With over 60% of social enterprises in Scotland led by women, our sector is already demonstrating a powerful shift towards a more inclusive, values-driven economy. This session celebrates that leadership while opening a wider conversation about what it means for the future of enterprise. Drawing on research from the WiSE Collective, the session will begin with a short presentation sharing key insights into how feminine-informed leadership is shaping social enterprise in practice. The research explores approaches grounded in care, collaboration, lived experience and community – offering practical examples of how economic activity can prioritise wellbeing, equity and sustainability.
Following reflections on the research, participants will move into an interactive discussion, working in small groups to explore what these leadership approaches mean in practice and how they can influence the future of social enterprise and wider economic change.
Uniquely, this conversation will take place alongside a parallel session at the Canadian Rural Revitalization Conference & North Atlantic Forum, hosted at Memorial University in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Community leaders, Indigenous partners, government representatives, researchers, policymakers and grassroots organisations will be exploring similar themes, creating an opportunity to connect perspectives across countries. By bringing together insights from Scotland and Canada, this session will explore shared challenges, identify synergies and consider how international learning can strengthen more inclusive, collaborative and community-led approaches to leadership.
Importantly, this is not a conversation about gender exclusivity. Feminine leadership is understood here as a set of values and practices – relational, inclusive and purpose-driven – that can be embodied by people of all genders.
Facilitated by: Aimee Spence and Andy Paterson.
Casandra Bryant , Researcher at University of Guelph (she/her)
Ailsa Clark , Founder and Executive Director at Inspiralba (she/her)
Inspired by the passion, energy and determination within rural communities, Ailsa established Inspiralba in 2009. Ailsa regularly advocates for the rural perspective and has worked with partners across Scotland and internationally to bring learning from this context via the RuralSEHub. This learning has also inspired curiosity in relation to different approaches to leadership and the economy.
Liz Gardiner , Director at Fablevision (she/her)
Dr Elizabeth (Liz) Gardiner is an artist, teacher, and cultural planner. Researcher and Associate of the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland, she researches grassroots cultural planning and Social Enterprise. – most recently WISE. As executive director of Fablevision, she develops and delivers case study examples of cultural planning in practice.
Got a question?
Please email: nia.evans@socialenterprise.scot