Women in Leadership: How professional women pave the way to success

Championing women in leadership is vital for businesses.

As a leading accountancy and finance recruitment consultancy based in London, we are proud to be fostering an environment where talent thrives, with women playing pivotal roles across Trace Recruitment - including our Leadership team.

We asked our own Senior Leaders – Gemma Smith and Jess Fryer – what guidance they would offer women looking to build their own career, while helping to build the career of others…

Fail without apology

“The key piece of advice I would give is believe in yourself” says Gemma, Director & Head of Interim here at Trace Recruitment.

Having amassed a fantastic reputation and experience over her 15-year career, Gemma is recognised for her reliability and diligence, leading a team who source and place Senior Interim Accountancy and Finance professionals across Financial Services, Commerce, Media and more.

 “Ask for opportunities, give things a go and don’t overly apologise if things go wrong”, she adds.

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them,” agrees Jess. Having founded her own recruitment firm before joining Trace as a Director of Trace Southeast, Jess Fryer is an expert in her field, and well-placed to guide and inspire other women looking to succeed in their career.

“By picking yourself up, learning from it and then moving on when you face rejection, you prove to yourself – and everyone else - that you can succeed if you put your mind to it.”

Learn from other successful women

Hugely admired and respected amongst her colleagues, Jess goes on to highlight how mentorship and peer guidance are a key part of career success for women – “Find mentors that inspire you and build your network.”

“A great Manager and/or Mentor are key”, agrees Gemma, and this has been well documented as a key attribute for women to succeed in their careers.

A 2023 study by McKinsey & Company found that “women who have female mentors are more likely to ascend to leadership positions, with 59% of C-suite women reporting they have had a female mentor at some point in their careers.”

By looking for, asking for and offering mentorship, women can path the way to success for one another.

Finding the right environment for you

“More than ever, professional women value flexibility, mental health, and a healthy balance between their careers and personal lives”, says Jess.

“Women are advocating for a more integrated approach, prioritising purpose-driven careers, remote work opportunities, and the freedom to set their own schedules.”

According to a 2023 Deloitte study, “a positive work/life balance is the top reason why women want to stay with their employer”, and flexibility, in turn, makes for a more engaged and happier employee. The report goes on to state “women with a lot of flexibility around where and when they work report higher levels of productivity and loyalty to their employer.”

Knowing the environment that you need to succeed is vital when building your career. “Be authentic and true to yourself” is Gemma’s lasting piece of advice.

Jess Fryer, Director Trace Southeast agrees - “bring your thoughts to the table and believe in your voice,” she advises. “Surround yourself with a peer group that lift you up, supports you and encourages you to speak up” she adds.  

Foster a culture of inclusivity and excellence

At Trace, our ambition is to lead the way – both for our own team and our clients.

We focus on creating an even playing field for finance talent – providing tools, insights and guidance on how clients can champion women within their own organisations.

Our unique approach to candidate assessment is based on understanding our candidates across skills, competency and person organisation fit. This approach helps to avoid bias in selection decisions, and our profiling tool PFIT2™ helps ensure our candidates can thrive in the environments we place them in.

If you’re looking to succeed in your own career by working at Trace, or build the career of others by working with us, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with the team today.