Who is the more strategic gender? You might just be surprised
Every so often, someone will tell me that strategy isn’t feminine.
“Oh no,” they say, “it’s too analytical, too structured, too… masculine.” After all, one of the negative and limiting stereotypes for women is that we tend to go with the flow.
And every time, I smile (sweetly) and think, “Clearly, you’ve never met many of the women I know!”
The truth is, women are some of the most strategic thinkers on the planet.
And if you’re still unconvinced, it might be because strategy doesn’t always look like a five-year business plan mapped out on a corporate whiteboard.
Real strategy is about prioritising long-term impact over short-term wins—and trust me, women do this better than anyone.
So, let’s debunk the myth that strategy isn’t feminine and highlight the ways women absolutely shine as strategists.
WHAT MAKES WOMEN STRATEGIC?
Strategy is about more than IQ and much more than a bias towards action —it’s about resourcefulness, relationships, and resilience. Here are just a few ways women naturally bring strategy into their lives:
1. The Power of Negotiation
You may think negotiation happens only at the boardroom table. Think again. Women negotiate all the time—whether it’s brokering peace during household chaos, handling tricky workplace dynamics, or championing better pay and conditions for yourself or your staff.
What makes women GREAT negotiators is our ability to see the bigger picture. Rather than bulldozing through for a quick win, women focus on relationships and creating solutions that last. That’s pure strategy in action.
2. Parenting as Strategic Training
Good parenting is the ultimate juggling act of long-term planning and real-time problem-solving. Strategic? Absolutely. (Did you see that amazing video recruiting for a role as mum?) No more needs to be said!
3. Navigating Bias and Misassumptions
Navigating bias is something women have, sadly, become experts at. We’ve had to be. Dealing with misassumptions and proving ourselves time and again has taught us how to read the room, gauge what’s really going on, and choose the right moment to act or speak up. It’s not just about surviving—it’s also about turning those challenges into opportunities. By staying calm, adapting, and finding creative ways forward, women show emotional intelligence and resilience that’s pure strategy in action.
4. The Long Game in Building Connections
While some people see networking as transactional, women often approach it as a long-term investment. They build relationships rooted in trust and mutual support, creating networks that pay dividends down the line. That’s strategic thinking with a capital S. In fact, research tells us that women who network like women achieve more than those who tend to network more like men.
As Dorie Clark in her book The Long Game (2021) says “Real connections take time to nurture. Think of networking as planting seeds, not picking fruit.”
STRATEGIC WOMEN THROUGH HISTORY
Some of the most iconic leaders and thinkers in history have been women with an incredible talent for strategy.
Take Cleopatra, for instance. She wasn’t just a queen; she was a power broker. Her alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony weren’t romantic whims—they were deliberate moves to protect Egypt and secure its influence.
Or closer to home: Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister. Whatever your politics, you can’t deny her strategic focus. She managed to govern a minority government (not easy), navigate relentless media scrutiny and personal criticism, and still deliver major policy reforms. Her 2012 “misogyny speech” is a masterclass in seizing the moment and turning the tables with precision – and more than a decade on is still being quoted and replicated by younger generations of women.
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
When it comes to playing the long game Dorie Clark reminds us that real strategy requires more than just waiting—it’s about practising strategic patience. Women excel at this, balancing persistence with the ability to adapt as circumstances shift.
Achieving meaningful goals often involves setbacks and pivots, but with a clear vision and the resilience to monitor and adjust our approach, success becomes a matter of when, not if. This ability to focus on long-term impact while navigating challenges is at the heart of strategic thinking.
Because here’s the thing: strategy isn’t masculine. It’s not feminine either. It’s about impact and making a difference. And women are delivering both in spades.
YOUR THOUGHTS? This concludes my three part series on women and strategy.
- Part 1: Strategy Creates Clarity,
- Part 2: Can Strategy Co-exist with Authenticity.
► Drop me a note and let me know if it’s inspired you to think about yourself differently.
🔥 Kickstart 2025 is almost ready! 🎉
Women are indeed strategic —balancing ambition, impact, and inspiration like pros. So, it’s only fitting that I create an event for women that channels that power into one transformational day.
In a nutshell:
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