Unseen Chains

I aspire to be the next President of Nigeria!”

Did that catch you off guard? 

Would your reaction differ if a man made that statement?Let’s be real. Do I need someone’s approval to dream big? That’s the unconscious bias we need to address. 

Just to clarify—I’m not aiming for the presidency . My ambition is global . Stay tuned! 

Many of us, even as women, have been conditioned to link top leadership roles with men. When a man expresses his ambition to lead, we don’t bat an eye. We assume he’s capable, has a strategy, and deserves to be in the race. But when a woman voices the same ambition, there’s often a pause. A subtle doubt creeps in.

We instinctively question her readiness, her strength, and her ability to handle the demands of such leadership. 

What’s even more disheartening? Sometimes, that doubt doesn’t just come from men or society. It can stem from within ourselves.

How many times have we talked ourselves out of pursuing opportunities because they felt too grand, too unrealistic, or too daunting? How often have we held back from aspiring, not due to a lack of skill, but because we feared the stereotypes that would greet us when we finally reached the top? 

Margaret Heffernan put it perfectly: “The reality is, women often have to prove themselves as much as men, but with the added complication of being judged on criteria that are not even related to their work.” 

Culture has instilled these limitations for generations. It has encouraged us to be ambitious—but not excessively so. To lead—but only within "acceptable" limits. To speak up—but not too forcefully, for fear of being labeled aggressive. It has acknowledged our competence but seldom urged us to seize power. 

Yet, change is on the horizon. More women are rising to the occasion. More barriers are being dismantled. The notion of a woman leading at the highest levels is no longer a fantasy—it’s simply overdue. Still, progress is not happening fast enough. If we want true change, we must do more than observe the shift—we must accelerate it. 

We must call out the bias when we see it, even in ourselves. 

We must create systems that champion women’s leadership, not just as an exception, but as the norm. We must teach young girls that their dreams are valid, no matter how audacious they seem.

Most importantly, we must dare to believe in our own power. Because the world will never make room for you at the top if you, yourself, don’t believe you belong there.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s indeed a very complex web to crack through. The barriers are real, the stereotypes persistent, and the resistance often exhausting.

However, with the right attitude to tackle bias and the resilience to keep going, we are not just forging paths for today but for future generations as well.

I celebrate every woman, man and organization driving this.

#AccelerateAction #HappyNewMonth #InternationalWomensDay