For decades, we were taught that success looked like climbing to the top – faster, stronger, and often, alone.
Leadership models built in patriarchal systems have long rewarded individualism, hierarchy, and competition.
But what if, as women rise as leaders, an opportunity emerges to choose a different path? One rooted in collaboration, shared success, and mutual empowerment?
We believe that when women lead together, the entire system changes.
The Problem Isn’t Women – It’s the System
For too long, women have been navigating systems designed without them in mind. When leadership roles are limited and advancement opportunities feel scarce, it's no wonder that competition can emerge. But the truth is, this scarcity mindset isn’t a personal failing. It’s a systemic issue – one that subtly (or not so subtly) pits women against each other.
According to McKinsey & Company's 2024 Women in the Workplace report, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women receive the same opportunity. The disparity is even greater for women of colour, who make up just 7% of C-suite roles. When women are underrepresented at every level, we’re often left feeling like there’s only room for one of us at the table.
Rewriting the Script
But there’s another way forward. When we shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance, we unlock a radical new possibility: women rising together. Collaboration is not a "soft skill" – it's a strategic advantage. And it starts by cultivating cultures of trust, belonging, and visibility.
When women feel safe, seen, and supported, competition falls away. We stop seeing each other as rivals and start seeing each other as fuel. We ask better questions, share resources, and lift each other up. Not in spite of our ambition, but in service of it.
What Happens When Women Collaborate?
In our work with women leaders around the world, we’ve seen that real transformation happens when community is prioritised over competition. Mentorship, sponsorship, and peer support networks create spaces where women feel empowered to be both ambitious and authentic.
The outcomes speak for themselves:
- Increased confidence and resilience across the organisation
- Stronger networks and strategic alliances
- Greater innovation and idea generation
- A sense of purpose that sustains growth over the long term
When women succeed together, we redefine what leadership looks like. And in turn, organisations find new ways to grow their success, impact and legacy – even in challenging, unpredictable markets.
Collaboration Takes Courage
Yet, as our warrior Lola Fayemi puts it: “Collaboration isn’t easy.”
“In fact, it’s often much harder than competing alone. The so-called "soft skills" required, like emotional maturity, inclusivity and genuine acceptance of yourself and others, aren’t always accessible to those who have been programmed for competition. It’s much simpler to strive, beat, dominate, and conquer. That kind of rugged individualism may look powerful but it’s often crude and leaves a trail of destruction in its wake.
Healthy collaboration, on the other hand, asks so much more of us. It means valuing, or ideally, celebrating difference, making space for others to shine, parking your ego at the door and choosing collective success.
True collaboration isn’t about everyone doing the same thing, it’s about creating environments where people feel safe, seen and empowered to contribute their unique brilliance without having to hustle or perform for attention. It requires next level, not bog standard, leadership skills to create these kind of environments.
True collaboration is the understanding that we go further together. As the oldproverb says ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”
Building Systems That Support Collaboration
Organisations play a critical role in shifting this narrative. Here are a few ways to build structures that foster collaboration:
- Invest in women’s development programmes that focus on self-trust, collective leadership, and systemic awareness.
- Create mentorship and sponsorship pathways that elevate underrepresented voices.
- Celebrate team wins and cross-functional success to reinforce shared achievement.
- Examine internal systems and incentives that may unknowingly reward competition or individualism.
When we embed collaboration into the DNA of our cultures, we don’t just support women – we create better leadership at every level.
A Final Word
The future of leadership isn’t about going it alone. It’s about going further, together.
At Global Warriors, we believe that community is strategy. And we’re here to help you create ecosystems where women thrive. Not by outcompeting each other, but by standing shoulder to shoulder.
Let’s stop asking how we can rise above each other, and start asking: how do we rise together?
Click here to learn more about how we can support women’s development in your organisation.
