SWINDON-BASED business consultant and author Sadie Sharp is working with 100 scientists to help them build their confidence in a male-dominated sector.

Exeter University staff asked Sadie to create a virtual course as part of an ongoing initiative to upskill more women in science sectors with skills around their behaviour and mindset.

She said: “I’m humbled to be asked to write the Confidence Incarnate course to support women in this way. There are several sectors across our society where women are under-represented and also where it can be difficult to retain them.

"It’s well known that sectors including science, construction, engineering and technology all have challenges in this area.

“I hope my course will give these women some practical tools that help them deal with their inner critics and imposter syndrome and feel more confident and assertive in the way they can achieve what they want at work.

“Women can function at a high level in any sector but many, for a variety of reasons, are still held back from feeling able to really throw their hat in the ring at an equal level to those around them, often feeling under confident or outspoken by others.

"Knowing what you can do to change that and feeling confident enough to actually do it in reality often takes a significant shift in mindset, which is what I love helping people achieve.”

Dr Penelope Maher, a research fellow in the mathematics department, and Anna Laws, a PhD student in the physics and astronomy department, asked Sadie to make the workshop which was funded by the University of Exeter Researcher Development and Research Culture team.

Dr Maher leads the Women In Climate network which is a joint University of Exeter and Met Office initiative to support the retention of women in climate science and to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Dr Maher said: "As women in STEM we are told to take up space, to speak with authority and to ignore the internal monologue within our heads telling us we are not good enough. But how do we do any of this?

"We don't wake up one day and think: I am brilliant and I belong. For many of us, we need to be directed by trainers who understand how to do this. This is where Sadie comes in.”

This is not the first time that Sadie has worked with the university. For several years, she has trained hundreds of staff in management and personal effectiveness skills which all aim to help managers and staff improve their day-to-day roles.

Her new course covered having difficult conversations, being heard in meetings, demonstrating professional value and capability without bragging, and being assertive, managing expectations and dealing with imposter syndrome.