Women in Business: Lessons From the Women I’ve Worked With

Written by Michelle Denny, Founder of Michelle Denny Recruitment

In recruitment, you often meet people at moments of change.

Sometimes it’s the excitement of a promotion. Sometimes it’s the uncertainty that comes with redundancy or a career pivot. And sometimes it’s someone quietly wondering whether they’re ready for the next step.

Over the years, working with women across Norfolk & Suffolk, I’ve noticed a few patterns that come up time and again. Not always in exactly the same way, but often close enough to recognise.

With International Women’s Day approaching, it felt like a good moment to reflect on a few of the lessons I’ve taken from the women I’ve had the privilege of working with.

Reinvention Happens More Often Than People Realise | Women in Business Insights

Careers rarely move in a straight line.

Many of the women I’ve worked with have reached moments where they’ve had to stop and rethink things. Sometimes redundancy forces the change. Sometimes family life shifts priorities. And sometimes it’s simply the realisation that the role they’re in no longer fits.

Reinvention rarely feels bold or exciting at the time. More often it feels uncertain and a little uncomfortable.

I remember doing something similar myself years ago. I’d resigned from a job without another one lined up, knowing it was the right decision even though it felt risky.

When I walked into a recruitment agency shortly afterwards, the MD looked at my CV and said:

"Leaving a job with nothing to go to… you’re either very brave or very stupid."

I replied,

"Well, I’m not stupid, so let’s see how brave I am."

I was offered the job. And that conversation is actually what led me into recruitment.

Looking back, it reminds me that some of the most important career decisions don’t feel comfortable at the time. They simply feel necessary.

Capability Often Runs Ahead Of Confidence

One of the most noticeable patterns I see in recruitment is the gap between someone’s capability and how confident they feel about it.

It’s not unusual to speak to women with years of solid experience who hesitate to apply for a role because they don’t meet every single line on the job description.

Meanwhile, hiring managers are usually far more interested in judgement, attitude and experience than perfect box ticking.

Confidence doesn’t always arrive first. Quite often it catches up afterwards.

There Is No Such Thing As A Perfect Career Path

When you look at someone’s career on paper, it can be easy to assume everything has been carefully planned.

In reality, many careers are shaped by life as much as ambition.

Sideways moves, pauses, changes in sector or adjustments to working patterns all show up regularly in the conversations I have.

What might feel like a detour at the time often turns out to add valuable experience and perspective further down the line.

Choosing Flexibility Isn’t A Lack Of Ambition

Another thing that comes up regularly is the assumption that choosing flexibility means someone is stepping back from their career.

In my experience, that’s rarely the case.

More often it’s about making a conscious decision about what balance looks like at a particular stage of life.

That might mean slightly different hours, a smaller organisation or a role that allows space for other responsibilities.

None of that removes ambition. It simply shapes how that ambition plays out.

Some Of The Most Effective Leaders Aren’t The Most Vocal

Not all leadership is loud. Some of the most impressive professionals I meet are the people who bring stability and calm to a team.

They listen well. They support colleagues. They make sensible decisions and keep things moving without needing to dominate every conversation.

It’s a style of leadership that doesn’t always attract attention, but it often makes the biggest difference.

A Final Thought

If there is one thing working with women has shown me over the years, it’s this:

Many are doing far better than they think they are.

The careers they sometimes question are often the ones others quietly admire.

International Women’s Day feels like a good moment to recognise that.

And it made me wonder something.

What’s the biggest lesson your career has taught you so far?

Sometimes the insights we’ve learned along the way can be exactly what someone else needs to hear...