Umbereen Moir, Head of Corporate Events at Newcastle University, shares how the Diversifying Leadership programme helped her recognise and embrace her leadership identity.

When I signed up for the Advance HE Diversifying Leadership (DL) programme, I was curious but not sure what it would offer me. I’ve often found professional development opportunities either too broad or not quite relevant to my experiences, and I wondered whether this would be any different. It’s fair to say I underestimated how much I would take away from it, both consciously and unconsciously. 

Recognising leadership in myself 

A light bulb realisation for me was that my leadership journey didn’t begin when I received a title that formally recognised me as a leader. In many ways, I’d been leading for years: I was influencing decisions, advocating for others, building relationships and driving change. The difference was that I hadn’t recognised those things as leadership and, perhaps more importantly, I hadn’t fully considered myself as a leader. 

The DL programme challenged me to think differently about leadership and about my own place within it. As a South Asian woman, I often found myself looking for evidence that I belonged in leadership spaces. Another achievement. Another qualification. Another title. The programme encouraged me to acknowledge the skills, experiences and strengths I already had. Rather than seeing leadership as something I was working towards, I started to recognise it as something I was already practising. 

That shift has had a real impact on my confidence, and I’ve become more intentional in how I approach conversations and projects. Instead of trying to do it all, I focus on where I can have the biggest impact while creating space for others to step forward and lead. 

Seeing myself in others 

Learning alongside people from different backgrounds, disciplines and institutions was hugely important and impactful. There was a real sense of reassurance in being surrounded by other minoritised leaders who were navigating many of the same challenges. Listening to their experiences and reflections helped me realise I wasn’t alone in some of the doubts and barriers I’d experienced. 

For many of us, it can be difficult to see ourselves reflected in senior leadership roles. Connecting with people who understood that reality, while sharing ideas and practical advice was incredibly valuable and a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. 

During the course we were fortunate to hear from some inspirational guest speakers who shared their leadership journeys with honesty and candour. They shared openly about uncertainty, setbacks and moments of self-doubt, as well as their successes. For the first time I heard leadership stories that felt familiar. Hearing from people who shared the same feelings and struggles made leadership feel more accessible and helped broaden my view of what is possible. 

After completing the DL programme, work became particularly busy and I never quite found the time to reflect on my learning in the way I’d intended. Looking back, I realise I was putting much of that learning into practice without even noticing: I’m speaking up more in meetings, offering different perspectives, challenging ideas respectfully and advocating more confidently for myself and others. What’s been most surprising is that these changes haven’t come from trying to become a different kind of leader, but from becoming more comfortable with the leader I already am. 

Building my ‘trophy wall’ 

I was privileged to work with a great sponsor during the programme, and our sessions provided a safe space to be honest, reflect openly and explore how I responded to challenges. During one conversation, I talked about my tendency to downplay achievements or move straight on to the next challenge. My sponsor introduced the idea of building a ‘trophy wall’ and taking time to recognise achievements, positive feedback and moments of impact that often pass by without being fully acknowledged. 

I’m getting better at capturing the wins rather than letting them disappear into the background of busy projects and competing priorities. Being honest…it still feels a little uncomfortable, but I’m a work in progress! I am learning that it’s possible to recognise what’s going well while continuing to strive for improvement – the two aren’t mutually exclusive. The trophy wall isn’t about bragging; it’s about keeping hold of the evidence on the days when self-doubt and imposter syndrome sneaks in and tries to tell a different story. 

Recently I completed my Insights Discovery profile – a personal development tool that helps people understand their preferences, communication style, strengths and potential blind spots, showing how they are likely to interact with others and adapt to different situations. One of the most interesting findings was how closely my conscious (how I choose to adapt to my environment) and less conscious (natural, instinctive behaviours) profiles aligned. This alignment suggests a high degree of authenticity and consistency in how I show up at work, reinforcing that my leadership style is grounded in behaviours that feel natural and true to who I am. 

This feels particularly pertinent as I accept leadership isn’t something new to me. Looking back, I can see it has been a thread running through my career for a long time. Whether through developing event programmes, building relationships, supporting colleagues or bringing people together around a shared project, my aptitude was always there. The only thing that has changed is that I now recognise them as leadership. 

Sharing reflections like this can feel a little vulnerable, but I think that’s part of leadership too. For me, the most valuable lessons from the programme have been learning to recognise my own contributions, trust my instincts and have confidence in the perspectives I bring. 

And while this may sound a little cheesy, I’m happy to own it. What I’ve come to realise is that leadership isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about recognising who you’ve been all along, valuing what you already bring, and giving yourself permission to believe it.