Leading with Courage and Compassion

Brigid's Dual Legacy

Brigid was so powerful a leader that both the Pagans and the Catholic Church have claimed her, and she, in her inclusivity, wore both cloaks at once. This nuanced straddling of opposing credos is what we need now more than ever. Nothing is black and white any more, and that which is, is broken. 

Brigid founded the first ever gender equal monastery, a testament to her tenderness. She fearlessly faced down those who stood in her way, belittling the cruel with miracles and magic, a mark of her ferocity and courage. We need to make space for a complementarity of character, a rich and diverse approach to leadership that begins with how we lead ourselves.

Navigating Challenge in Turbulent Times

I recently asked a room of 350 people to raise their hands if 2025 had been a challenging year for them. All but five people raised their hands. When I politely asked if it was possible that they were falling victim to the scourge of the press release over reality, they also raised their hands. 

We are living in extraordinary times, like geese being force-fed a diet of horror, violence, greed and impunity. It would be easy to choose to ignore it or lose hope completely and give up. But we are stronger, smarter and too influential to make those choices. 

Leadership is an Inside Job

We are all leaders, we lead our organisations, our teams, our families and our communities. But primarily, we lead ourselves. Every word, action and behaviour tells the story of what and who is important to us, what we will accept and what we won’t. Leadership is an inside job and who we really are is utterly defined by how we respond in times of crisis. 

I recently asked Jo Fairley, founder of Green & Blacks Chocolate how she copes with the wave of global chaos. She told me that all we can do is use the resources that we have to do the best we can for as many people as possible.

The best we can - with what we have - for as many as we can.

Her words floored me. The simplicity and the richness of them have stayed with me. We have more control than we realise. Together we have collective power to stand and speak for what is right. We have power, influence, intelligence and compassion. Now what are we going to do with it? 

Purpose, Privilege and Responsibility

I have always been mission-driven. I was born into the double privilege of a family with financial security and love. I’m about to launch my fifth business. It feels more right than anything I have done to this point because I can see the vision of its impact as clearly as a movie. 

I have spent periods of my life and my career sleepwalking. Now, and until I fall over, I know I need to be intentional about my choices, my energy, the company I keep and how I use the many gifts that I’ve been given. 

The responsibility that we have for people and the planet has never been clearer, and while we can’t boil the ocean - ok, unfortunate metaphor - we can all do small things, listen, be kind, be respectful, don’t take the bait of constant carnage. 

Creating impact Through Service

I founded WorkEqual in 2011 to create pathways for marginalised groups to access sustainable employment. The more we grow, the more the need comes to meet us, and every year our client numbers grow. I co-founded LIFT with Joanne and David Hession in 2018 to help people to lead themselves better through a deeper understanding of values-based leadership. 180,000 have been through our roundtable process. 

Although there is no direct financial benefit to me from either of these endeavours, I can’t count  the riches. Actual real live people have been positively impacted by these organisations, families behave differently, organisations communicate differently, communities have different hopes and dreams. 

What Will We Do with Our Service?

In this frightening world, we are leaders. What can we do to exercise our influence and power for the greatest and most positive impact? Can we do the right thing within the halls of our organisations? Maybe not. Are we okay with that? Can we find other ways to lean into courage? People are angry and frightened and as leaders we must expand and join the ripples of connection, trust, respect, compassion. Ask yourself, what would I do if I wasn’t afraid. A unified population is much harder to destabilise than a fractured one. We all play a role in that. 

This article is the view of the author(s) and does not necessarily reflect IoD Ireland’s policy or position.

About the Author

Sonya is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and social entrepreneur who founded Work Equal and LIFT Ireland. Her lifestyle brand, Lennon Courtney, is in a retail partnership with Kilkenny Design. Sonya is also a high-profile advocate for equitable workplaces and women’s empowerment. Sonya is currently engaged as a Second Life mentor with Standard Life, to reframe social attitudes to retirement and ageing from an economic burden to a societal opportunity. She lobbies at the European level for policy change and was recently called on as an expert witness to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on gender equity. Sonya recently completed a Master's in Business Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at IADT and has just received first-class honours in a PgD in non-executive directorship with The Financial Times in London. Sonya is a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce board and chairs the Labour Taskforce.