Fuelling future female leaders and changemakers

Empowering young women with leadership skills starts with giving them the autonomy to express their perspectives on issues that impact them directly. In a setting where every leadership role - from student council and club presidencies to sports captaincies - is held by a girl, students are immersed in an environment where female leadership is the norm - an accessible, everyday reality. 

But fostering leadership isn’t just about holding titles. Whether or not students aspire to formal leadership roles, seeing girls take charge instils a positive “I can” mindset, building resilience, confidence, and a belief in one’s abilities. This environment enables girls to envision themselves as future leaders, advocates, and professionals equipped to make meaningful contributions on a global scale. 

We prepare students for this future through a range of experiences that go beyond the classroom. For instance, students have the opportunity to introduce leading authors like Cathy Newman and Laura Cumming at the Cambridge Literary Festival, sharpening their public speaking and professional engagement skills. Participation in local and regional competitions and involvement in debate clubs allows students to refine their voices, articulate opinions on significant issues, and build the skills to advocate for change. Junior choir performances in Cambridge city centre give students a platform to represent their school publicly, while assemblies led by older students provide powerful role models for younger girls, inspiring them to embrace their own potential. 

These experiences are stepping stones to global impact, exemplified by alumnae like Habiba Ahut Daggash, Ph.D., who is working on The Energising Agriculture Programme (EAP) with the Rocky Mountain Institute. Her leadership in redefining Nigeria’s local oil palm industry demonstrates the global reach and influence cultivated through a foundation of supportive and empowering education. 

Each of these experiences reinforces a commitment to the HEART value of Hard Work, as girls learn to balance public roles, prepare for complex engagements, and develop confidence in presenting themselves and their ideas. This approach fosters essential future-ready skills, such as critical thinking, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving, which are vital across all career paths - from corporate boardrooms to government, the arts, and the non-profit sector. Through these opportunities, students develop the self-assurance and global awareness needed to lead, advocate, and innovate.