Laura Lesueur: “You shouldn’t wait until you feel legitimate to dare , you have to dare in order to become legitimate.”

On the occasion of March 8th, International Women's Rights Day, EDHEC Alumni gives the floor to Laura Lesueur (EDHEC Master 2013). A passionate advocate for female leadership, she encourages every woman to dare and unlock her potential, urging them to move from intention to action.

Founder of the podcast Legend Ladies and the network The Circle, Laura is also a speaker and event organiser. Recognised for her impact, she was named among the “Forbes 40 Women” in 2022 and awarded Top Voices 2022 by LinkedIn. Today, she shares her beliefs and advice with the entire EDHEC community.

You’ve interviewed many inspiring women through your podcast Legend Ladies. What do they all have in common?

I’ve recorded 245 episodes and spoken to women with very diverse backgrounds. What stands out is that there isn’t just one model of success. Each of them has followed her own path, with her own ambitions and unique qualities. That’s a crucial message to share: every woman can carve out her own path without having to conform to a predefined model.

However, there is one common thread that always emerges: no success story is without its obstacles. Every woman I’ve interviewed has faced challenges – whether it was failing an exam, launching a business that didn’t take off, being made redundant, or going through a deep moment of doubt. But with hindsight, those difficulties often turn out to be essential steps in their journey. Confronting failure is also a sign that you’re taking risks – and that’s how we grow.

What do you think is the greatest strength of female leadership?

I believe women’s leadership is more multifaceted and ultimately more powerful, because it’s often driven by a desire to make an impact rather than to achieve a status. That’s something Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange, recently shared with me: “When women talk about ambition, they tend to talk about impact. They’re not just trying to climb the ladder; they want to shake things up and drive real change.”

This doesn’t mean one model is better than the other, but rather that we need more diversity in how we portray leadership. For female leadership to truly flourish, we need to broaden the scope and offer a variety of role models with whom each woman can identify.

In your view, what unconscious biases are holding women back in business or entrepreneurship?

Unfortunately, there’s still a presumption of incompetence that leads people to systematically question the legitimacy of a woman in a leadership role. We still too often associate leadership with traits seen as masculine, when in fact there are countless ways to be a good leader. Instead of judging based on stereotypes, we need to look at the facts: has she managed a team before? Reached her goals? Mastered her field? If the answer is yes, then there should be no further debate.

In entrepreneurship, the lack of female role models fuels impostor syndrome. If a woman doesn’t see anyone like her in a certain space, it’s harder for her to imagine herself there.

And then there’s motherhood, which remains a major barrier. Too often, companies assume a mother is less committed, whereas parenthood should be a shared responsibility. At the same time, many women feel guilty juggling their careers and family life, while men don’t tend to face that same pressure. Changing this mindset is vital if we want to achieve lasting progress.

What can women do to overcome these barriers?

From a very young age, we’re taught to please, to put others first. That’s one reason why women are overrepresented in care work, teaching, and similar fields. To free ourselves from this conditioning, I see two key steps:

First, accept the idea that not everyone will like you. It might sound simple, but it’s real work. If you can become comfortable with the fact that people won’t always approve of your choices, you’ll find it easier to say no, to set boundaries, and to make decisions that are right for you without feeling guilty. If someone sees you as “selfish”, so be it. What matters is that you feel aligned with your choices.

Second, let go of perfection. You have to accept that you’ll never be perfect – and that’s fine. Progress is more important than perfection. If you wait until you’re perfect before daring to try something, you’ll never do anything. So go for it, test things out, and learn as you go. Whether it’s your career, personal life or future motherhood, you’ll make mistakes – but that’s how you grow. This mindset shift is incredibly liberating!

How can we encourage women to assert and embrace their leadership?

There are two essential aspects. First: surround yourself well. If you don’t see other women around you stepping up and asserting themselves, it’s hard to do it yourself. We learn by imitation. Being in a network where other women take initiative, speak out and own their ambitions makes a huge difference. It gives you momentum, it’s motivating, and it pushes you outside your comfort zone. And when I say “surround yourself well”, I don’t necessarily mean family – I’m talking about a professional network where you can connect, learn and draw inspiration.

The second point is being mindful of your language. I’m always surprised at how often women say things like “I’m launching a little project”, “I’ve just got a quick question”, or “I was lucky enough to…” These aren’t small things, and it’s not luck – it’s hard work, effort, and risk-taking. By downplaying our achievements, we feed our own impostor syndrome. We need to assert ourselves, choose our words deliberately, and own our accomplishments – give them the recognition they deserve!

What’s your view on March 8th, and how could it have a more meaningful impact?

It’s like quotas – we’d love to be able to do without them. Real progress will come when there’s no longer a need for March 8th, just as there’s no International Men’s Day. But in the meantime, it remains an important opportunity to raise awareness. Today, it’s no longer just a single day – it’s a whole month of initiatives encouraging reflection and action. Now, we need those efforts to last all year long!

If I could turn March 8th into something truly powerful, it wouldn’t be a one-off talk or event – it would be about access to a network. Giving women the opportunity to connect, build synergies, take a step back from their day-to-day and draw inspiration from others – that’s where real impact lies. Nothing beats the power of real-life connections.

Is there a quote or thought you’d like to share with EDHEC’s alumnae and students?

One of my favourite quotes comes to mind: “You shouldn’t wait until you feel legitimate to dare – you have to dare in order to become legitimate.”

Legitimacy is a mix of knowledge, but mostly experience. And how can you gain experience if you never dare to try? It’s a vicious circle: if you wait to feel totally legitimate before you take the leap, you might never make a move. But if you dare, if you give it a go, little by little, that legitimacy will come.

That’s really the message I want to share: dare, claim your space, move forward. Legitimacy will follow action.