Count Her In Everyday - Story of Courage

Award-winning author and leadership advisor Sonia McDonald shares how her determination to be a role model and provide for her daughter has led to an international career; she also shares what this year’s IWD theme, Count Her In, means to her.

I was one of the girls at school with a picture journal with cutouts of my dream life of getting married and having children in that house with the white picket fence.

Yeah, right…maybe it was all the Disney storybooks.

It was raining, and I was standing in the middle of the Australian Consulate in Shanghai, waiting for one little stamp. It was my ticket out of the country. I have never been so scared before.

After the woman behind the glass counter stamped my legal document to take my daughter out of the country, my voice burst with courage, and I said to my husband, “I am going to work so hard that I won’t need a cent from you.”

He had abandoned us and left me with very little money. It wasn’t part of my storybook. I needed to write a new story—one of courage and determination.

When I returned home to Australia, no one wanted to hire a full-time struggling single mum. After all those years of hard work and long hours, as soon as the single mum card came up, I was just too hard to hire.

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Talk about not counting her in.

All I could remember was what I had promised my daughter and myself: I needed to be a role model for her.

Little did I know that my courage muscle was building after all the rejections, even though my confidence was utterly shattered.

I needed to provide for us and put a roof over our heads. It was beyond challenging and heartbreaking.

It was one opportunity that changed my life. I went for a job as a leadership coach and consultant. I called into every courage cell and got the gig.

That gig turned into a love of leadership and impact, which led to a blog. A few years later, I turned the blog into a company.

That was 17 years ago.

I remember thinking about who I wanted to be, what I wanted to stand for, and what legacy I wanted to leave.

Today, I look back over the years and love the story I wrote. I wanted to be a courageous mum and woman and stand for outstanding courage and leadership.

I wanted to show my daughter (and all women) that you can do it. Would I do things differently? Absolutely. The guilt, sleepless nights, tears, and the ups and downs of running a business and being a mum are beyond brutal.

Leadership is about grit, courage, and overcoming adversity. It’s about being a role model, serving others, and inspiring them to greatness.

I wouldn’t change anything about being a single mum and using this as my driving force to create and build a company where we have worked with thousands of leaders and people worldwide and our impact.

I wish I hadn’t waited until I was a single mum; I wish I had had the courage much sooner to count myself in—and to earn, learn, and lead.

By counting myself in and other women in and up, we can change the world and accelerate progress.

It is never too late. Count yourself in and remember that what is necessary is our Legacy.

Today, my daughter is leading the way. She is my legacy.

On a final few notes, please support women in business, as this will significantly impact our economies and communities. Please invest in women's leadership programs and education! Please pay women what they are worth: equal jobs and equal pay. Please promote women into leadership roles.

COUNT HER IN EVERY DAY!

Final Words

Have you seen enough of the same old IWD celebrations and talk? ??

(Me too. ?? Let's talk ‘real’ change.)

It's 2024. The theme? "Count Her In."

But it's not just about “counting” —? It's about making every count… count!

Here's the hard truth… Progress isn't just in workshops or sweet treats.

It's in the tangible, the actionable, the real.

So, what can WE do?

1) First, mentorship. ? Connect experienced leaders with upcoming stars. ? Real skills for real challenges.

2) Second, policy advocacy. ? Push for changes that support work-life balance →, equal pay → and career advancement.

3) Third, invest in women-led initiatives. ? Money talks. Let's direct it where it can shout.

Real progress? It's doing. Not just discussing.

Let's pledge to move beyond the surface to actions that leave a mark → and bring us closer to true equality.

?? Don’t forget to reshare this post with your community.

P.S. Curious... what's your commitment to this IWD?

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By Sonia McDonald, CEO of LeadershipHQ and Outstanding Leadership Awards, Leadership Coach, Global Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, CEO, and Award-Winning Author.

Book Sonia today for your 2024 Event, Workshop or Conference!