The Glass Cliff: Why Leadership isn't always equal
Getting the leadership role is one thing. Being set up to succeed is another.
Ever stepped into a leadership role where the problems were already there, the expectations were high, but the power or support to fix things was missing?
The glass cliff describes a pattern where women and other underrepresented leaders can be more likely to be appointed to leadership roles during periods of crisis or uncertainty, when the risk of failure is already high.
It raises an uncomfortable question: who gets the opportunity to lead, who gets the support to succeed, and who takes the blame when things go wrong?
Being accountable for results is not the same as having the authority, resources or support to deliver them. Yet the conditions a leader inherits—and the way their performance is judged—can have a profound impact on their chances of success.
Join Female Product Lead for a candid, research-informed conversation exploring the glass cliff through the experiences of product and technology leaders. Together, we'll examine how power, bias and organisational culture shape leadership opportunities, how unequal conditions affect outcomes, and what leaders and organisations can do differently.
Expect honest reflections, practical insights and an opportunity to think differently about what fair leadership really requires.
Who this is for
Aspiring and experienced product and technology leaders, people managers, and anyone involved in hiring, promotion or organisational decision-making.
Whether you're navigating your own leadership journey or shaping opportunities for others, this conversation will help you recognise when responsibility outweighs authority or support—and what can be done about it.
What you'll learn
Recognise the glass cliff: Understand why some leaders are appointed when the conditions for success are already unusually difficult.
Look beyond the role: Explore how power, resources, bias and organisational culture shape a leader's ability to succeed.
Identify what needs to change: Consider practical ways to create fairer leadership appointments and better conditions for success.
What you'll walk away with
Practical questions to help you assess the conditions surrounding a leadership opportunity, recognise when accountability and authority are misaligned, and identify changes that can give more people a fair chance to succeed.
Getting more people into leadership matters. Making leadership fairer matters just as much.
At The Female Product Lead, we're here to clear the path to inclusive product leadership. That means challenging the barriers that hold people back and helping create the conditions for more people to have the opportunity, support and power to lead and succeed.