Friday 06 March 2026 5:33 am  |  Updated:  Friday 06 March 2026 10:11 am

‘You don’t need to be liked to be respected’: Advice for businesswomen from businesswomen

By: Anna Moloney

Deputy Comment and Features Editor

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The internet is full of generic business advice for wannabe entrepreneurs, but what about the specifics of being a woman in business?

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we hear advice from female business owners and entrepreneurs from Help to Grow.

1. Lucy Collins: You don’t need to be liked to be respected

“For a long time, I shaped myself around other people’s ideas of leadership. The turning point came when I realised strong leadership begins with self-awareness. My advice is to stop performing and start leading in a way that reflects who you are. Push yourself, absolutely – but don’t override your own instincts in the process.

“I’ve seen that many women bring deep empathy to leadership, and that can be a real strength. But empathy needs boundaries. Carrying everyone else’s emotional load will eventually take a toll. When you compromise your own wellbeing for others, your effectiveness suffers and burnout becomes a real risk. This pressure can feel even heavier for women who are also balancing leadership with caring responsibilities at home.

“You don’t have to be........

© City A.M.