We speak to five female chief executives whose leadership is paving the way for future generations in the environmental sector. From diverse beginnings to shared challenges, their stories are a testament to the power of determination, vision and the importance of female role models.

In their early careers their biggest challenge was working in a male-dominated environment. Debbie said, “I can remember struggling to have my voice heard when I was younger and more junior. But determined not to be intimidated,I worked extra hard to be noticed and respected.”

Natalie said, “I had to be assertive to get my point across and prove my worth.” Sarah Jane’s strategy was to “always work hard, be polite, helpful and above all else persistent.”

Dawn firmly believed that navigating challenge comes from “being calm and practicing resilience” and “pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, which leads to growth.” She added: “Always keep the mission in mind, this helps a lot.”

Dawn learned a huge amount from two female CEOs, who were supportive of her professional development. She said: “It’s important to have female role models. As a woman this allows you to see yourself in a similar role in the future.”

Georgia believes that "persistence and determination are key but most important is having confidence in yourself." She says "You have as much right to be there as anyone and you have something to add. I’ve had to remind myself of this frequently, especially when imposter syndrome kicks in. I take inspiration from some of the amazing women around me, particularly the Clerk of the Quaker charity I ran in Birmingham, who always approached every challenge calmly seeking solutions and confident she would find a way forwards. She was, and is, a huge inspiration to me."

For Natalie the 360-degree feedback from her team and colleagues gave rise to self-awareness and changes she needed to improve her leadership.

For Sarah Jane attending a leadership development programme was a pivotal moment, where she first realised, she wanted to become a CEO. She had recently become a single mum to 3 boys under 10 and the responsibility of being the sole provider for her family gave her the drive. She developed a 10-year plan and within that timeframe became CEO.

For Debbie, a pivotal moment was realising while studying a Masters in Conservation that she was following in the footsteps of a previous UCL alumni Tony Juniper. This gave her the determination to succeed. 

All five CEOs encourage continuous professional development, training and staying informed on current affairs and the latest science and sector trends.

Sarah Jane said, “Take opportunities for career and leadership development whenever you can.” A key course that stuck out for Natalie was a three-day residential leadership course with the Leadership Trust.

“Understanding people is often underestimated,” said Natalie, “and that’s a lesson I learnt in my career – getting the best from people is about setting the right conditions for people’s talents to shine.”

Sarah Jane said, “Future jobs will require people with blends of technical and soft skills from green finance, business skills, all forms of technology as well as communications and storytelling. Being adaptable, always learning and getting into the habit of horizon scanning is important. Finally, recognise the value you bring to the table.”

Georgia said, "There’s always more to know and more to learn so take every opportunity you can, but the key skill I have found is to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Get out of your comfort zone at every opportunity if you want to make things happen."

Natalie added: “I’ve always been blessed with really supportive line managers, coaches and mentors throughout my career. But the coaching part came later on in my career and having that earlier might have helped in tricky situations and achieve more with work-life balance.”

We are hugely grateful to Dawn, Georgia, Natalie, Sarah Jane and Debbie’s inspiring stories and tips. Their experiences show the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning and having the courage to lead. As we celebrate their achievements this International Women's Day, we commit to supporting and nurturing the next generation of women in conservation.

Debbie Tann added: “Working in conservation is full of highs and lows. You need belief in your conviction and the power of persuasion as we need many more people on nature’s side to reverse biodiversity decline and create a wilder future.”