Encouraging Young Girls to Lead in an Imperfect World

💡 What if we told young girls that they don’t need to be perfect- just brave?

Growing up nowadays, society and social media send girls a powerful yet damaging message:

📱 Your makeup should be flawless.

📱 Your body should be perfect.

📱 You should always be polite, agreeable, and "not too much."

And this silent rule extends beyond appearance. It seeps into the way young girls think about leadership, ambition, and success.

❌ Don’t be too outspoken.

❌ Make sure you have everything figured out before you try.

❌ If you fail, everyone will judge you.

But this is a lie.

Leadership is not about perfection- it’s about action. It’s about showing up, making mistakes, learning, and growing. And yet, so many young girls hesitate to step up because they’ve been conditioned to believe that if they can’t do it perfectly, they shouldn’t do it at all.

Understanding Women’s Power Beyond Perfection

Women have always been powerful- but we don’t have to be perfect to lead.

I have worked in education, entrepreneurship, and leadership for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how many young girls hold themselves back, not because they lack talent or intelligence, but because they fear not being "ready."

But perfection is a myth- and progress is what truly matters.

What We Learned from Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Innovation Week

Last summer, we ran an Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Innovation Week for young people. What stood out was that many girls lacked the confidence to take the lead, even when they had incredible ideas.

🛑 Some hesitated to pitch their ideas.

🛑 Others doubted themselves before even starting.

🛑 Many waited for someone else to validate their thoughts before speaking.

But as the week progressed, something changed.

The same girls who were hesitant on Day 1 were confidently presenting their business ideas, negotiating, and problem-solving by the end of the programme.

What changed?

✔ They had a safe space to try.

✔ They saw that failure was part of the process.

✔ They realized they didn’t need permission to lead.

Encouraging More Girls to Step Up – YEA Programme

This experience reaffirmed what we already knew: young girls need more opportunities to practice leadership, take risks, and gain confidence.

That’s why we’re excited to continue this work through the Young Entrepreneurship Award (YEA) Programme, powered by NatWest International, which gives young people - regardless of gender - the skills, mentorship, and confidence to turn ideas into action.

As we head into secondary schools this month and next, we are actively encouraging more young girls to sign up. We want to see more girls step forward, take ownership of their ideas, and believe in their ability to lead.

Breaking the “Perfect Girl” Myth & Encouraging Young Women to Try

So, how do we change the script?

🔹 Encourage risk-taking early – Girls must see that failure isn’t the end—it’s part of growth. No one succeeds without setbacks.

🔹 Shift the social media narrative – Instead of promoting unrealistic perfection, let’s amplify stories of real women who have failed, learned, and succeeded anyway.

🔹 Expose them to strong female role models – If young girls see women who own their power, embrace imperfection, and lead boldly, they will follow.

🔹 Teach real-world leadership skills – Public speaking, negotiation, financial literacy, decision-making—these are the skills that prepare girls to thrive in business and life.

A Call to Action

This International Women’s Day, I want to remind every young girl:

💡 You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

💡 You don’t have to be flawless to be fearless.

💡 You don’t have to wait to be ready- you just have to start.

Whether it’s raising your hand in class, sharing your ideas, starting a project, or applying for leadership roles, take the first step. The world needs more young women who are willing to try—not just the ones who think they have it all figured out.

🚀 So to all young women out there: Step up, take risks, and lead- just as you are.

We look forward to meeting more young leaders in schools this month—and we hope to see more girls signing up for the YEA Programme.

Let’s break the perfection myth and build a future where every girl believes she belongs at the table.

💜 What’s one piece of advice you would give to young girls about leadership and confidence? Share in the comments!

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