Event write up TMA UK NOW - 25th March Accelerate Action: Empowering Women in Turnaround & Restructuring

On 25 March 2025, TMA NOW hosted over 70 turnaround and restructuring professionals for an empowering International Women’s Day talk by Antoinette Dale Henderson on the theme of “Accelerating Action for Women’s Equality”. The event was kindly hosted and sponsored by Shoosmiths and CBW Recovery LLP.

Following an energising networking breakfast, Antoinette, author of Leading with Gravitas and Power Up, started by reminding us that gender equity is not just for International Women’s Day but something to work on every day. While women often still face a glass ceiling of organizational barriers, they also encounter “glass bricks” that stand in the way of reaching their true potential.

She guided us through six steps that women can take to power up their careers and take control of their progress:

1. Clarify your purpose

Find your “why” – think big but also consider small actions. Purpose with a “big P” can be your long-term plan (ultimate purpose you want to fulfil) and purpose with a “little p” can help you get there (why are you attending a particular meeting or event).

1. Identify your strengths

It may seem obvious, but we often underestimate where our strengths lie. Ask for feedback from colleagues and peers and consider the following questions:

• What makes you different?
• What is missing when you are not there?
• What value do you bring?
• What key words describe you? Think about both hard and soft skills
• How can you deepen your expertise?

1. Increase your visibility

How do you get into the rooms where decisions are made? According to research, the impression you make can be far more important than your performance or specific skillset.

This is where strategic networking comes in. Antoinette describes it as a way of meeting people and finding ways to help each other. She encouraged us to expand our horizons – networking with those you already know is nice but doesn’t always help to progress. She also recommends planning ahead of networking events and profiling potential stakeholders.

1. Amplify your impact with Antoinette’s “OPRAHS” model:

Objective – of a meeting or event

People – who’s going to be there, and what are their objectives?

Role – given your objective, what role is most appropriate, ie Facilitator, Strategist

Attitude – you can decide how you approach it, rather than just reacting to what’s in the room

Hear – stay attuned to what’s happening in the room

Say – be intentional and conscious

1. Manage your mindset

Shift and reframe unhelpful thinking:

I don’t belong - I am valued

I don’t know -  I don’t know yet

Make use of Antoinette’s 5-step ‘Power Pause’, featured in her TEDx Talk and book, Power Up:

1 – Recognise (being thrown a curve ball)

2 – Breathe (to stop the fight or flight response)

3 – Label your feelings

4 – Choose (how you want to feel)

5 – Act

1. Support each other

Antoinette wrapped up the session by reminding us that there are many ways in which we can support each other. You can be an amplifier, a “bigger upper”, a confidante, a cheerleader, a critical friend, an introducer, a referrer – and so much more!

About Antoinette

Antoinette Dale Henderson is a sought-after keynote speaker, executive coach and founder of the Gravitas Programme.

She’s author of two books, Leading with Gravitas, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and the award-winning Power Up, and her unique, accredited Gravitas^® methodology has accelerated the potential of thousands of leaders and managers worldwide.

Together with her team, she delivers leadership development programmes, consultancy services and specialist masterclasses to clients in the UK and globally and her unique, accredited Gravitas methodology has accelerated the potential of thousands of leaders and managers worldwide.