International Women's Day: The Only Thing We’re Stepping On Is the Gas

Imagine a highway where the speed limit for half the drivers is set lower. Where the same 50% of drivers are forced to slow down even when the road is clear, and yield even when they have the right of way. That would slow down everyone, no? (Even I can see that, and I don't even have a driver's license.)

This International Women's Day, we're not stepping on anything but the gas... of a really fast car! In really nice shoes. International Women's Day isn’t about fighting, winning, or leaving anyone behind. It’s about leading the way, because guess what... that's one thing women are naturally good at, according to research: Leading while making sure everyone who wants to be part of the journey has a seat.

Let’s start with the data. Over the past decade, a mountain of research has proven that feminine leadership traits like collaboration, empathy, inclusivity, and resilience are not just nice to have; they are the cornerstone of high-performing organizations. A 2024 analysis of 360-degree reviews found that women were rated as more effective than men in 17 of 19 key leadership competencies, including initiative, self-development, and integrity (1). Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity in leadership are up to 36% more likely to outperform their peers financially, and teams led by women are consistently shown to be more innovative, adaptable, and resilient in times of crisis (2).

Yet, despite this evidence, women remain woefully underrepresented in leadership, STEM, and other traditionally male-dominated fields, with numbers barely budging over the years. Even in industries where women dominate the workforce, like healthcare or education, they are still less likely to reach the top roles.

Why? The answer is complicated, yet widely documented and researched. However, opinions are often given more value than data because the answer is just uncomfortable, and the issues go well beyond leadership and business. One common denominator in opinions - and facts - can be boiled down to deeply ingrained stereotypes. When people are asked to "imagine a CEO", the default image is still a man in a suit. When you ask people to draw a "scientist" or “leader,” the results are overwhelmingly white and male. The challenge is how we define leadership, how we envision leaders, who we allow to occupy these positions, and what we value when they do. Because when women do break through, they are often judged not by their competence, but by their appearance, their personal lives, or their adherence to traditional gender roles.

Research shows that female leaders are far more likely to be asked about and googled for personal details, like their relationships, their appearance, or their family life, than their male counterparts (3). This isn’t just idle curiosity. It’s a reflection of how society still struggles to see women as leaders first. We’re judged by different standards, held to different expectations, and reduced to stereotypes that men simply aren’t. I could share anecdotes of interview questions I've been asked over the years, but I will do you one better. I was rather disheartened when I recently learned by accident that when people search for my name, the majority of queries aren't combined with words like "shoes" or "Elegnano." Most searches are for: “Katrien Herdewyn partner.” Apparently, 10+ years of entrepreneurship is secondary to my relationship status. (The latter is highly uncontroversial, by the way, before you Google it too. It is not worth the search. Nothing will show up. It's a lot less exciting than my entrepreneurial journey. Please help me change Google search results and search overwhelmingly for “Katrien Herdewyn Elegnano”, "shoes”, "fashion tech", "leadership" - so many options, really. Thank you.)

The problem isn’t just that women are underrepresented. Women who are in leadership positions often face a double bind. If she isn't reduced to who she's with, how she looks, or what she's wearing - and mind you, I make shoes for a living. I love fashion, but let's just not do that - the stereotype trickles into the rest of her personality. If a woman is assertive, she’s labeled “cold” or “bossy.” If she’s collaborative, she’s seen as “weak” or “indecisive.” If she’s ambitious, she’s “too aggressive.” If she’s nurturing, she’s “not leadership material.” This isn’t just anecdotal; it’s backed by decades of research. Studies show that women in leadership are systematically underestimated, their competence questioned in ways that men’s simply aren’t (4).

In science, for example, women are less likely to be seen as “brilliant” than men with identical credentials (5). In business, women are more likely to be interrupted in meetings, have their ideas attributed to men, and be passed over for promotions despite equal (or better) performance (6). And in politics, women leaders face harsher scrutiny, more personal attacks, and higher standards than their male counterparts.

What makes this even more disappointing? Younger generations are regressing. Gen Z men are more likely than older generations to hold outdated views on gender roles, with a growing gap between young men and women on views on equality (7). This isn’t about “raising boys right." Society collectively defines leadership, and we're holding onto a system that's not really based on anything but traditions and stereotypes, definitely not on science and research.

Feminine leadership - whether executed by men or women - isn't just a competitive advantage, like research shows. The traits that define it, including empathy, collaboration, organization, and adaptability, are exactly what the world needs to tackle complex challenges, like inequality. This isn’t about women vs. men. Leaving anyone behind is just not our style (and so last century).

Men have been convinced forever that nice, fast cars impress women. Well, let me tell you: The car of choice this International Women's Day is not a van. It's a sports car. To the women who’ve been told to slow down, wait their turn, or smile more: Step on the gas. The world needs your vision, your resilience, and your unapologetic ambition. And to everyone else, men, allies, and those still figuring it out: We believe in collaboration - leading together, efficiently, and fast. The car’s moving. Get in. There’s room for you, too. We're not really asking for permission anymore. We've come too far to make a U-turn. We're stepping on the gas. Good shoes take you to good places. Good shoes on gas pedals take you further. And if the world isn’t ready? That’s okay. Discomfort is the price of progress. Progress is a ride we can all take together if we choose to get in.