One of my long-time coaching clients is the leader of a boutique fund manager who recognised his all-male investment team was stuck in a cycle of homogenous thinking and a hyper-competitive culture. Ideas were batted across the room like ping pong balls, without exploration or the true contest of ideas so crucial to effective decision-making. He knew it was time to intentionally disrupt the status quo and bring in a senior female investor. Resistance was high, and the thought of change also challenged his own unconscious biases, but he forged ahead and the impact was profound.  

Adding a female peer didn’t just introduce a new perspective - it fundamentally transformed how the team operated. Research shows women offer different viewpoints and are natural collaborators, helping create more open, high-trust environments. Despite initial reservations, the men embraced the change, appreciating the distinct strengths of their female colleague, and opening doors for more amazing women to join the firm. 

Three years later, this fund manager is one of the standout success stories from our report. Female representation at the firm has increased by 30%, and performance has never been better.  

As great as this story is for gender diversity, it really isn’t just about hiring a woman – it's about the power of intentional action. 

The transformative impact of intention and attention 

The concept of intention and attention sounds simple but is the driving force behind change. Intention sets the direction and attention shapes our behaviour through raised awareness. It's akin to deciding to buy a red car and suddenly seeing red cars everywhere - focused intention brings opportunities into our consciousness, and with clarity comes the ability to enact meaningful change. 

This isn’t just theoretical (or heaven forbid, spiritual!) - it’s practical, actionable, and it works, as demonstrated by my client’s story above. 

So, if intentional change is so powerful, why do we resist it? 

The truth is, change is uncomfortable, and we're wired to resist discomfort. Buried beneath this discomfort is a concept known as Immunity to Change. Coined by Harvard professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey, this concept helps us understand our blind spots and competing commitments, revealing the hidden assumptions that hold us back. Often, we resist change because it challenges our comfort zone or threatens our ego and self-image. 

However, the flip side of embracing change is so powerful. By confronting our limiting assumptions through deliberate and intentional self-inquiry, we unveil insights into our behaviours and self-protective mechanisms, allowing us to become more intentional and embrace the good that comes from that! 

Connecting intention to reality 

Intention and attention are more than abstract concepts—they are catalysts for tangible change. When we’re intentional, we empower ourselves to overcome resistance and ego threats, becoming more genuinely supportive of high trust environments that benefit everyone.  

This is how we transform gender diversity from an objective into a lived reality. 

Our Path to parity report shows how focused industry efforts over the past few years have paid off, with women now being hired, promoted, and retained at proportionally higher rates than men at most levels. While challenges remain, if we keep this momentum up, overall gender parity is within our grasp by 2030 – a thrilling prospect for anyone invested in creating a more diverse and human-centred industry. 

You can read more about the key findings and recommendations in our Path to parity report here. 

If you’re ready to harness the power of intention and attention for positive change in your team and life, reach out for a chat about how I can support you.