Redefining Leadership: The Rise of the Wise, Whole and Impactful Leader

By Lyn Hawkins | Founder and National Director

For decades, the corporate world has rewarded a narrow view of leadership – decisive, competitive, stoic, and relentlessly productive.

But as organisations face complexity, uncertainty, and an ever-expanding demand for purpose-driven results, this model is cracking.

The next era of leadership – one that women are powerfully defining – is not about climbing the ladder. It’s about building a new one. Let’s explore this.

1. Leadership with Alignment, Not Approval

Recent research confirms what many women leaders have known intuitively: leaders who are clear about their personal values outperform those who chase approval or status.

According to Harvard’s “Authentic Leadership” studies, self-awareness and internal alignment are directly correlated with long-term organisational trust and engagement. When leaders lead from their principles, rather than perform for external validation, their teams report higher levels of psychological safety, innovation, and resilience.

This shift from approval to alignment is at the heart of what we call whole-self leadership at Business Women Australia.

Leaders who know what they stand for, and who show up consistently in that truth, attract loyalty and clarity. They don’t need to be the loudest in the room – their impact speaks for itself. I have so many women in mind as I write this (looking at you…).

As Brené Brown reminds us, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” Alignment brings clarity — and clarity builds trust.

2. Leadership from the Body, Not Just the Boardroom

The outdated notion that emotion and intuition have no place in leadership is rapidly being dismantled.

Neuroscience now validates what somatic coaches and psychologists have long understood – the body is central to how we lead.

According to research from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and McKinsey’s 2023 State of Organizations Report, leaders who cultivate emotional intelligence, empathy, and somatic awareness significantly outperform their peers on key measures of performance, adaptability, and retention. (I’m on a journey of discovery with all this… how about you?)

Empathy, once seen as “soft,” is now recognised by the World Economic Forum as one of the top three leadership competencies of the next decade. (Isn’t that great? I mean… why wouldn’t it be?!)

Leaders who integrate intellect with emotional and physical awareness make better decisions, because they access the full data of human experience. (It’s not rocket science is it?)

At BWA, we’re seeing this embodied leadership emerge in women who understand that composure, breath, tone, and emotional resonance are not incidental – they are instruments of influence. And, are things we work on. Practices.

3. Leadership for Legacy, Not Ego

In a time of global disruption, climate urgency, and social transformation, the question is no longer, “How high can I climb?” but “What will I leave behind?”

Legacy-oriented leadership (or as our members have dubbed “Awakened Leadership”) is driven by stewardship – the understanding that our decisions ripple beyond quarterly results. When making decisions, ask “What would the baby say?” How will things be as a result of our choices and decisions… after we are gone?

A 2024 Deloitte Global Women in the Boardroom report found that women leaders are more likely to prioritise sustainability, diversity, and stakeholder wellbeing in corporate decision-making. This isn’t about moral superiority – it’s about strategic foresight. It’s about care, compassion, love.

Businesses that embed purpose and long-term social value outperform those that don’t. And they are “way better” to work for. McKinsey’s Delivering Through Diversity report showed that companies with gender-diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability. But perhaps more importantly, they are better prepared for the moral and adaptive challenges of our time. And they fill the human “cup”.

Leaders for legacy focus on systems, not just outcomes – cultivating cultures where future leaders can thrive. They consider a world that is living and thriving… a long time after they have left it.

A New Definition of Leadership

The new paradigm of leadership – one we see emerging across Business Women Australia’s national network – is wise, whole, and wildly impactful.

It honours intellect, creativity and intuition.
It balances power with purpose.
It values emotional fluency as much as financial acumen.
It celebrates love and care.

This is the leadership that drives meaningful change – in boardrooms, businesses, and communities.

As we expand the definition of what it means to lead, women across Australia are showing the way – redefining not only leadership, but the very structures and values it sits upon.

We are not simply “in” leadership.

We are leadership, in its most evolved form.

About the Author: Lyn Hawkins

Lyn Hawkins is the National Director of Business Women Australia and a strategic advisor to Boards, Leaders, CEOs and founders. With over 25 years of experience in leadership, business growth, and professional development, she is dedicated to advancing women’s influence and impact across Australia.

About Business Women Australia

BWA brings together talented business women and female leaders from all sectors, industries and states;