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Episode 45 - Vessela Krissel, Founder of Tomorrow Belongs to Her
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In this episode, Sade sits down with Vessela Krissel, the Founder of Tomorrow Belongs to Her. Together, they explore the inspiration behind the initiative, the critical gaps it aims to fill, and why gatherings like these are essential for advancing women in leadership. Vessela shares what truly lifting each other up looks like in real workplaces and what companies can do to better support women at every level. Plus, she offers a glimpse into the exciting, invite-only event we are partnering on, and shares her heartfelt advice for young women just starting their leadership journeys.
If you're passionate about women's empowerment and leadership, this conversation is one you won't want to miss!
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:13
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of Women Taught Tech. In today's episode, I'm joined by the founder of Tomorrow Belongs to Her, a network designed to empower women to lead with confidence, clarity and a strong sense of community.
The Importance of Women in Leadership
00:00:28
Speaker
We chatted about the upcoming event we're partnering on and dived deep into the bigger vision behind it. And of course, why spaces like this are so essential for women stepping into leadership, especially in industries that are playing catcher.
00:00:40
Speaker
We also explore what lifting each other up really looks like in the day-to-day modern workplace and what companies can do to actually support women and their teams. Plus, of course, you'll get a sneak peek into what to expect from this invite-only gathering.
Vesela's Background and Vision
00:00:52
Speaker
Let's get into it. Really excited to have you. Thank you so much for joining me, Vesela. Typical starting question, I know. So tell everyone a little bit more about yourself.
00:01:04
Speaker
Hi, Shadu. First of all, thank you very much for having me. Hi, everyone. I'm Vesela. And so how to start? It's a lot to say about myself, but I'll try to keep it short.
00:01:17
Speaker
I'm Vesela with so um about 20 years of experience in the HR field. And I've recently stepped into a very new chapter in my life. This is the solopreneurship, but with the flavor of feminism.
00:01:33
Speaker
Yeah, many people ask me, why feminism? And so um I like to talk about that. So that's why I'll pull this into my introduction as well.
Challenges and Changes in Female Leadership
00:01:42
Speaker
After spending many years as the only female executive and usually being the only one sitting on the table, being very comfortable, very used to being the only one, this kind of become part of myself and part of who I am.
00:01:58
Speaker
um So I started feeling it is something that so needs to be done also for the others to to not be like ah like an exception, but like rather as a norm.
00:02:09
Speaker
There is a big gap um in in leadership and I think being a bit of a feminism helps a lot. And it's not about labeling it. I don't like to label myself about that.
00:02:21
Speaker
But I want to show support and I also want to make it more visible. And by that, hopefully to encourage change, that having the feminism flavor is not a bad thing.
00:02:33
Speaker
I'm also a proud mother, and I never shy away for mentioning this, whether it is on a job interview or sometimes being on a stage or giving presentations. Because actually, I feel this is one of the most ah rewarding roles I've ever had.
00:02:47
Speaker
And so it defines pretty well who I am and how do I lead. And I always ask myself when I do something, is this bringing enough impact?
00:02:58
Speaker
And this something that one day would help the next generation of female? So when I say flavor of feminism, it is because despite all the progress um that we recognize and all the forbidden questions in conversations or embarrassing questions, I can say that sometimes I'm facing questions and judgments that I faced 18, 20 years ago.
00:03:20
Speaker
twenty years ago I'm still hopeful. I feel there way more female that openly talk
Creating Networks and Female Solidarity
00:03:28
Speaker
about that. But I'm hoping that for my daughter and for the ladies coming um after us, there will be less of those questions and there will be more space to to show who they are and to shine.
00:03:43
Speaker
Yeah. And I think just you know being able to be organically yourself is what's needed. Right. I think that's the key. Like you said, being able to let other women shine is is what's important. You know, we can shine. But I think it's it's being able to to shine on on also on other women as well.
00:03:58
Speaker
this way we shine brighter. Yeah, totally. And let's dive into what it is you're doing because, yeah, really excited to be partying with you and and and everything else. But, yeah, i mean, in terms of, like, Tomorrow Belongs to Her, I know that you've recently embarked on this journey as well. um So what was the spark behind the creation of Tomorrow Belongs to Her? And maybe, of course, tell us a bit more about it. That's, of course, a good place start.
00:04:20
Speaker
Oh, yes, yes. Thank you for this for this question. I love talking about Tomorrow Belongs to Her. um So as I said, I'm starting this solopreneur journey. and I for first time feel this freedom of really focusing on what brings me joy and what really matters for me.
00:04:36
Speaker
And don't get me wrong, I stayed 20 years in HR because I love it. I still love it. um I love to to help organizations grow. I love to help on ah teams grow, building teams, building strategies, ah reorganizing, making sure that organizations are really set in the right way.
00:04:55
Speaker
um But... What I really feel i need to focus on and um what I can say is my passion, this is tomorrow belongs to her.
00:05:06
Speaker
um It's something created to kind of give back, to to grow, to nurture. It's not just for me, but also for the others. Often when when I'm speaking with other other female, we sometimes laughingly are talking about the male solidarity and that female solidarity is not always there.
00:05:26
Speaker
um But interestingly, when I speak and on a professional level, when I speak with female leaders, with some of my clients, with coaches, I hear a different story, but all of them feel very strange because they say, i feel stronger and I feel hurt when there is another female in in the room, when I'm surrounded by women.
00:05:50
Speaker
um I'm wondering why then this female solidarity is not there. Is it a myth or is it still something that's that is non-existent? um Unfortunately, i got I get confirmations that it's rather non-existent. And I think this contradiction is something we need to we need to focus on. So this is exactly what I want to explore with Tomorrow Belongs to Her.
00:06:10
Speaker
um In every event, in every session, we're going to work together closely to to bridge this gap, to to try to change this perception and to to make it the new reality, to to make it a norm and not an exception that women can lift other women, women can shine through other women.
00:06:29
Speaker
And I'm hoping that this network, ah Tomorrow Belongs to Her, is going to help us better.
Event Design and Experience
00:06:36
Speaker
yeah no i honestly super excited i mean when we first connected i think it's so important to have spaces like this um just to be able to i guess create a safe space for women to speak about topics and and to have that support because i think like you said when when women come together it kind of it's a force to be reckoned with for sure so that's i think why we need a bit more of those spaces where we can come together yes yeah and um
00:07:01
Speaker
being surrounded with like-minded people, just this is when the the real magic happens. That people feel this is this is um something real. the the The change is happening.
00:07:15
Speaker
It's not about connecting, but it's about impact. And we can... make a change, we can make this this impact. And so bringing together strong female decision makers, leaders, women that can go back to their workplace and make a difference, influence others, um bring other ideas, perspective, feel kind of...
00:07:41
Speaker
um kind of contagious, this event, to to say, yes, i can I can make this also forward. Even even this this feeling of um we we can make this a reality.
00:07:58
Speaker
it doesn't need to be It doesn't need to be something special, but we can we can bring this women helping other women to to be the to be the reality, to be the norm, to be something that is lift and not and not so just a single example.
00:08:14
Speaker
Yeah, totally. And of course, I know that the the kind of theme for the event is is empowering women to lead. And I think it ah speaks so so much volumes. But I guess in relation to kind of advancing women in leadership, why do you feel like events and networks like Tomorrow Belongs to Her are so eventual essential sorry for but women in leadership and even for for maybe women looking to get into into leadership?
00:08:40
Speaker
Well, why in leadership? I think such kind of of gatherings should be for for everyone. But this event is intentionally intimate, um intentionally also invite only to make sure that because it is one of...
00:08:58
Speaker
one of a kind or one of a few. um And therefore it is targeting 50 to 60 high level female leaders, decision makers that could sit together. We could make it personal enough, deep enough, um but they are the ones that are having the power to cascade what they have experienced.
00:09:20
Speaker
If we make it for a larger group group of people, it might be also difficult to to have this intimate moment of opening up and sharing honestly stories, um taking part in conversations without filters, without without feeling judged.
00:09:39
Speaker
It's just nicer to have a compact a group of people. And I think it is a special energy in a room when people from the same the same experiences sit together, talk about strategies,
00:09:56
Speaker
talk about experiences where everyone would not when another is sharing experience. So therefore, female in leadership, independent from the background they have, independent from the roles they have in in the organization, but they for sure have went through so similar challenges, through similar barriers breaking in order to be where they are.
00:10:25
Speaker
and so making this space safe for every everyone um and bring these honest experiences and advices and even the the feeling of you're not alone.
00:10:40
Speaker
I've been there and this worked for me. The exchange happens easier when when people have have had similar paths. So I don't want to spoil the the details, but I think it's going to be rich. It's going to be real.
00:10:59
Speaker
It's going to be deep and empowering. Wow. Wow. I love the aspect of it being in bar only. I love the aspect of it being quite intimate setting because I think One of the things which I know that I struggle with is is being able to speak freely without feeling like you're being judged. I feel like it happens so much and and even in aspects of like everyday life where you go to say something but you kind of hold back so much because you're worried about how it's going to be received or worried about even saying in the right way so that it's not kind of taken out of context. and
00:11:34
Speaker
And I think that's why I'm so excited for this event because it's going to offer such a safe space and a judgment-free zone where women can share their experiences that are probably similar to so many other women without feeling like they're being judged for maybe what they personally felt or experienced in that moment.
00:11:50
Speaker
Yes, there would not be anything like too girly, too female, too emotional, too I don't know, but there would be real us. Yeah. We could be all of this and it's not too much of something.
00:12:05
Speaker
It is just us and who we are. Yeah, wow. And of course, the event is centered around kind of women lifting each other up. I'm keen to see like what you think about that when it comes to everyday life and everyday work life, because it it sounds so simple, right? But I'm like, how does that even I mean, I know how I'd like to see it happen. But what's your take on on kind of day to day?
00:12:27
Speaker
You know, how can we lift each other up in terms of that work?
Equality, Bias, and Visibility in the Workplace
00:12:30
Speaker
and And what could we be doing more of? This is such a great question. Thank you very much for this. i I'm hoping, maybe not after the first event, but after a few of those and a few of those conversations, that that we could also have a better picture of how the day-to-day life but at the workplace is going to be influenced.
00:12:49
Speaker
by by such kind of events and such kind of conversations. the The other week I was speaking with a leader of an organization, a male one, who was saying that he treats everyone equally.
00:13:02
Speaker
All the promotions, evaluations, everything is is equal and it is based on pure performance and that's the most that that matters. about the organization. And I've heard such kind of comments many times, especially from male leaders that are surrounded by other male colleagues.
00:13:18
Speaker
And I think it would be very nice to be really like that, that that there is equality in the in the treatment. That sounds wonderful, mainly on paper.
00:13:29
Speaker
yeah the reality is that the the topic of equality way more complex then than that because many times treating people equally doesn't mean that they're treated fairly there are still um real needs on acknowledging and addressing unconscious bias in in organizations we know that there are a lot of studies that are that are proving this women often need to work harder to be recognized they need to provide flawless presentations, perfect pitches, ideas, always be perfect, and they're never enough.
00:14:05
Speaker
And in fact, women are often judged, sometimes harsher than the counterparts, males in the organization, which is not really equality. It's rather it's rather a barrier, and such kind of barriers I want that we i want that we discuss. I think i would like lifting women to be really something.
00:14:28
Speaker
ah Because I believe that with us, it starts a change in the organization. And the awareness in the organization, the education, embedding trainings on on bias in the DNA of the organization is the first step.
00:14:41
Speaker
But it goes, of course, further. It means making sure women are in the room where decisions are made. Therefore, I want those decision-making women, few decision-making women of organizations to be together at belong ah to tomorrow belongs to her.
00:14:55
Speaker
Because it's about visibility, it's about sponsorship. Actively creating environment where women um are seeing belonging into into the leadership room and leadership is possible for them. And it's worth it.
00:15:09
Speaker
Because I spoke with female leaders that at a certain point said, I need to decide for myself. Either I take the solopreneur or creating something with somebody like ah like a business, or I just don't want to be part of a senior executive team because the fight doesn't worth it.
00:15:27
Speaker
And the bias that I'm i'm seeing there, it doesn't worth it. And I'll be honest, honest I haven't been always a fan of the gender quarters, but I stepped into an organization where it was forced, the gender quarter.
00:15:43
Speaker
And from my perspective, it was um offensive. But so I went into one of the um interviews for a senior leadership role where I was asked to to support and provide my my feedback.
00:15:59
Speaker
And it was a very long discussion for hiring a female on a managerial role because the manager of this business unit was forced to hire a female. Oh, wow. Yes.
00:16:10
Speaker
It was a very interesting experience for me. um This person was heavily pushing for hiring a male candidate. Both were quite good. I need to be honest, the the female one was exceeding in terms of empathy, people leadership, um and so on as an experience, but also...
00:16:28
Speaker
on on the and on on the questions that we said during the interview process. um Anyway, we hired that female. um She started working there. A week after after she started, I spoke with this business unit manager and his reaction was, whoa, she's really good.
00:16:47
Speaker
I'm glad we hired her That was the moment when I felt it's a win because that person is going to be the advocate for the gender quarters.
00:16:57
Speaker
He's going to speak with other male colleagues on the same level and he is going to help us spread this word because he already experienced it and he is actually going to be a better advocate in those rooms of those discussions than myself or even or even that female.
00:17:17
Speaker
But he was impressed and he was happy and I'm sure this, i'm um I was there as a consultant so I'm not part of this organization although we are in touch but I'm sure after this hiring this win was for the entire organization.
Practical Support and Future Pathways
00:17:33
Speaker
because the gender quarters were accepted in a different way. not to make it too long, um in order companies to truly leave the start the standard of lifting women and supporting women, it should be beyond policies. It's not a paper.
00:17:49
Speaker
It's not a poster on the wall. But it's a about creating real pathways, about celebrating women's voices, backing them up also with actions, and being consistent, not just an 8th of March video or announcement,
00:18:05
Speaker
yeah something that really happens in the organization because that's what sticks with the people. Yeah. And I love that example, right? Because i've I've heard so many examples very similar to that.
00:18:18
Speaker
And we always say, right, you don't know until you know. And that example, right, shows that he maybe doubted hiring a woman in a leadership role until he did and and kind of saw the benefit of doing it. And like you said, he will now be a massive advocate for other women in the in the in the space, and in that company, and also will be, ah guess, somewhat...
00:18:39
Speaker
highlighting why it is so important because it has worked for him. I would have been interested to see if it it hadn't worked and what he would have said after that. But nonetheless, it's a positive and I love examples like that where men can then now you know, paved the way for other women. And it doesn't need to be her now, you know, showing how she can do it. It's other men now also doing that for her as well.
00:19:00
Speaker
Yes, but she but but she was the one that made this change. Exactly. She joined this organization. She did a great job. Even for one week, she could show, I deserve being here.
00:19:11
Speaker
And i I was the better choice. Yeah. Amazing. So, so powerful. And of course, without spoiling too much, what can attendees to the event expect?
00:19:23
Speaker
um And yeah, what what are you what's on the agenda? What's on the agenda? Okay. Well, um you know, they say that women and data don't go hand in hand. I completely disagree with this.
00:19:35
Speaker
um What we're going to do is ah during the invitation round that we are doing, because it's an invite-only event, during the invitation round, um there is also a little survey.
00:19:48
Speaker
about so female behavior in organizations and breaking the glass ceiling. We are going to look into that data, look into the insights and reflect on um on the on the numbers. We will be discussing those numbers. Also, there will be a panel discussion where we would discuss personal experience ah relating also to the numbers that we see.
00:20:12
Speaker
um There would be a lot of tips and ideas of what worked for someone or what didn't. That's that's also very very good advice. And so um um as I mentioned previously, it would be honest conversations ah that we would have, ah hoping we can get closer and beyond the event of Tomorrow Belongs to Her, um create connections and between female leaders that are able also to to reach out to each other um even beyond that that evening and be able to to share advices.
00:20:49
Speaker
um Actually, Tomorrow belongs to her yeah um plans to have multiple events, so not not just this one, but we want to build on it um a continuum of female-centered topics.
00:21:04
Speaker
Wow, honestly, it sounds so, so exciting. Of course, it is invite only, so I'm cautious that there may be some people that can't attend. um I guess, you know, just to kind of still be able to have an impact and still able to kind of share some advice for those.
Advice for Young Women Leaders
00:21:18
Speaker
If you could offer one advice to any young woman just beginning her leadership journey, um what would it be and why? One advice? um Can it be three?
00:21:29
Speaker
Go for it. The more, the merrier. i I just can't think of one. um But I can think of three that are equally important for me.
00:21:40
Speaker
um So I would start with you deserve it. I've been a very young leader. I've become a a leader with the age of 22, so I know what it means. And I know also all the self-doubt that I was so feeling back then.
00:21:56
Speaker
I think you deserve it is a strong piece of advice because whatever opportunity um a female is stepping into, this didn't happen accidentally.
00:22:06
Speaker
This was something that she's been working for it. And most probably she's been already into that role before having it officialized. So step fully into it without any apologies.
00:22:21
Speaker
Number two that I would like to give as an advice, it's ask for advice. How can we feel we are we are not good enough in order to ask for advice. We are going to show vulnerability. We we are going to show weakness or incapability.
00:22:40
Speaker
And that's not true. Leadership is absolutely not about having all the answers, but about Being willing to learn, being able to think strategic and asking questions is bringing you faster, further and shows more confidence and strength than trying to figure out things on your own.
00:23:01
Speaker
This usually slows you down. And the last one is you are enough. And I mean it. One of the biggest things I see holding women back is self-doubt.
00:23:15
Speaker
the little voice in our head that that is saying are you ready are you smart enough are you experienced enough you are enough right now who you are and if you got this opportunity that means it's for you so just go for it wow i love that and there's there's of course so much that we can dive into that but of course I think that the main thing is you do deserve it and you are enough. And I think with with that sort of a mindset, I think we can do anything we put our minds to, right? No matter the gender, race, culture.
00:23:47
Speaker
Of course, I do think there are things which we as women have to do bit more of. However, I think that is key and you are enough and you can do it for Yes. yes Wow. Well, honestly, we're excited for the event. I can't wait. I'll be traveling to Berlin, seventh of May.
00:24:05
Speaker
um I guess for other people as well, where can they find you? Where can they be following you? And where can they find out a bit more about Tomorrow Belongs to Her?
Event Details and Closing
00:24:13
Speaker
um First in Berlin, you're right.
00:24:17
Speaker
But um yes, there um there is a webpage that is ah coming in a few days' time. It's called Mindful Concepts and there is ah an entire section, Tomorrow Belongs to Her, with information about the events and the different activities that that we are having.
00:24:31
Speaker
For now, they can also find me on LinkedIn and I'm more than happy to receive any kind of messages. I promise I answer all of them. I love that. Well, thanks again for joining me, Vestler. really excited for the event very soon.
00:24:45
Speaker
Thank you, Shade. Thank you for having me and looking forward seeing you on on the 7th of May.