Building the Table: How Women Create Opportunity – Insights From The CEO
There’s a meme circulating at the moment that says women shouldn’t worry about ‘deserving a seat at the table’… because we are the table.
It’s clever, but it’s also true in a way that resonates deeply for many of us who’ve built our careers inside industries that weren’t designed with us in mind: finance, accounting, law, construction, tech, and countless others.
As we close out 2025, it feels like the right moment to reflect on that.
For years, women have been conditioned to think about access, earning our place, proving our worth, waiting to be invited, or working twice as hard to get half as far. Yet the reality is that in so many workplaces, teams, and families, women have been the foundation all along.
We’re the:
- Ones who create stability when everything else feels uncertain.
- Scaffold supporting complex projects, ambitious leaders, and growing businesses.
- Consistency that clients rely on, the emotional intelligence teams lean on, and the anchor that keeps things grounded and progressing.
We contribute commercially, strategically, intellectually, and operationally, often simultaneously.
So the idea of ‘deserving’ a seat at the table misses the point entirely.
It implies the table already exists, and that we’re waiting to be offered a place at it. But for so many women, the reality is far more powerful:
- We are the table.
- We create the space.
- We shape the environment.
- We hold the weight.
And we do it while carrying everything else life places on our shoulders.
As 2025 comes to an end, I hope the women in our industries take a moment to recognise the strength, presence, and quiet influence they bring.
Not because anyone handed it to them, but because they built it, sustained it, and made it possible for others to thrive.
So here’s to all the women who are not just sitting at the table, but underpinning it.
- You’re not waiting for permission.
- You’re not asking to be included.
- You’re the reason there’s a table at all.
And that’s something worth celebrating.
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About the CEO – Andrea McKenna
With a background in politics, marketing and communications, Andrea brings a broad perspective to leadership and problem-solving. Her extensive knowledge of operations and strategy is backed by decades of experience as both a business owner and adviser. She has a strong interest in optimising systems and processes, and is a passionate advocate for life-long learning and the power of curiosity.
Andrea is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, small businesses and community organisations overcome challenges and achieve sustainable success. Beyond her professional commitments, she serves on numerous committees and advisory boards, and provides mentorship to the next generation of industry leaders.
