Women as Leaders Certification Programme
Lead with authority and drive organisational growth with this ILM recognised certification
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Women as Leaders Certification
Actuate’s Women as Leaders Certification is an all‑female, EDI‑focused programme designed to support more women in progressing into senior leadership and helping to close the gender gap
Blending leadership skill‑building with confidence and presence development, the programme equips participants to raise visibility, influence key stakeholders, and lead with clarity and authenticity – while building a strong peer network that supports long‑term success.
Aligned to the UK leadership qualification framework, with the option to embed an ILM Level 6 Award in Leadership & Management, providing a recognised, employer‑valued credential
What our learners are saying
Who is the Women as Leaders Certification for?
- Aspiring and emerging women leaders preparing to step into greater scope and seniority
- Women managers and functional leads seeking stronger influence, visibility and cross‑business impact
- High‑potential talent on succession plans who need greater confidence, stakeholder navigation skills, and board‑level readiness
- Organisations committed to accelerating female leadership and improving gender balance across pipelines and succession.
Start your Certification Journey Today
Achieve Certified Women in Leadership Status
Demonstrate your commitment to inclusive, impactful leadership while building the confidence, credibility, and capability to progress into senior rolesGain a Prestigious ILM Leadership Qualification
As part of the Women in Leadership Certification, you’ll earn an ILM-accredited qualification, recognised within the UK qualifications framework. This formal recognition validates your leadership capability and strengthens your professional profileStrengthen Your Confidence, Presence and Career Progression
Apply practical leadership tools to real‑world challenges. Graduates showcase digital credentials and recognised certification across CVs, LinkedIn, and professional platforms - enhancing credibility, visibility, and career progression
Why Learn with Actuate?
At Actuate we are committed to empowering women to lead with confidence, credibility, and impact. Our Women as Leaders Certification is purpose‑built to address the real challenges women face in leadership today, from visibility and influence to representation at senior levels.
Combining practical, real‑world learning with an ILM‑accredited qualification, our programme equips you with the skills, confidence, and strategic mindset to progress your career and help close the gender gap in leadership.
Delivered by experienced leadership practitioners and supported by a collaborative learning community, Actuate provides more than a certification – it offers a platform for women to step forward, be recognised, and lead lasting change.
Women as Leaders Certification Module Overview
All modules are delivered digitally with a duration of 4 hours each.
This certification is self-paced, however you must complete all modules and assessments within 12 months from the date of purchase
Celebrating Difference
Explores inclusive leadership and how valuing difference strengthens decision‑making, trust, and impact
Communication for Challenging Situations
Builds confidence in handling difficult conversations with clarity and authority
Leading from the Front with Strategy and Creativity
Develops strategic thinking and creative leadership to inspire action and drive change
Confident Leadership and Final Learner Journey
Brings learning together to strengthen leadership confidence and define next steps for continued growth
Key advantages of the Women as Leaders Certification
- ILM‑aligned, career‑ready content – Mapped to senior‑leader capabilities, with the option to embed the ILM Level 6 Award in Leadership & Management for formal credit and recognition
- Confidence and presence toolkit – Frameworks and practice to strengthen executive presence, influence and decision authority
- Practical knowledge – Actionable methods for managing performance, communicating with impact and executing strategy
- Visibility and sponsorship strategies – Targeted approaches for building profile, navigating organisational politics and attracting advocacy
- Peer and community – A supportive network of women leaders to share insight, challenge thinking and sustain momentum
- Flexible, expert‑led delivery – Live virtual cohorts with on‑demand resources (organisation cohorts also available), led by experienced facilitators
Maintaining Your Credentials
Your Certified Leadership status provides you with your licensed credentials and access to continual professional development through your Learning Portal in addition to:
Access to an annual CV or LinkedIn profile update provided by our specialist Writing Team:
A Certified Leadership CV is more than a list of your past roles, it’s a strategic document showcasing your ability to provide exceptional organisational guidance. Our specialist team will review, provide feedback and craft this invaluable asset demonstrating your readiness to drive organisational success.
Exclusive Events
Free entry to our best-in-class learning and networking events, providing unique opportunities for growth and development – including our exclusive Quarterly Update briefing.
20% Discount
Across our course catalogue and ancillary products.
Thriving Community
A diverse network of aspiring and experienced board leaders allowing you to forge connections and gain invaluable insights.
Women as Leaders Certification Programme
Register your interest below
Meet the Faculty
Linda Aiyer ICF MCC – UK, Africa & Americas
Area of expertise
Executive Coach and Facilitator
About Linda
Linda fosters a safe, supportive, and collaborative coaching environment that empowers clients to engage in focused thinking, reflective learning, and even unlearning to achieve their personal and professional goals.
She allows space for clients to introspect and deepen their self-understanding while providing valuable insights from a coach’s standpoint. Through these transformative sessions, clients gain fresh perspectives, master vital self-management skills, and build the confidence to take control of their development, unlocking their true potential.
Drawing from a comprehensive toolkit that includes Integral Theory, the Enneagram (Personality Profiling), Relationship and Systems Thinking, Mind-Body Connection, Leadership Maturity Stages, Dare to Lead™ principles and various Personal Mastery models, Linda facilitates profound shifts in client thinking, behaviour, and actions.
With over nine years of experience and more than 2,500 coaching hours, Linda is an international coach who has supported clients across the globe, from Africa and the Middle East to Europe, India, and the U.S. Her diverse clientele ranges from young adults and mid-level managers to senior executives and those transitioning into retirement.
Linda was truly exceptional. The time that I spent with her enabled me to successfully become a director of a brilliant organisation that has changed how I do business. Linda was able to assist me in addressing reality, shifting my mindset, and adapting to achieve my goals. Overall, the experience has already made a valuable difference.
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Bianca George
Area of expertise
Chief Operations Officer
About Bianca
Maria Banks ICF PCC – Europe
Area of expertise
Executive Coach, Mentor and Facilitator
About Maria
Nominated as the UK Business Hero 2020 by the British Chamber of Commerce and featured in The Sunday Telegraph and The Times, Maria is an innovative coach distinguished by her unwavering commitment to leadership development. She excels in aligning organisational values with brand identity and thrives in demanding environments. Her expertise manifests in her impactful work across the UK and Europe, advocating for women’s advancement in the workplace.
Recent highlights include:
- Designing and delivering a ‘Leadership Development’ workshop for the EFPIA’s (European Federation of Pharmaceuticals Industry Association) Director General and Senior Team in Brussels, representing the biopharmaceutical industry in Europe.
- Spearheading an online ‘Women Leadership Development’ program and Dialogue Workshops for GSK global pharmaceuticals.
- Facilitating a 2-day workshop for Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising in London.
With over a decade of experience in the corporate energy sector, Maria has implemented successful change and performance management strategies throughout Europe, enhancing operational efficiency and surmounting performance challenges. She excels in diverse settings, serving a broad international clientele. Her dynamic approach and rich expertise position her as a driving force in transformative leadership. Her reputation as a global thought leader underscores her client value.
Maria is open, kind and inquisitive... (she) listens and asks the right questions, getting you to think differently. Her style is open and kind, and she draws you in, facilitating openness, allowing the conversation to flow, and changing direction where needed.
From our news
Deirdre LaBassiere, LL.B (Hons) and FTLS
Area of expertise
Facilitator: Corporate Governance
About Deirdre
Deirdre brings exceptional depth of experience from the boardroom, with a track record of driving impact at both executive and non-executive levels across the housing, charity and social enterprise sectors. She is currently Director of Governance at Sustain UK Ltd, where she leads on corporate governance, regulatory assurance, board effectiveness and improvement planning. Deirdre also sits on the Board of Nehemiah Housing Association.
She is Chair of Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS) and Chair of the Legacy Centre of Excellence, supporting women’s empowerment, community wealth-building, enterprise and the arts through strong, values-led governance.
Deirdre is a senior governance, compliance, risk, assurance and data protection professional, and the Founder of the Governance with SOUL™ framework, which integrates technical excellence with stewardship, orientation, understanding and legacy. Alongside her executive and non-executive roles, she is Founder and Director of LaBassiere Consultants Ltd, specialising in interim governance leadership and advisory support within housing associations and complex not-for-profit organisations.
As facilitator for the Corporate Governance module with Actuate Global, Deirdre shares not only theory but also real-world insight on board effectiveness, fiduciary duties, stakeholder engagement and the lived reality of decision-making at the top table.
Zoe Webster
Area of expertise
Facilitator
About Zoe
Zoë Webster is a leading AI expert with over 20 years’ experience spanning research, innovation, and large-scale deployment. Most recently, she led BT’s AI Centre of Enablement, delivering data science and AI solutions as part of a major digital transformation. Prior to that, she drove cross-sector innovation at Innovate UK, shaping the UK’s AI and manufacturing strategies.
Zoë began her career developing advanced technologies at QinetiQ and SEA and holds both an MSc and PhD in AI. In 2023, she provided expert evidence to the House of Lords on Large Language Models, and in 2024 was named one of AI Magazine’s Top 10 AI Leaders in the UK and Europe.
As a seasoned practitioner and strategic leader, Zoë brings deep technical insight and real-world experience to the AI & Governance module she facilitates.
Take the next steps in your certification journey today!
