Sharon Peake
, Shape Talent
Women currently account for only 20.7% of executives and 7.9% of CEOs across the EU, with the pandemic having exacerbated the gender gap by 35 years. Tired of the painfully slow progress of gender equity, Sharon Peake established gender equity consultancy Shape Talent in 2019 with the purpose of accelerating gender equity in business and beyond.
Sharon has built a team comprising 32 experienced psychologists, EDI consultants, researchers, facilitators and coaches. Having delivered programmes across six continents and over 45 countries, Shape Talent is bringing gender equity transformation to some of the biggest companies across the globe. The company’s Breaking Barriers Women’s Development programmes are designed to increase representation of women at all levels of business and particularly at the top.
Sharon has developed a strong an evidence-base that informs the work of Shape Talent. Leading a 2022 study of 2,350 women in corporate UK to understand their barriers to career progression, Sharon and her team have built a proprietary Three Barriers model recognises the personal, societal and organisational barriers preventing women from career progression, and her research is often cited. This model is the foundation of Shape Talent’s Breaking Barriers women’s development programmes which are designed to help organisation to recognise and address the barriers to women’s development and provide a strong pipeline of women candidates for senior leadership.
Sharon’s influence extends far beyond the programmes she delivers. A sought-after keynote speaker and regular contributor to the commentary on gender equality across a range of media, Sharon has regular appearances in broadcast and print media including BBC, The Guardian, Forbes, Business Reporter, Psychologies Magazine, Business Leader and more. Sharon has authored several white papers, including The Three Barriers preventing women progressing in corporate UK today, The Three Barriers to Women’s progression and what organisations can do (including a 2023 LGBT+ edition), and The Power of Group Coaching for Women.
In 2022, Sharon was awarded LinkedIn Top Voice status, recognising her leadership and influence in her field, championing gender equality. Using her influence on the LinkedIn platform, Sharon facilitates important conversations with her 26,000+ followers, reaching hundreds of thousands more through their networks. Sharon advocates for women and draws attention to inequity when she sees it – building a strong platform that consistently brings gender inequity into the light.
The Breaking Barriers women’s development programmes have been delivered to over 800 women with the involvement of a further 1,500 individuals who have actively supported these women on their journey - either as sponsors/mentors, leaders or coaches. These groundbreaking programmes have demonstrated tangible outcomes. The programme's impact—71% promotion rate, 83% increase in leadership impact, and a 92% recommendation rate—underscores the effectiveness of their approach. The transformative experiences shared by participants emphasise the profound impact of Shape Talent, illustrating how Sharon's leadership has translated into tangible, life-changing results. These testimonials serve as a testament to Sharon's vision and the commitment of the Shape Talent team in driving meaningful change in the realm of gender equality and EDI – in business and beyond.