Friendship, bravery and empathy: How can we empower more women into leadership?

“I am mother, a daughter, a building engineer, a property consultant, a wife, an expat spouse and leader of the Empower Program for the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea” 

With these words, Elspeth Stewart began her talk on diversity in leadership and how to empower more women into leadership roles. Hosted by the professional network The Gallery Seoul,  her talk provided valuable insights and concrete tools—both for personal growth and for leading others.

The road not taken

The road not taken is a reference to a poem but also a reference to the lack of linearity a career path can have - and the lack of linearity a career path for an expat spouse inevitably has as an inherent condition. It is a reference to the sense of loss you can experience and the sense of being stuck. It is a reference to the feeling that you “should” be something else, and even something more. 

But what if you are exactly where you need to be? What if you have made the ‘right’ choices?

I didn’t have a job but I had a friend

Elspeth is an entrepreneur. She has founded the Empower Program which is a leadership program for  female professionals in Korea. In their second cohort it is already a success that might go global. However, Elspeth was an entrepreneur before having an organisation. And maybe this is due to her life as an expat spouse. 

Because, as an expat you always have a plan A, B and C and still you end up following plan D. You don’t know the future but you venture into it and figure it out. Elspeth discovered the world at age 5 when her family took her to the UAE and she couldn’t wait to embark on her own journey. So as a young woman she moved to Dubai with no job but a friend with a sofa she could sleep on. Later that move would be influential in getting her a ‘career’ job because the hiring manager believed this spoke volumes to her confidence and risk profile. 

A testimony most expat spouses can sign off on, as you might never have left was certainty a key priority. And that leads us to the question of what is a skill? A question that ties directly into the work of the Empower program.

What is a skill?

Thinking of your challenges the way we analyse skill and competencies and maybe even how we view ourselves. Because, this is not a tangible thing. It is not a position, there is no title or certificate. But being an expat spouse does grow your leadership skills and gives you opportunities you just need to find a way to leverage and formulate. 

Doing just this has opened many doors for Elspeth utilising her degree as a building engineer in international real estate. However, being an expat spouse, the plan has been less and thus more than once she has had to look for new opportunities. This is how she found the diversity agenda.

I lost my way and found it again

This is not easy. Losing your identity, feeling lonely, feeling lost and feeling bored are difficult emotions to encounter. Here, Elspeth shared a very concrete exercise to help her snap out of it and bring new perspective: Look at old pictures from 20 years ago, from 10 years ago, from 5 years ago and even from last year. Who is that  person? And how has she grown? Then you realise how much has changed and all that you have learned and managed. 

What is female leadership?

All of this ties beautifully into the Empower program. Empower is a program under the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea to inspire more young female Korean professionals into leadership roles. Globally there is still a much too big gender gap when it comes to leadership and in Korea they refer to the concrete ceiling instead of the glass ceiling. 

Of course, these young women are not expats, but the overall message of Empower program is the same:

• Have confidence

• Find this through friends and network

• Learn to embrace and even find strength in what you thought were you vulnerability

Through her talk Elspeth openly shared her personal difficulties. She shared her nerves giving the talk. She laughs, she tears up and she wears color. But in no way does she appear without confidence, lack of leadership or credibility. By doing this she becomes a role model teaching us the essence of female leadership and the same she does with empower.

Having known hardship makes you a better leader. Because it means you know yourself and you most likely will have a higher sense of empathy. 

Doing something concrete to an abstract agenda

Empower is an example of how to transform discussions about diversity into real change. By leveraging her own experiences and the British Chamber of Commerce network, Elspeth has created a platform for others to grow by transferring confidence.

By giving all of us a different image of leadership, skill and success she gives us - and the Empower cohort - a different mirror to look at. One that to a much higher degree reflects the people looking at it. And doing that pushes away the imposter syndrome that many women struggle with.

The impact is clear. Empower delivers measurable outcomes—promotions, degrees, and career advancements—but also something deeper: it shifts the conversation within BCCK. When new voices enter the room, diversity makes us all smarter.

Empower yourself - and pay it forward

Empower is more than a program—it’s an inspiration. Elspeth’s approach is simple: keep moving forward, keep trying new things. Volunteering can be an investment in your personal brand and network. And sometimes, being a foreigner can even be an advantage.

To help you uncover your potential, Elspeth shared an exercise—a tool you can use for yourself or with your team to gain clarity on future steps. We will end this article with this.

Elspeth ended her talk looking at her current age, the 50s: she now sees in herself what others have always seen. Listening to talks like Elspeth’s and engaging in programs like Empower can accelerate this realization.

May we all have the confidence of a 50-year-old woman.