When Women Support Women, the Scales Shift
As we step into 2026, I’ve been thinking about this year’s International Women’s Day theme: Balance the Scales. It’s a simple idea, but it speaks to something we all recognise. Progress doesn’t just happen. It takes people who are willing to speak up, back each other in and push for change.
Early in my career, someone once suggested I should put my hand up a little less. Not because my ideas weren’t strong, but because I might come across as “too loud”. What stayed with me wasn’t the comment itself. It was the realisation that none of the men around me were being encouraged to shrink. They were confident, decisive, seen as natural leaders. I was enthusiastic.
That’s how imbalance often works. Not through big dramatic moments, but through the quiet expectations about who should lead, who should wait and who should feel lucky just to be included.
Balancing the scales isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about making sure we’re all measured by the same one. Talent is everywhere. Opportunity still isn’t.
That is why communities like the MLCOCC matter so much. Over the past two years, I’ve seen the strength that comes from women championing women. I’ve watched networks open doors, shared stories spark confidence and reinvention, and members create space for each other to be seen, valued and celebrated. It’s something we should all feel proud of.
This edition of the newsletter is a chance to welcome a new year with that same spirit of courage, authenticity and connection. It’s also a personal milestone for me. My term as President has now come to an end, and it has been a genuine privilege to serve this community.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that leadership isn’t about holding the microphone the longest. It’s about knowing when to hand it over and feeling confident about what comes next. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I’m excited to see the next chapter unfold under new leadership.
The scales don’t balance themselves. But they do shift when capable people step forward and others choose to back them.
Here’s to a year of momentum, visibility and women lifting women.
Alex O’Keefe (1999)
President
Image:
Generations of MLC women supporting women at the 2025 OCC International Women's Day Event: Mary Wooldridge (1984), Past OCC President Anne Wooldridge (Goldsworthy 1949) and OCC President Alex O'Keefe (1999)
