When you know who you are...

It has taken me some courage to share my talk from the Lean In Global Leaders Conference that took place this summer. I have already shared some learning and insights in my first edition of the newsletter and over the past few weeks I have found myself referencing a lot of the same sentiment especially given our current state of play here. And especially with the work I do building an #inclusive economy, calling on leaders across business, government and politics to think about who isn't in the room when decisions are being made about funding, healthcare, investment, education....

So here goes!

Power of Place - Belfast?

Let’s start by talking about Belfast.

That’s where I was born and raised but my?childhood, work and?studies brought me across the world.?

And the world to me.?

It’s an important part of my Lean In journey and so I’m starting here.?

On #identity.?

When I lived in Manchester, people associated me with the crew who blew up the city.??

When I? was in Paris, I was constantly called British by Irish Expats.?

And when I lived in Dublin sometimes even people down south in the Republic of Ireland acted like I wasn’t Irish “enough.”?

That was tough.?

I know my story and my identity which allowed me to power through — and to even treat the people who misunderstood or misperceived me with empathy.?

You see when you know who you are,?you aren’t afraid of differences and can in fact embrace them.??

This has taken a lot of work for me to get to this statement and Lean In has played an integral part of that journey through the global community,?the top class learning and development tools & opportunities and?the access to some of the most brilliant people I have come to know.?

What has this got to do with your Lean In Story Nuala I hear you say well! As I said It plays an integral part of my journey … (Ten years ago I ticked a few boxes)

• Woman
• Catholic
• Pregnant
• Soon to be working mother?
• Tech entrepreneur - female founder - raising investment?
• Ambitious
• Smart?

I was coming up against many many different challenges in work - I thought it was me!?

My fault?

I’m the problem.?

An all time - low point.?

And a great friend of mine had just finished lean in on her holiday and said you should read this….?

And boom!??

I was liberated.?

The book basically showed me I was NOT the problem that this was a global thing most?women and underrepresented people had to face.

So after reading the book I turned my lowness to activism and you know at the back of the book when it talked about circles and how to start one???Well that's what I did - and started Lean In Belfast

So although NI?

- has the lowest gender pay gap in the UK disparities still exist - it’s a low bar? — such as that that

-? for every 10 men entrepreneurs, there are just four women entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland.?

That initial Lean In Belfast Circle was so needed.?

It grew to network status in stealth mode in its first year.?

It helped countless women and it helped me on a personal level to respond when I faced gender bias too, especially around motherhood and that manager who dismissed my dream to pursue an MBA or the financial advisor who told my family that his advice was for me to stop working.?It just wasn't worth it by the time I considered childcare costs.

Lean In gave me the?confidence?and data?to speak up,?to go for my goals,?my dreams?and my ambitions and?help others do the same .?

- in? the Workplace,?

- as an entrepreneur building a world first mental health app for women and under represented groups and?

- now post pandemic when the last thing I wanted to do was lean in but my network,? my circle let me lean on them and ultimately it’s because of that support I am living my best life of awareness, acceptance and purpose aligned with my values and hopes and dreams, so

- now in all I do I am trying to pay that belief forward to other women and under represented groups through?

the advisory board*, pictured below with Founder Sheryl Sandberg , CEO Rachel Schall Thomas Nikki Pawsey Director of Global Networks Vanessa Monteiro Sylvie D. Linda Brandt, MPH Gladis Araujo Isioma Asiodu-Otughwor Dolores Cortés Melody Mitchell ( not there Daniela Felletti Sangita Marda Agarwal )

the leadership teams in Belfast and Dublin,?

through my work with Diversity Mark and though my fellowship with the Centre for democracy and peace building with political, civic and business leaders and home.?

I always wanted to be an ambassador for my part of the world…? albeit its self elected. But?I’m doing what I can with what I have!?

The Power of PEOPLE

So this place I call home -? taught me about the power of reaching across the aisle and building community.?

And that’s exactly what I did when I started Lean In Belfast.?

What started as a few women in a coffee shop grew to a network of dozens…hundreds…and then thousands of women across the island of Ireland.?

Helping each other achieve their ambitions whatever that may be and it has become so much more.?

For me it’s all about the? people - look what we have all achieved collectively.?

Our friendships, relationships, encouragement - we’ve learned so much, unlocked so much potential - the highs and the lows - life and the pandemic!!!!?

and we are still going - pushing forward because the world is not in a good pace right now.?

Now more than ever our global community need to link arms and push on.?

Let’s change the world.?

PERSONAL

And finally I said I’d share some of my own personal reflections?

And I hope you find them useful?-

YOU can have it all, but not all at once and that’s ok.?

I’ve leaned in and out at different moments, woven my family and my career - and so what I’ll share with all you ambitious people out there is this - YOU can have it all, but not all at once and that’s ok.?

We are going to be working for a long time. It’s not a race. It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey and the people we meet along the way. Different moments require different tradeoffs and priorities and that’s okay. Kim Scott talks about this in her book. Go check that out.

when you know who you are, you don’t fear differences — you can embrace them

and

if you don't know where to start ? Start with yourself!

Lean In and the people connected to it viewed me as special, you believed in me and my potential for greatness.??

You connected me to people I could laugh with, people who gave me perspective, and solid friendship like I’ve never known, you helped me accept me!??

It and you pushed me forward, supported my ups and downs, successes and failures - in short? Lean In helped me

An ordinary person achieve extra ordinary things - for that I want to say?

Thank You!?

*Lean In Network Leaders Advisory Board ensures that their community of women and allies feel supported and equipped to push for gender equality in the workplace. Directly connecting with a global community of changemakers who work to further Lean In’s mission to work to create a more equal world. Lean In Networks support and connect women who live in the same city or work in the same industry through events and Lean In Circles – small peer groups that meet regularly to learn and grow together, and are a core part of Lean In’s global movement. As a board member and Network Leader, I am part of a global program of more than 100 Lean In Networks across 40 countries.

** (4) Sheryl Sandberg’s fireside chat with Nuala Murphy – an emotional experience | LinkedIn