Inclusive Leadership Is Like Gardening: Lessons from the Her Wealth Network Showcase

Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of being a judge and giving closing remarks at the Her Wealth Network (supported by Scottish Widows) ‘Finding Your Voice’ showcase.

Seven amazing individuals spent the afternoon preparing their speeches, supported by the brilliant Rachael Grieve, before stepping up to deliver them to a packed audience that evening.

We were inspired, entertained, informed — and completely wowed.
As judges, we had the difficult task of choosing a winner… in the end, we chose two!

One speech in particular has stuck with me.
Kelly Lake spoke with clarity, ease and passion on the topic of inclusion — and used the most powerful analogy I’ve heard in a long time: gardening.

Kelly likened inclusive leadership to gardening:

A great gardener, like an inclusive leader, has an endless variety of plants and trees to choose from — each with unique characteristics. The skill lies in selecting the right mix for the soil, the climate, and each other. Some will bloom in spring, others in late summer; some thrive in shade, others in full sun. Once planted — whether from seed, seedling or mature shrub — each needs individual care: some pruned, others fed or watered more often, a few encouraged to spread and flourish. Some weeding will also need to be done. The gardener’s job is not to make every plant the same, but to bring out the best in each, and in the garden as a whole.

That image kept my brain buzzing all night. Kelly — what an amazing way to think about inclusion.

Maybe it’s time to rename Men for Inclusion to… The Gardeners?

Congratulations to all the finalists — your voices will be heard.

Huge thanks to Her Wealth Network, Northern Trust for hosting, and my fellow judges Matt Cameron 💡🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ , Kelly Burdett and Kate Webber.

And thank you again to Kelly for planting a powerful seed of thought.