My name is Ruth Penfold-Brown. I have worked in leadership roles with Shazam (the famous music app), Onfido (a financial technology company), and bp Launchpad (a clean-energy investment subsidiary of bp; a Fortune 500 top 40 company).

But it wasn’t always that way.

I spent many years working under others, working hard and waiting to be given opportunities to grow. I sorely remember the days of doubting myself in meetings, not having the confidence to stand up for myself or address conflict with my peers and my bosses. I look back at the unnecessary pressure I put on myself - trying to people-please and be who I thought others wanted me to be instead of being my magnificent, authentic self.

In the end I realised that I needed to become the leader I was seeking in others and claim ownership of my life and career. I immersed myself in leadership development and gradually learned to love and respect who I was and step into my true self with confidence and conviction.

My journey has been one of self-discovery and empowerment. I learned the skills, tools, and mindset that got me to that elusive C-Suite, and now I want to share that knowledge with you.

If you are a woman and you’re ready to level-up and claim your seat at the table more fully, then I invite you to apply to Bloom.

You don’t have to be like everyone else, you just have to be you.

It’s your time to bloom.