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Leadership trends, advocating for women leaders and raising your personal profile.
As we approach the start of 2026, in this podcast episode, I’m joined by Vanessa Dal Busco, Chair of the Institute of Directors Glass Ceiling Group, and a passionate advocate for women in leadership.
Vanessa shares her insights on the challenges female leaders face, the importance of personal branding, and practical strategies to raise your profile, exploring how engagement, purpose, and authenticity can transform your professional presence.
Plus, Vanessa also shares her perspectives on leadership trends, the role of AI and cybersecurity in shaping the future of business.
What you will learn in this episode:
- How the Institute of Directors and the Glass Ceiling Group are driving change and creating opportunities for female leaders.
- The importance of raising your personal profile and practical ways to do it.
- How to use LinkedIn effectively to engage authentically and amplify your influence.
- The power of networking, speaking engagements, and media exposure to grow your personal brand.
- Emerging leadership trends she sees for 2026.
Vanessa encourages anyone looking to raise their personal or company profile to take that first step and experiment, whether through LinkedIn, networking, speaking engagements, or media opportunities.
How visible is your professional profile right now, and how could increasing it open up new opportunities in 2026?
Find out more:
Episode Overview:
I had the pleasure of speaking recently with Vanessa Dal Busco, Chair of the Institute of Directors Glass Ceiling Group, President of Aldgate Ward Club, consultant, and passionate advocate for women in leadership. Vanessa’s career journey, from global tech companies to consultancy and voluntary leadership roles, offers a wealth of insights for anyone looking to progress in their career, raise their personal profile, or champion others in their professional sphere.
Women in Leadership
Vanessa’s work with the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Glass Ceiling Group is a fantastic example of grassroots advocacy making a real impact. When she began volunteering, the IOD’s membership was around 80% male, and women were underrepresented in leadership positions. The Glass Ceiling Group was set up to address this imbalance by advocating for more women in leadership roles, providing platforms for networking and collaboration among female leaders, and shining a spotlight on female talent to raise their visibility and influence.
Through these efforts, the IOD has seen tangible progress, with 30% of new members now being women, and an increasing number of high-profile events drawing attention to the challenges and opportunities for women in business.
Vanessa emphasises that advocacy isn’t just about representation, it’s about practical action, creating spaces where women can gain the skills, networks, and confidence to excel. From panels and talks on angel investing to women on boards and careers in STEM, the focus is on delivering actionable insight alongside inspiration.
Raising your personal profile
A key theme of our conversation was the importance of raising your personal profile. Vanessa is a firm believer that visibility is essential for professional success, particularly in today’s digital world. LinkedIn, she argues, is more than a job search platform, it’s your professional shop window and a place to engage with your network in a meaningful way.
To raise your profile effectively, ensure you clarify your purpose to understand your ‘why’ and communicate it authentically. Then optimise your profile, including headline, about section, and featured content to reflect who you are and what you stand for. Engage consistently through sharing posts, commenting, and interacting to build visibility and influence. Finally, she advises to be human- balance professional achievements with personal insights to encourage connection.
Vanessa emphasises that visibility can feel uncomfortable at first, particularly for those unused to self-promotion. Her advice is to approach it as an experiment, start small, and let the results speak for themselves. Many who are initially hesitant find they gain confidence and enjoy the engagement once they begin.
Networking: the unsung hero
Beyond digital presence, Vanessa highlights the ongoing importance of networking. Both virtual and in-person events have value, though she notes the energy and serendipity of face-to-face interactions can be especially powerful. Speaking engagements, panel discussions, and trade media opportunities are also effective ways to boost your authority and raise your profile.
Networking, whether online or offline, is about making connections that matter, learning from others, and opening doors for yourself and your colleagues. It remains a timeless and practical tool for career progression.
Looking Ahead: Trends for leaders
As we look to the future, Vanessa sees several key trends shaping leadership conversations, including Artificial Intelligence, both in terms of personal productivity and organisational strategy; Cybersecurity, with the growing demand for expertise and organisational preparedness; and Digital savviness- the need for leaders to navigate increasingly tech-driven environments.
Understanding these trends and positioning yourself accordingly can help leaders remain relevant, resilient, and effective in their roles.
Next Steps
Vanessa encourages anyone looking to raise their personal or organisational profile to take that first step, whether through LinkedIn engagement, networking, speaking, or media opportunities. Start small, experiment, and build gradually.
Vanessa’s insights remind us that visibility, purpose, and advocacy are not optional, they are practical tools for influence, impact, and progression in today’s professional world.
