International Women's Day: if you want to be a leader, read this

Being an inspiring, authentic leader - easy, right?

As you can imagine, effectively leading a team or an entire department is a challenge that requires developing your people skills, patience, and kindness. At Blue Zoo, we are lucky to have some incredible leaders who have worked hard to create an environment where people can work to their full potential and feel fulfilled in their roles.

For International Women’s Day this year, we approached women who lead within the studio and asked them:

‘As the head of a team or department, what is your number 1 advice to anyone who wants to be a leader?’

If you hope to lead a team one day, give these nuggets of wisdom a read…

“It's important to lead in a way that's true to yourself -? there are many diverse leadership styles and you don't need to emulate someone else. I believe that leadership is about supporting your team, recognising that everyone has something unique to bring and encouraging a collaborative environment. In content creation, it's about putting the audience, the team and your business goals first in order to achieve the best results.” Stephanie Gauld , Digital Director

“I stand by the fact that you are only as good as your team! I try to foster a collaborative atmosphere where each team member works to their strengths but also endeavours to push them out of their comfort zone in order to facilitate growth and grow confidence. The responsibility for both the successes and failures of the team and our projects ultimately lies with me. Also important to celebrate the successes where possible. Clear and confident communication is key - you have to convey your vision and requests in a way that makes it obvious why we are doing what we are doing. Also important that anyone in the team can come and talk to me about anything - positive or negative. It's a privileged position that is not to be taken lightly.” - Karen McNally , Licensing Director

“I think it’s key to build strong open relationships with your team and the wider company. Leadership is about everyone working together, so being a good communicator is very important. Knowing the direction of travel of the company and imparting that knowledge, so that everyone knows what they are doing and why they are doing it results in a more productive outcome. That and having a good sense of humour I’d say!” - Alison Warner , Head of Original Content?

“Being open, honest, approachable and available to your team builds trust and confidence between you.? By sharing your best self with your team, you're enabling and empowering them to be and to give their very best in return.” - Denise Green , Head of Productions?

“Leadership means embracing authenticity, courage, and humility. It's about acknowledging that no one has all the answers and being willing to admit mistakes while seeking input and support from the team. Clear and honest communication, coupled with genuine listening, is important. Transparency regarding successes and failures fosters a culture of shared learning. Expectations for the team should be high, balanced with kindness and empathy. Leadership goes beyond hierarchical structures, emphasizing the importance of influencing hearts and minds. Additionally, it involves nurturing the development of each team member, recognizing opportunities for growth and learning.” - Paulene Hamilton (she/her) , Head of People and Talent?

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