We talk a lot about work-life balance, but for many women, the ‘life’ side of the equation is anything but balanced. Despite progress in the workplace, the division of household responsibilities remains stubbornly unequal — even in dual-career households.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. For many women, saying no doesn’t come easily, whether in business, work, or personal life. The expectation to be helpful, accommodating, and always available is deeply ingrained. But constantly saying yes can lead to overcommitment, resentment, and even burnout.

The march of macho leadership seems unstoppable. How can we foster genuine authenticity in leadership, a style that inspires trust and connection? As figures like Trump, Putin, and Musk polarise audiences by leaning into their “true colours”, what does authentic leadership really look like? In this article academics Andrei Lux and Kevin Brian Lowe dig down into what makes an authentic leader

The never-ending mental load of keeping work, family, and life running smoothly. The expectation to be always ‘on’. It’s a typical day for many women, a balancing act that often leads to fatigue or even exhaustion, but recent research suggests that women’s tiredness frequently goes unnoticed.

The way we design our world has long been shaped around a ‘default male’ perspective, often leaving women as an afterthought in product development. From safety equipment to smartphones, medical research to workplace policies, gender bias is embedded in ways many of us don’t even notice: until the data reveals the consequences.

From passion projects to financial lifelines, side hustles are becoming the norm as more people carve out time in their ‘five to nine’. Predictions are that the future of work will see us all engaging in a portfolio of roles, in place of single career employment and
for women, a side hustle can be a way to take control of how, when, and where they work, particularly at key life stages. But moving beyond that side-hustle into a long term, sustainable business, whether as a solopreneur or as an aspiring small business leader, demands skills, structure, and support.

We all do it. We tell ourselves we’re working on something important when, in reality, we’re circling around it — planning, tweaking, reading, making lists. But too often a deep look at that to do list would show that none of those things actually add up to 'doing the thing'. And the longer we stall, the harder it becomes to start.

Outside the echo chamber: A recent study by Channel 4 has highlighted how Gen Z has highlighted a deepening divide highlighting why we need intergenerational conversations now more than ever.

For women solopreneurs, the journey can be exhilarating but also incredibly demanding. Building something of your own offers unparalleled freedom and fulfilment, yet it often comes with a weight of responsibility that’s difficult to share. But there is an opportunity for solopreneurs who discover the value of assembling their own “personal advisory board” — a circle of trusted voices who bring diverse perspectives.

The recent release of official portraits of Donald Trump and J D Vance provides a striking reminder of how self-image is crafted and communicated. These images, including Trump’s deliberate mugshot aesthetic, project dominance and defiance. These portrayals also highlight the double standard women face in their own self-presentation. While male leaders can leverage visual storytelling to project authority, women’s images are often filtered through expectations of appearance, beauty, and youth.

As the year draws to a close , it’s a time to reflect, rest, and renew. But it’s also a moment to pause and reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted — and think about those who face unimaginable challenges, especially women across the globe who are being denied basic rights and opportunities. In Afghanistan, the situation for women has become increasingly dire. Nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and laboratory sciences — fields that offer hope and life-saving care — are now off-limits for women.