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Women and ambition in 2023

ended 31. January 2023

A journalist working on a feature article is keen to hear how psychologists understand ambition, whether they've seen any changes in how women are navigating life/career goals post-pandemic, and how to reignite ambition when our goals/sense of self might be entirely different than a couple of years ago.
 

So the questions are:

  1. Ambition, how has it changed for women post-pandemic?
  2. Has our ambition really died or does it just look different now? 
  3. Are you seeing any changes in women's life goals and ambitions? If yes, what are the trends now and what do you see as future trends?

As always, answer one or all of the questions and keep them short and to the point.

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Dr Frances Greenstreet
Founder & Lead Psychologist at Female Founders Wellbeing Academy
Women have always held ambitions. However, post-pandemic there's been a redefining of success and a yearning for more purpose, meaning and fulfilment in work and life. This can be understood as post-traumatic growth – a realisation and desire to live life in a different way. Life goals and ambitions are more tied to finding true happiness. Within female founders’ circles I see many women taking their mental health and wellbeing far more seriously. While there's still passionate ambition to build and scale successful businesses – it's not all about profit; finding alignment in business and personal lives is increasingly important. There’s a push for self-development – discovering how to manage thoughts, build resilience and work to strengths and a growing desire to re-connect with nature to boost wellbeing and creativity.
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Lee Chambers
Founder / Psychologist at Male Allies UK
Through my work, I see women's ambition channelled in a variety of different ways.

There is still significant inequity facing women, but I have seen flexibility being prioritised over aspects of career progression, more women moving into entrepreneurship to make a sustained change in the world and build something meaningful, and more focus on wellbeing and self-care being of value.

Rebalancing of priorities is probably the biggest change I've seen overall, and it's no surprise with all the barriers, obstacles and glass ceilings many women face, alongside the judgement and caregiving responsibilities that often fall to them.

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Linda Doe
Consultant Psychologist at Apana Business Psychology
Women are showing a reluctance to return to office hours & give up the flexibility of home working. A stated ambition is now likely to be wellness, physical & mental - and a sense of purpose. There is greater appreciation for quality time with self, family & for the support and community of other working women in the home locality. Swimming outdoors is one of ambitious women's success stories to mitigate pandemic stress & create purpose and community away from work (www.wildwomenofthewaters.com). Ambitious women tend to stay ambitious; their motivation and determination survives child rearing and career break - and it will survive the pandemic too. But this work focussed ambition is becoming more balanced with a greater awareness of gratitude and appreciation for the less money-driven things in life. That's healthy ambition in the making.