Today marks the start of SSOW 2026, and the conference continues to act as a meeting point for leaders shaping the future. This year’s SSOWomen’s Day was no exception. The program highlighted that the industry’s rapid transformation depends not only on new technologies and value models, but on new perspectives in leadership.
Chairwomen Deborah Kops and Liz Evans set the tone, highlighting how today’s organizations require resilience and fresh ways of thinking, yet the momentum for female leadership remains uneven.
“The issue is not capability or talent- it’s trajectory.”
This reality makes community more important than ever, as progress comes from women supporting one another, actively shaping the future of GBS. Throughout the day, leaders came together for candid conversations about career pathways, shared challenges, and key skills for modern GBS leaders.
For those unable to attend, here are five key themes from SSOWomen’s Day 2026:
1. The Power of Community
Many speakers reflected on the individuals who opened doors for them at defining moments in their careers, whether by supporting them through difficult times or encouraging them to take an opportunity.
“It all started from one person believing I could do it […] One person, one moment, one sentence changed my life.”
Leadership was framed as something built through mutual support, as it is equally important to create opportunities for others once in a position of influence.
“If you can help someone else out, always do it.”
“Enabling others is a superpower we all have.”
2. Defining Your Own Path
When working against conflicting professional and personal priorities, setting clear boundaries is crucial for women in leadership. Many speakers discussed the reality that senior leadership roles are demanding and can be difficult to navigate sustainably.
Women spoke about defining what matters most to them and protecting those priorities. However, it isn’t one-size-fits-all, and figuring out what works for you is essential to sustaining leadership impact and personal well-being.
“It’s about figuring out what makes sense to you- what makes you tick.”
3. Challenging Mindset Limitations
Mindset can become one of the greatest barriers to leadership progression. Rather than waiting for perfection, the advice was to grasp opportunities, contribute perspectives, and shape the environment from within.
“It’s the resilience to stay in rooms that were not made with us in mind and change it from within.”
Confidence, self-advocacy, and the willingness to challenge internal doubts are critical skills for women leaders.
“Understand it’s a journey, not perfection. Take the risk in order to take the opportunity.”
“Coach yourself to take that leap sooner, a mentor once told me Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”
4. Be Bold in a Time of Transformation
Leaders need to move beyond caution and reliability, and instead take calculated risks, experiment with new ideas, and step into larger strategic roles.
“Be intentional, everything positive that you throw out there will come back.”
“Raise your hand when no one else wants to do it- take risks.”
Sessions highlighted that moments of disruption create the greatest opportunities for those willing to think differently.
“Being reliable is not a path to glory.”
“Magic happens being out of your comfort zone; this is when growth happens.”
5. Adaptive leadership is Key During Change
With acquisitions, instability, and digital transformation converging, leaders must guide teams through uncertainty rather than promise stability.
“Stability doesn’t exist anymore […] leadership is about mobilizing people to thrive.”
Adaptive leadership prioritizes collective resilience over hero leadership and treats failure as learning, not a judgment on people.
“You are going to have failures […] make sure your team is prepared for that."
This year’s SSOWomen’s Day explored how taking risks, uplifting one another, and setting clear boundaries are shaping the next generation of women in leadership.
Continue your GBS journey...
The best breakthroughs happen in real conversations, not slide decks. The Future of Business Services Program at the 30th Annual Shared Services & Outsourcing Week conference (March 16–19, 2026, Orlando, FL) brings together experienced GBS leaders for an open exchange of wins, challenges, and hard-won lessons - designed to help you recharge, refocus, and reimagine what’s next.
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