What if we are all superwomen and we all have superpowers?

“Never apologise for being emotional. Being emotional is our superpower as women and it makes for honest and wonderful working relationships. We all get emotional, we all get tired.” This was a voice-note Lizzie (Elizabeth Scarlett, founder of Elizabeth Scarlett) sent me on Friday night. 

She was replying to a message from me. I was pissed off - I’d had a really busy week, it was 9.30pm India time, and the urgent approvals didn’t stop coming. I am contracted to do one day a week with her, and by then I was on what felt like my millionth hour. “I am sorry", I'd lamented to her, with the sound of horns blaring in the background, "I am just burnt out today - I am so tired, so over-worked…. and so hungry” (hungry?!). I sounded, well, on the verge of hysteria. 

This week, ahead of International Women’s Day, I've tried to reflect on what being a woman is all about.

I find the idea that there are traits that are distinctively female or male challenging. I always want to start from the fundamental premise that we are all just the same deep down. Interactions like this do make me wonder though. Did Lizzie just give the best possible advice at the right time? Or, is she right that women do have some unique talents? And was her words of wisdom an example or her using it? 

Perhaps being open with our emotions is a female super-power - we should all use it unashamedly

My first realisation was that I work with majority women (Copy Club members, clients, my team...) and I am not sure this is coincidence. At a fundamental level I agree with Lizzie that you should “never apologise for being emotional”, and I seek out people who agree with me. It seems I see this more often in women.

Maybe we should celebrate truth in female stereotypes?

My second realisation is that being emotionally open is not be the only female superpower I see everyday. The women I work with are superwomen. They demonstrate traits that we can either dismiss as redundant female stereotypes, or value as unique attributes - and I am going to choose to do the latter.

From left to right...

• Tamsin "I can't believe she gets it all done" Gordon, who runs all our Copy Club events in London, who doesn’t just spin plates but does so with such charm and finesse you’d think she had all the time in the world.
• Hope "the temptress" Kelly, my first ever full time employee, who is so good at connecting with people she genuinely has no idea she is selling. She is both magnetic, and completely calm, always.
• Recently, Georgie "powerhouse" Smithwick, Founder of high-tech cycling helmet brand Hexr, who has shown me the power of being really clear where you need help and bringing all the energy to find a solution
• Finally, Lizzie "heart-of-gold" Scarlett, who has built a brand, and now a team, on her belief in caring deeply and given me confidence you can be kind and commercially successful.

This International Women's Day I am celebrating superpowers in women I get to work with. I think in the past I've taken confidence in my ability to manage male-dominated situations - and to demonstrate "typical male traits" (I am damn good at negotiating a pay rise), but that needs to change. I am going to do some thinking about my own female superpowers and own them. 👊🏻