Women's Resource Centre is delighted to announce that we deliver a fully funded Feminist Leadership training programme 2025-2028. 

Applications for our two (2) Autumn 2026 cohorts will open in August/September 2026.

 

About the Feminist Leadership training programme

Who's it for?

Content of programme

Trainers

What will I take away?

Schedule and how to apply

Contact

 

About the Feminist Leadership training programme

The Feminist Leadership training programme will provide you with practical and analytical skills in leadership. Through theory, personal reflections and interactive exercises we will explore topics related to feminism, leadership and power that you will be able to apply in your organisation and community.

We will deliver the training to eight (8) groups in 2025-2026 and four (4) groups in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. 

The training consists of three full days of training or six half-days when delivered online. 

"I deeply enjoyed the Feminist Leadership Course. It provided me with an invaluable opportunity to pursue my professional and personal development. I can't explain how much I valued the space that was created in the workshops each week, and the learnings I gained from the other incredible women who were in my group. The content of the course was also well-structured, clear and highly useful for the future with loads of great resources shared that I'm sure I will return to in future"

 

Who's it for?

This is for women staff members or volunteers at women’s organisations in the UK. The programme welcomes all women to apply but will prioritise black and minoritised women and emerging rather than established leaders/those with little or no experience of leadership.

"It was wonderful. The most meaningful training I've ever been on. It's implications will be far-reaching, both in my personal and professional life. Thank you so, so much for being so incredibly inspiring, practical, motivating, genuine"

Content of programme

Session 1

Feminism, Intersectionality and Leadership

Introducing feminism and intersectionality through a combination of theory and exercises. We discuss leadership through various exercises and cover topics of what we associate with leaders, traditional assumptions of leadership and the relationship with feminism.

Emotional and Cultural Intelligence

Investigating the ‘four components’ of emotional intelligence through group work and self-reflection and analyse whether and how emotional intelligence is important to the feminist leader.

Session 2

Culture of Belonging

We explore what it means to belong and how to translate this into the organisational culture. Through theory and practical tools, we will explore how to overcome the biases and micro-aggressions that are allowing exclusion and discrimination. 

Burnout: Signs, Impact, Prevention

We investigate what burnout is, its symptoms and what causes burnout at the workplace. We will consider measures, policies and procedures that the work place could take to prevent burnout happening to their staff.

Session 3

Power

We explore the concept of power, including its meaning, where and how it’s manifested, personal relationships with power and its influence on leadership and the relationship between power and empowerment.

Project Management

Exploring areas and aspects of project management and provides the participant with various project management tools and techniques

Session 4

Presentation and Pitching

Investigating techniques and tips on presentation and pitching through theory and practical action learning elements.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation is part of our lives and we negotiate on a daily basis but when it comes to negotiating in our professional life, it can feel daunting. This session will explore negotiation skills and tools through self-reflection, group work and practical exercises. 

Session 5

Values and Organisational Culture

Explore how and whether values and principles of feminist leadership are reflected in organisational practices and its impact on organisational culture. 

Session 6

Applying your learning and reflections

The last session of the programme will be tailored by the women in the group, we have therefore not prescribed a theme or topic of the session. The session will be action learning-based and will focus on reflections and how the training will and can be applied in practice.

 

NB: the different topics/themes in the description above will be covered, however the trainers reserves the right to change the order in which each topic is covered.

 

"I thought the programme was fantastic, it's honestly amazing, one of the best programmes I have been part of. It taught me so much about Feminist Leadership. Connecting with and learning from women across the UK was amazing, and I really felt so safe and included to discuss and be open."

 

Trainers

The training is delivered by two of our Feminist Leadership Trainers:

Evelina Svensson is the Development Manager at Women’s Resource Centre. Evelina is the founder of the Feminist Leadership programme and together Evelina and Tebussum have designed the programme and delivered it to over 900 participants worldwide since its launch in 2018.

Tebussum Rashid is the Deputy CEO at Action for Race Equality. Tebussum designed the programme together with Evelina. Tebussum has over 30 years' experience of training for voluntary and community organisations on topics including but not limited to: unconscious bias, project management, strategy and fundraising.

Having two facilitators increases the quality of the programme, as they complement each other in their competencies and capabilities. Having two trainers with different experiences enables a less hierarchical and more collaborative setting with the participants. It also enables a safe, open and interactive atmosphere within the room. The trainers are personable and friendly yet structured and focused. 

“I enjoyed it and appreciated having space to think about the skills and values that a leader of social change requires. I really got a lot from both trainers, who were very generous in sharing their experiences”

What will I take away?

Overall Aims

• Strengthened ability to be a leader of social change and to foster and role model vaule-based leadership within and beyond the women's sector 
• Increased ability to succession plan within the women's sector; to ensure the expertise and knowledge is harnessed whilst planning for the future

Outcomes

By the end of the programme we anticipate for participants to:

• Strengthened ability to act strategically for progressive social change for women and girls
• Increased ability to lead with creativity, determination and strategy for a thriving and sustainable women's sector
• Increased ability to practice leadership for long-term positive impact, internally and externally
• Strengthened resilience and adaptability to navigate shifting social, political and financial realities 
• Increased ability to identify, access and mobilise resources and support networks 
• Enhanced problem-solving and decision-making skills 
• Increased understanding of and ability to practice feminist leadership principles in your work and community
• Strengthened leadership capacity to influence change both within your organisation and wider networks 
• Increased ability to build collaborative relationships that amplify women's voices and leadership 

"An inspiring and extremely informative course led by 2 amazing leaders, I feel privileged to have been part of this group of strong leaders and have learned so much. I will take my learning forward, apply it and learn more. Thank you very much."

 

Schedule and how to apply

Autumn/Winter | 2025 (4 groups, 40 places available)

Spring/Summer | 2026 (4 groups, 40 places available)

Autumn/Winter | 2026 (2 groups, 20 places available)

Spring/Summer | 2027 (2 groups, 20 places available)

Autumn/Winter | 2027 (2 groups, 20 places available)

Spring/Summer | 2028 (2 groups, 20 places available)

 

Applications for the Autumn 2026 will open in August/September 2026.

  

Contact

For more information about the programme, please contact Evelinaon [email protected] or call us on 0207 697 3450. 

"I absolutely loved it. I loved being in a group with women from across the UK all with different experiences and from different communities but coming together to share and support one another. I not only had the wonderful experience of this but learned so much about myself and practical skills to use in my work and personal life. The hosts were two of the best I've had ever had - they listened, shared and it felt like they were part of the group and not the people telling us what to do."