Dr Wennie Subramonian and Dr Lei Zeng are academics in the School of Engineering at The University of Manchester. Tia Thompson is the Admissions Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University and Professor Rachel Cowen is an academic in the School of Medical Sciences and the University’s Academic Lead for Gender Equality as well as Aurora Champion.
Rise of women in leadership
Leadership in higher education can often feel out of reach especially for women from disciplines where there are few visible role models or vocal allies. This is especially true in science and engineering and parts of professional services where leadership pathways are unclear and the systems we work in haven't been designed with diverse women in mind.
Aurora gave us space to challenge that. It helped us reflect on who we are as leaders now, not just who we might become. More than development, it offered perspective, confidence and a deeper sense of belonging. We answer some common questions about Aurora below.
What challenges or barriers have you faced as a woman in higher education leadership, and how did that influence your decision to participate in Aurora?
Wennie Subramonian: As a woman in engineering education, visibility and influence weren’t always granted. I often felt overlooked and I had to work harder to be noticed.
I joined Aurora to reflect on what leadership means to me and how to lead authentically within structures that don’t always value women’s unique strengths.
Lei Zeng: Women in academia face complex challenges, including balancing careers with family and concerns over visibility when taking maternity leave. Isolation is common, especially in male-dominated fields where expressing doubts can be difficult. Social norms may discourage women's ambition, but programmes like Aurora promote leadership through service, authenticity and impact.
Tia Thompson: As a Black woman, under-representation made it difficult to envision a clear career path or even options within HE, specifically in Professional Services. I joined Aurora to connect with others facing similar barriers and to hear stories to inspire and encourage me to strive for a leadership career.
What aspects of Aurora had the biggest impact on you?
Wennie: The “Identity, Impact & Voice” session helped me define authentic leadership through my values. “Politics & Influence” deepened my understanding of institutional dynamics.
I now see leadership not just about capability, but also about navigating structures, building alliances and knowing how to influence. Most importantly, my mentor championed my growth and encouraged me to lead strategically with confidence and clarity.
Lei: The most impactful moments were the candid stories from women leaders about failure, resilience and identity, presenting an authentic vision of leadership.
Interactive workshops focused on self-awareness equipped us with practical communication and reflection tools and fostered community across disciplines. This shared experience reframed leadership as both collaborative and attainable.
Tia: I loved hearing from women with diverse backgrounds and non-linear career journeys who are now thriving. Being paired with a brilliant mentor helped me reflect, shift unhelpful habits and build the confidence to pursue what I truly want. It was an inspiring and empowering experience I’ll carry forward.
How did Aurora help to grow your leadership skills and confidence?
Wennie: Aurora gave me space to reflect on how I want to lead strategically and authentically. With support from the community and my mentor, I grew more confident in sharing ideas, speaking up and building purposeful connections. Most importantly, it helped me lead with intention and become more visible in my work.
Lei: Aurora created space to practise leadership through conversations, reflections and real-world challenges. It strengthened the ability to communicate, connect and support others, building confidence via influence strategies and self-awareness rooted in clear purpose.
Aurora also broadened the definition of academic leadership, not as a title, but as a way of thinking, showing up and building community.
Tia: Connecting with women from other institutions gave me space to reflect on shared challenges in higher education. These open conversations helped me grow in confidence, recognise the value of my voice and begin developing the leadership mindset needed to navigate my career with greater clarity and purpose.
Looking back on your Aurora journey, how has it influenced your leadership style or priorities as an EDI leader? And what more needs to be done to promote gender equity in leadership?
Rachel Cowen: It is a privilege to be the institutional Aurora champion and to connect with and support the career progression of so many talented women through this valuable programme.
I attended Aurora myself in 2015 when I was a newly appointed lecturer and had just returned from maternity with my second son. It was exactly what I needed to both affirm my desire to step into a leadership role and to build my leadership capacity in a gender focused way. Aurora gave me the space to increase my self-awareness as a leader and consider what I wanted from both work and life more generally.
Aurora has profoundly shaped my approach as an EDI leader. My focus is on supporting diverse and authentic leadership, and as champion I have led on ensuring an inclusive and open call for Aurora participants.
We have also shown the positive career impact of Aurora leading to a year-on-year increase in investment in targeted leadership development and wrap around local support for women leaders.
We are working hard to address systemic, cultural barriers that people face in their pathway to leadership. There is still a high degree of presenteeism and a lack of varied working models especially for senior, executive level leaders eg job shares, hybrid and flexible working roles. At Manchester we are working hard to address these issues and to mitigate the significant impact that parenting and caring responsibilities continue to have on women’s careers in higher education.
Dr Wennie Subramonian and Dr Lei Zeng are academics in the School of Engineering. Tia Thompson is the Admissions Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Professor Rachel Cowen is an academic in the School of Medical Sciences and the University Academic Lead for Gender Equality and Aurora Champion.