Her Story Edition 10: The Power of Protective Leadership
How women leaders are creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
Hello, Denyse here, and a very warm welcome to We Are Mimosa, a place for female founders building brands which are aligned with their purpose and values, and who care about making the world a better place.
This has been a difficult week as we process an election outcome that reverberates far beyond America's borders. While some might wonder why a US election matters so deeply to us here in the UK, we must understand this result within the context of a broader global backlash against women's rights and autonomy.
This backlash comes at a particularly critical moment. The compound effects of the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, and climate challenges have already disproportionately impacted women worldwide. Progress on gender equality has stalled or reversed in many areas, from economic participation to political representation. When the world's most powerful democracy appears to embrace leadership that openly threatens women's autonomy, it emboldens similar movements globally.
Each of us needs space to process this moment in our own way. Yet we cannot allow our disappointment to immobilise us. This is why, this week, we're exploring a different model of leadership - one that offers practical strategies for confronting ‘the authority gap’ women face daily. At a time when traditional power structures seek to diminish women's autonomy, the concept of "protective leadership" demonstrated by retail pioneer Jane Shepherdson shows us how women can lead differently: not through control, but by creating and protecting spaces where others can thrive.
[The authority gap describes the gap in how seriously women are taken compared to men - even when they have identical or superior credentials and experience. This persistent underestimation affects women at all levels, from everyday workplace interactions to those seeking funding to expand their businesses, to the highest levels of leadership.]
Understanding the Landscape
That’s why earlier this week, I deliberately chose to share Jane Shepherdson's story - a highly respected UK retail leader who faced down a notorious bully and misogynist, Philip Green. Her experience offers valuable lessons for our current moment. When confronted with aggressive, controlling leadership, Shepherdson didn't retreat. Instead, she created what she called a "protective dome" around her team, demonstrating how women's leadership often operates differently - not through domination, but through the creation of spaces where others can thrive.
This approach to leadership feels particularly relevant as we reflect on Vice President Harris's powerful concession speech at Howard University. Speaking at this historically Black university, a place that shaped her own journey, Harris reminded us that democracy isn't just about elections - it's about creating and protecting spaces where all voices can be heard, and all people can flourish. Her message wasn't about defeat, but about continuing the work of building a more inclusive democracy, regardless of electoral outcomes.
Founder Spotlight: Jane Shepherdson - Leading with Protective Power
The Journey
Starting work at age 21 as an allocator at what was then a "tacky, trashy, cheap teen ghetto," Jane Shepherdson saw something in Topshop that others missed: potential. Working her way up through the ranks, she implemented what she called a "brave new buying policy," offering clothes that she and her team loved rather than trying to second-guess customer tastes. By the late 1990s, as brand director, she had transformed Topshop into a fashion powerhouse, with profits soaring from £9 million to £110 million.
The Challenge
In 2002, when Philip Green took control of Arcadia Group, Shepherdson faced a critical test. Known for his aggressive management style and bullying behaviour, Green represented everything that could stifle creativity and innovation. Rather than succumb to this toxic environment, Shepherdson created a "protective dome" around her team, insisting on meeting Green in her office to prevent him from interacting with her staff. This wasn't just about shielding people from bullying - it was about preserving the creative values that had made Topshop successful.
The Innovation
Shepherdson's approach to leadership was revolutionary in retail. She championed emerging British designers through the British Fashion Council's New Gen initiative, showed Topshop's collections at London Fashion Week (unheard of for a high street brand), and created an entirely new kind of shopping experience complete with DJs, style advisors, and creative energy that luxury boutiques envied.
The Impact
Under Shepherdson's leadership, Topshop became more than just a successful retailer; it became an incubator for creative talent and a proof point that commercial success doesn't require compromising values. Even Beyoncé cited it as one of the things she loved most about London. However, the true measure of Shepherdson's impact became clear after her departure in 2006. Without her protective leadership and vision, Topshop gradually lost its way, eventually collapsing into administration in 2021.
Key Lessons
True protection comes through empowerment, not control
Creating safe spaces allows creativity and innovation to flourish
Standing firm on values may require walking away from toxic situations
Commercial success and ethical leadership can coexist
Leadership isn't about power over others, but power with and for others
Leadership Insights: The Power of Protective Leadership
Jane Shepherdson's approach at Topshop offers a masterclass in what I call "protective leadership" - a style particularly relevant as we work to overcome ‘the authority gap.’ While traditional power structures rely on control and dominance, Shepherdson demonstrated how leadership can protect through empowerment rather than restriction.
Her "protective dome" wasn't just a defensive measure against a bullying boss. It was a carefully constructed space that allowed creativity to flourish, talent to develop, and innovation to thrive. Most importantly, it showed how women can lead differently without sacrificing effectiveness or commercial success.
Key elements of protective leadership that emerge from Shepherdson's example:
Create Safe Spaces: Rather than attempting to change Green's behaviour, Shepherdson focused on what she could control - creating an environment where her team could work without fear. This mirrors what we see in the most effective women leaders today: they don't waste energy trying to transform toxic systems; they build new spaces where better ways of working become possible.
Lead Through Values: Shepherdson's protection of her team wasn't just about their comfort - it was about preserving the creative values that made Topshop successful. When these values became impossible to maintain under Green's ownership, she made the difficult decision to leave. This integrity cost her in the short term but preserved her ability to effect change in the long term.
Build Sustainable Power: Instead of focusing on traditional power dynamics, Shepherdson built influence through results, relationships, and reputation. Her team's success - both at Topshop and in their subsequent careers - demonstrates how protective leadership creates lasting impact beyond any single organization.
This approach to leadership feels particularly relevant now. As we witness attempts to restrict women's autonomy globally, Shepherdson's example reminds us that true protection doesn't constrain; it creates space for growth, innovation, and authentic expression.
Women in the World: The Ripple Effect of Gender Equality
The global challenges we face today are deeply interconnected, and nowhere is this more evident than in our lagging progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we approach the 2030 deadline, barely any of the 17 goals are on track, with women and girls bearing the heaviest burden of this shortfall.
Goal 5 - gender equality - isn't just another target we're missing; it's a crucial catalyst for achieving nearly every other SDG. When women and girls are held back, progress stalls across the board - from poverty reduction to climate action, from economic growth to quality education. This isn't just theory; the data shows that gender equality acts as a multiplier, accelerating progress across all development goals.
This is why women's entrepreneurship is so crucial. When women build successful businesses, they create a ripple effect that extends far beyond their immediate economic impact. Female founders tend to invest more in their communities, prioritise sustainable practices, and create opportunities for other women and girls. Each woman who breaks through barriers makes it easier for others to follow.
Yet even as formal systems lag behind, women continue to create protective spaces that nurture progress:
In Iran, female journalists maintain unofficial networks to document women's sports achievements, refusing to let these stories be erased
In Afghanistan, underground schools and virtual learning networks ensure girls' education continues despite official bans
In the UK, The Female Lead's new initiative to highlight the motherhood price is reimagining social media as a space that celebrates women's achievements rather than appearance
These examples show how women's leadership, even in challenging circumstances, creates ripples of positive change that contribute to multiple SDGs simultaneously.
Inspiration in Action
We stand at the threshold between autumn and winter, that liminal space where one season yields to another. In my allotment, the last of summer's bounty mingles with winter's first whispers - late tomatoes ripen alongside emerging winter greens. This natural transition reminds us that endings often contain the seeds of new beginnings.
This week, I'm finding hope and inspiration in:
Tara A. Pierce's powerful exploration of community-led solutions in "We the People Must Fight." As Chair of our local Parish Council, I see these principles in action through our Community Garden project, where local action creates spaces for both environmental and social change.
"Solving for the Planet," the new podcast from Hannah Ritchie and Rob Stewart. Their focus on climate solutions and the innovators behind them reminds us that positive change is possible when we combine vision with action. By highlighting the entrepreneurs and scientists working on climate solutions, they're creating space for hope in our environmental narrative.
This week's episode of Gardener's World, where Monty Don plants hawthorn in his orchard. There's something deeply inspiring about this simple act of faith in the future - planting trees that will benefit generations to come, just as we must plant the seeds of change for a more equitable world.
Over to You
As we navigate this challenging moment, I'd love to hear how you're creating protective spaces in your own work and communities. How do you balance processing difficult realities with maintaining the resilience needed for long-term change? What gives you hope and inspiration when progress seems slow?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Remember, your story matters, and sharing it helps build the supportive community we all need.
If this resonated with you, please take a moment to "❤️" and share this post. Let's amplify women's voices and stories together.
Until next time,
Denyse
About Women's Leadership and the SDGs: Research shows that gender equality acts as a catalyst for achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. When women lead - whether in business, politics, or community initiatives - they tend to create more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient solutions that benefit everyone. This "multiplier effect" of women's leadership demonstrates why supporting female founders and leaders is crucial for meeting our global challenges.
About me
If you’re new to my work, it might be helpful if I explain who I am and what I do!
I’m Denyse Whillier, a former Chief Executive with more than 25 years of business experience under my favourite Sézane belt. I upcycle my skills and experience to provide business mentoring and strategic support, reimagined for female founded businesses.
My mission is simple. It’s to make it easier for women to build thriving brands which are aligned with their purpose and values and to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship, one female founder at a time.
To find out how I can support you on your business journey, check out this link. And if you’d like to know more about the results my clients get, here are some of my case studies.
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I've worked in marketing for most of my career and as time has passed (and I have aged) I've found myself working with more and more women. I'm now a full-time content creator for a woman-owned company. When I work with women, there is no ego involved. You just get the work done. It's so refreshing.