The Three Most Influential Female Leaders I Have Worked With – and What I Learned from Them

Celebrating International Women’s Day has always been part of my workplaces, but also part of my childhood. “Naistenpäivän kaffet,” as my mother would call them, was a celebratory occasion with great coffee and at least one cake. I have carried that tradition into my own workplaces.

This year, I won’t be able to take cupcakes and arrange a small “fika” at the office due to COVID. So instead, I want to tell you about the three most influential female leaders – mentors, if you like – that I have had in my career to date.

Each of them was different in leadership style, career path and approach. Yet they all shared one common strength: they were able to flex their leadership style when the situation required it. That is lesson number one.

A great leader leads in the style the team needs, or the business situation calls for.

Flexing your leadership style requires social intelligence and the ability to read the room – and the people in it. Essential skills for any leader.

Charlotta Henrikson – Leadership as Service

My first meeting with Charlotta Henrikson was not love at first sight. She was to be my line manager. I had reluctantly returned to Finland after five years of studying in Scotland, joining an aspirational role in a global company. My reservations were not about the job – but about being back in Finland.

Charlotta was busy, experienced, and impressive. She had lived and worked in Singapore and the Middle East. She was an accomplished learning and development leader and had the kind of international career I hoped to build. She intimidated me, and we had a rocky start.

Over time, our relationship evolved. Charlotta gave me space to grow and encouraged me to be myself at work. In the early 2000s corporate world – particularly in large, international companies – that was rare. Business was hard-edged and hierarchical.

Her kind and respectful leadership style brought out the best in people – and in me. I grew to admire her honest but gentle mentoring.

Over the years, I have repeatedly seen what Charlotta showed me nearly 20 years ago: leadership is about how you treat others, regardless of their position. Respect is the only sustainable way to inspire people long term.

One of the key HR leadership lessons I took from Charlotta is this: leadership is service. You are there for your team – not the other way around.

Anna Dowling – Build the Team, Win the Game

Fast-forward a few years to the early 2000s. My career had taken me to the epicentre of the world – Piccadilly Circus in London.

Anna Dowling was not my direct manager, but her leadership was felt throughout the entire organisation. I look back at those London years with fondness. Many of the management team from that time are still my closest friends, even though I knew none of them before joining.

We were a close unit, and we delivered exceptional results – even by today’s standards. Financial performance was strong. Customer satisfaction and loyalty were high. Employee engagement was outstanding. All this while navigating a major rebranding after a challenging acquisition.

Over the years, we have often asked ourselves what made those two or three years so unique. With firm conviction, we agree: it was the team – and Anna.

Anna had a rare ability to build a truly diverse and high-performing team. And beyond building it, she inspired each of us to be the best version of ourselves.

Diversity was not a slogan; it was a strategic choice. A genuinely diverse team drives innovation, resilience and renewal.

What also stood out was clarity. Targets and KPIs were crystal clear. Metrics were transparent. Expectations were shared. When something needed to be done, we committed as a team.

From Anna, I learned the importance of recognition. As a leader, bring your team together and celebrate something – at least once a month. Recognition fuels motivation. Motivation drives performance.

Miia Lehmuskoski – Take Calculated Risks and Make Big Impact

Ten years later, my decade-long expat life in the Middle East and Asia was coming to an end. I knew I needed new challenges and a new industry.

From sunny Singapore to a grey January in Helsinki. From luxury travel to oil, gas and engineering.

Miia Lehmuskoski took a risk when she hired me into her HR team. I did not have industry-specific experience, and I know she was advised against the decision. But she looked beyond that. She saw how my international experience aligned with the company’s ambitious global growth strategy.

Miia was my direct manager and one of the most inspirational leaders I have worked with.

Her ability to challenge the status quo constructively and to position HR as a true strategic business partner was powerful. She never questioned the value of HR – and therefore others did not either.

Many HR professionals tend to be risk-averse, preferring detailed policies and safe solutions. Miia understood the value of calculated risk. She knew that meaningful progress requires courage.

We did not always agree, but discussions were open and constructive. As a team, we introduced innovative – sometimes bold – initiatives. The results showed in financial performance and KPI achievement.

Miia constantly pushed us to look for better, more efficient ways of working. That mindset still influences me today.

My Key Learnings

In celebration of International Women’s Day, these are the lessons I carry with me from three exceptional female leaders:

• Practise social intelligence and flex your leadership style when needed.
• Treat everyone with respect and as equals.
• Listen and build trust-based relationships.
• Build real diversity to achieve real business results.
• Know your team and inspire them in ways that resonate with them.
• Be yourself. Authenticity matters more than perfection.
• Take calculated risks – often.
• Challenge the status quo constructively. Healthy conflict can lead to better outcomes.

Happy International Women’s Day!

I hope next year I will once again celebrate with baked goods in an office somewhere. Perhaps pink cupcakes with tiaras will be in order in 2022.