
- How do I hold power?
- To what degree are my formative relationships with power still alive in me?
- Are they helping or are they hindering?
What I’ve come to realise, over my many years as an Executive Coach for Senior School leaders, is that if individuals are not given the space to address these questions, self-doubt often begins to creep in.
And individuals start asking themselves, “Can I keep carrying this? Am I up to the role?”
Not realising that these questions are not an admission of failure or weakness, but more a sign of growth. But without the right support, many begin to buckle under the pressure, unsure of where to turn for the right kind of support. Support that sees them as whole human beings, more than just a title or a role.
This is the hidden weight so many women leaders bear: the weight of personal growth that happens in the glare of the public eye. And as a consequence, many step back from doing the deep inner work that is necessary to thrive in roles such as these.
This is why She Leads was created.
A space for new female MAT CEOs who are navigating complexity, purpose, and identity and who want to lead with soul, not just strategy. Because leadership should be about celebrating you and everything you uniquely bring to the table.
We begin soon. There’s still time to join.
DM me or contact Hannah on my team to find out more: hannah@integritycoaching.co.uk
Find out more about our programmes for MAT CEOs by clicking here.
