Women in Leadership, and the Bold Moves We Make

At the heart of leadership is courage.

When people ask me about the biggest and boldest leadership move I’ve ever made, I often pause. Because, truthfully, almost every move in my career felt bold in its own way. Whether it was stepping out of the classroom and into a principalship, or leaving a school building I loved to take on a district leadership role, each shift felt like standing on the edge of the unknown.

But the move that stands out the most, the one that truly stretched me, was the decision to step outside of the district entirely. After nearly 20 years of working my way up through school systems, I left the familiarity, the safety, and the network of colleagues who knew me well to take on a role where I could support leaders across multiple districts.

It was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.

What Makes a Move Bold?

We often think about bold moves in terms of what they look like from the outside: a new job title, a bigger scope of responsibility, a new organization. But in reality, what makes a move bold is how it feels on the inside.

A bold move is the one that makes your heart race. It’s the one that wakes you up at night with a mix of excitement and fear. It’s the one that asks you to leave behind what’s comfortable and trust that you’ll find your way in the unknown.

For me, leaving the district meant letting go of the identity I had built. I was “Amy, the district leader.” People knew me, trusted me, and valued my contributions. Outside of that circle, I had to prove myself all over again. And that was scary.

Is Leadership One-Size-Fits-All?

One thing I’ve learned along the way is that leadership looks different for everyone, especially for women in education.

We often show up in leadership roles balancing two powerful forces: achievement and nurture. On the one hand, we are visionaries, decision-makers, drivers of systems and results. On the other hand, we’re relationship builders, caretakers, and integrators. We weave people and processes together, often at the same time.

In my experience, women in leadership often embody multiple “types” of leaders at once:

• The Integrator who connects the dots and ensures all the moving pieces fit together.

• The Connector who thrives on relationships and sees people as the source of power.

• The Driver who sets clear goals, builds systems, and makes sure progress is steady.

• The Visionary who sees possibility and opportunity even when others don’t.

• The Creative who dreams up new ways to solve old problems.

• The Analyst who loves a good spreadsheet or a trend line moving upward.

The truth? Most of us are a combination of these, shifting as the context demands. That adaptability, that ability to show up differently depending on the moment, is a superpower.

And yet, it can also be exhausting. Wearing multiple hats, sometimes all in one day, forces us to constantly navigate the question: Who do I need to be right now?

Why Take Bold Steps?

Because they expand our impact.

Had I stayed in my district role, I would have continued to do meaningful, important work. But by stepping out, I had the chance to multiply that work, to influence leaders across multiple contexts, to amplify what I had learned, and to grow in ways I couldn’t have if I stayed.

Bold moves also model courage for others. Every time a woman steps into a new leadership role, she opens the door a little wider for the women behind her. She demonstrates that it’s possible to take risks, to be afraid, and to succeed anyway.

And here’s something I feel deeply: women in education are uniquely positioned to lead with both strength and empathy. We make up more than 80 percent of the education workforce, yet we remain underrepresented in the highest levels of leadership. Bold moves help shift that imbalance.

What Is the Role of a Network?

Of course, bold moves don’t happen in isolation. Behind every big decision I’ve made, there has been a network of people cheering me on.

When I left the district, I had colleagues saying, “Go try this! You can always come back.” I had mentors reminding me of my strengths. I had family who said, “What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll figure it out.”

That support was everything. It gave me the courage to silence the “what if” voice in my head. What if I fail? What if I don’t measure up? What if I regret it? Instead, I leaned into the voices of those who saw possibility in me when I couldn’t see it in myself.

And that’s why I believe so strongly in building networks of support for women leaders. We rise not by competing but by connecting. When women share their stories, their struggles, and their strategies, we all grow stronger.

Advice for Women Considering Their Own Bold Moves

If you’re standing on the edge of a big decision, here’s what I want you to know:

1. Fear is normal. If you’re not at least a little afraid, it’s probably not a bold move.

2. Find your cheerleaders. Surround yourself with people who will remind you of your strengths when you forget.

3. Don’t let imposter syndrome steal your opportunity. The story you tell yourself in your head is almost never the truth. Get in the room, and let others reflect back the real you.

4. Bold moves don’t have to be permanent. Sometimes the safety net is knowing that if it doesn’t work out, you can pivot.

5. Celebrate every step. Even if it doesn’t unfold exactly the way you hoped, you will have grown in ways you couldn’t have without trying.

Every bold move I’ve made has reshaped me. Some were messy, some were exhilarating, and some were both. But all of them reminded me that leadership isn’t about being fearless. It’s about moving forward with fear, trusting yourself enough to take the next step, and relying on your community to catch you if you stumble.

Here’s my question for you: What bold move is calling to you right now? And what would it look like to say yes, even if your voice shakes?

Because when women lead boldly, we don’t just change our own trajectories. We give others around us the opportunity to change, and together, we can change the future of education.

Listen to Leading with Presence, Resilience, and Heart on EDU Café

NGLC is grateful for our collaboration and partnership with EDU Café Podcast that brings fresh voices and insights to the blog. Listen to the full episode of the podcast that inspired this article:

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