Women in Tech: Phoebe Waters on Breaking the System

Breaking the System: Leadership, Inequality and Building Change from the Inside OutIn this episode of She Who Leads, Terri Lecheva is joined by Phoebe Waters (also known as Pete) for a candid conversation about breaking systems from the inside out and redefining what leadership looks like for women today. Phoebe shares her journey from corporate investigator to co-founder of Optimising Potential, her work as a part-time academic, and her recent appointment as the sole leadership consultant for UN Women UK. Together, they explore the realities of systemic inequality, the impact of being underestimated, and why confidence alone is not the answer without structural change. The conversation blends personal insight with practical action, highlighting the power of women supporting women, the business case for gender equality, and the small, strategic moves that can create lasting change — for individuals, organisations, and the next generation of leaders.