Accelerating action through coaching and mentoring: Advancing female leadership in healthcare

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

Building on the momentum from International Women’s Day and Acceleration action and to close the gender leadership gap, the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) is proud to launch its Women’s Network mentoring and coaching programme, a strategic initiative designed to empower women in healthcare to grow, lead and thrive.

This programme is a tangible step forward, offering structured mentoring, professional coaching and peer connection to help women build the skills and confidence needed to take the next step in their leadership journeys.

As Co-Chairs of the Women Leaders in Independent Healthcare Network, Claire Damen, Chief Executive of the Independent Health Group and Alex Ryan, Group Director of Service Development at Acacium Group, worked with the steering group to set up access to mentorship and coaching. Claire champions coaching as a key tool for leadership development, while Alex emphasises the power of mentoring to support and inspire the next generation of women leaders.

Why mentoring and coaching matter to accelerate action?

Mentoring and coaching each bring distinct value to professional development:

• Mentoring offers support and guidance from experienced professionals, fostering supportive relationships that build confidence, broaden perspective and aid career navigation.

From Alex Ryan, Group Director of Service Development at Acacium Group and Co-Chair, Women Leaders in Independent Healthcare Network)

• Coaching is a structured, goal-oriented process led by qualified coaches that helps individuals gain clarity, overcome challenges, and accelerate their leadership journey.

Together, these tools create a powerful support system, one that helps women develop critical skills, make confident career moves and break through leadership barriers.

Are you an IHPN member looking to grow in your role?

The IHPN Women’s Network mentoring and coaching programme is built around three core pillars:

1 to1 Mentoring support

Connect with experienced healthcare professionals for personalised development support tailored to your goals.

Curated coaching list

Explore a list of trusted, recommended coaches from our network members who bring proven expertise in helping women advance their careers in healthcare leadership.

Note: The list is based on peer feedback and publicly available information. IHPN does not endorse individual services and encourages members to conduct due diligence when selecting a coach.

Peer support and networking

Join a community of like-minded female leaders and allies who share experiences, celebrate achievements, offer mutual support through our networking events.

Who can participate?

While this initiative is designed to support women in advancing their careers, it is open to all IHPN members, women and men. We recognise that meaningful progress requires diverse perspectives and we encourage male members to get involved as mentors, coaches and allies to help build a more inclusive leadership culture within our sector.

Get involved

Whether you are seeking to grow into a leadership role or ready to share your knowledge and experience, there are multiple ways to engage:

•  For more information on the mentoring scheme and how to take part, please email megan.cleaver@ihpn.org.uk
•  If you are interested in being a mentee, please contact the mentors directly – here
•  Join IHPN Network – Connect with a dynamic community of healthcare leaders – here

We are proud to be a member and supporter of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network.