Unravelling... from masculine leadership
Because obviously, women wouldn’t know the first thing about getting things done— like, say, running households, raising families, leading teams, or, you know, managing entire countries!
Last week, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, announced that the corporate world needs more masculine energy (cue the collective eye roll).
"I think a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered," he said during his guest appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience. "Masculine energy is good, and obviously, society has plenty of that, but I think corporate culture was really trying to get away from it... I think having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive."
Ah yes, aggression in the workplace. Because nothing says “growth” like a meeting room full of posturing and power struggles.
But Zuckerberg’s comments struck a nerve for me — not because of the obvious critiques of his perspective, but because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when “masculine energy” becomes the blueprint for leadership, especially in a predominantly female profession like consumer journalism.
Here’s the thing: I’ve worked under plenty of female managers who have wholeheartedly embraced this idea of masculine leadership. And let me tell you, it has been damaging — damaging to my confidence, my career growth, and, frankly, my mental health.
I’m talking about the women who criticise your work harshly in front of the entire office. The ones who steal your ideas and pitch them as their own. The ones who gaslight you, bully you, and manage from a place of fear rather than fostering growth.
When you spend more time around these types of managers than you do with your own friends and family, it’s easy to absorb their brand of masculinity and start believing their version of success. Loudness becomes competence. Aggression becomes assertiveness. And, if you’re naturally more softly spoken (like me), you’re left feeling like you have to contort yourself into someone you’re not just to survive, let alone thrive.
What we really need isn’t more masculine energy — it’s more feminine leadership.
This thought hit me while reading
Women Who Work Too Much. It crystallised even further when I saw that one of Mintel’s key trends for 2025 predicts a growing demand for empathetic leaders in the workplace. (Yes, Zuck, we’re looking at you.) As AI continues to rise, people are craving a kind of leadership that no machine can replicate: human connection, emotional intelligence, and a genuine understanding of others.So instead of doubling down on hustle culture or scrambling to secure a spot in the boys' business club, what if we leaned into soft leadership skills? Here’s your permission slip: you don’t have to be aggressive to be successful.
“What we really need isn’t more masculine energy - it’s feminine leadership”
Imagine a work culture where relationships, family, and rest are celebrated alongside our professional ambitions. A culture that values emotional intelligence over artificial intelligence.
This isn’t just about making workplaces feel better — it’s about fostering environments where real, meaningful growth happens. And that’s the kind of energy I’m bringing into 2025.