Inspiring Women Leaders: Purpose-Driven Leadership for Business and Society

Despite significant progress in recent years, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles across society. This gives women comparatively fewer role models in leadership, as well as having a trickle-down effect on their quality of life, career prospects, and earning potential.

This ten-week microcredential from Nottingham Business School aims to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership. As you explore women’s inspiring contributions to business and society, you’ll be laying the groundwork for your own leadership career.

Whether you’re an aspiring, an emerging, or an experienced leader, you’ll develop the skills and confidence you need to lead with purpose and authenticity.

Explore the role of female leadership in business and society

You’ll start by exploring how female leadership has emerged, and what role women play across all sectors of society: from business and politics to healthcare and the economy.

Week 1 of the course will present a wide range of case studies and interviews with inspiring female entrepreneurs, political leaders, scientists, and women leading for social change and corporate leadership. You can use these women as role models in your own leadership journey.

Understand the barriers women face in leadership

As well as hearing success stories, you’ll also investigate some of the obstacles women face in their journey to leadership. You’ll reflect on important factors of and barriers to representation, including emotion in leadership, the imposter phenomenon, ‘think leader/think male’ and the likability challenge.

You’ll also review some important myths around female leadership, discussing strategies for challenging these in your life and work.

Develop the leadership skills you need to succeed

Like other leadership courses from Nottingham Business School, this microcredential has a firm focus on leadership in practice.

Your learning will be grounded in real-world scenarios, equipping you with the practical competencies you need for your career. These include building resilience and self-awareness, working and interacting with others, communicating your needs, and developing a personalised leadership identity and style.

Learn to lead and inspire other women around you

Once you’ve built up your confidence and leadership potential, you can begin reflecting on ways of inspiring and uplifting others.

The second half of the course will focus on the importance of influencing and storytelling, revealing how one woman leader can become a voice of change for others. Advocacy, support networks, opportunity scanning, personal resilience and career self-efficacy can all help you move forwards while championing others.

By the end of the ten-week microcredential, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to advocate, aim higher, and become an agent of change for women across society.

How will this microcredential help in my career?

This microcredential is specifically designed to help women anticipate and navigate the challenges associated with female leadership. You’ll receive tailored guidance and advice to help you maximise your leadership potential.

You’ll be equipped with tools that are applicable to a whole host of fields and sectors, including negotiation skills, interview techniques, resilience, teamwork proficiency, and more.

Whether you are hoping to unlock a specific leadership role or hone your skills and confidence in general, your instructors will provide the support you need to achieve your career goals.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course, you’ll write a 2,000-word individual reflective report analysing what it means to be a purpose-driven leader and how this relates to women in leadership.

You’ll be required to set out your own vision for leadership, setting out a communication and action plan for the next 12-18 months, and identifying any challenges and opportunities you may encounter along the way. This will test your ability to establish a clear leadership vision and implement it with purpose and authenticity.

Will I receive university credits?

Yes, you’ll earn 10 Level 7 credits at postgraduate level from Nottingham Trent University.

You can use these credits to build towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management Practice from Nottingham Business School (NBS)

Nottingham Business School (NBS) is part of Nottingham Trent University and has achieved the highest international benchmark of excellence for business schools.