Margaret Lance: Shift Your Mindset and Find Your Hidden Potential

By Sujany Baleswaran

Growing up and watching her mother repeatedly advocating women’s rights, Margaret Lance naturally became the beacon of hope to all women. Dedicating her time to supporting women experiencing societal challenges such as sexual abuse and human rights issue to helping women step out of their comfort zone and overcome their fear of starting a business, Margaret has become the voice for many women.  

You work with thousands of women, empowering and motivating them, and have spoken at over 500 events. What inspired you to dedicate your life to helping women?

I remember growing up and seeing my mother strongly advocate setting up a movement for girls’ education in a traditional society where girls were expected to be purely homemakers. Her mission was to ensure that every girl was educated. And even today, we still have to fight to ensure women take their rightful role in society. Inspired and educated by my mother, I have always been aware of the need to educate and empower women to find their purpose and lead. So to answer your question, my journey started with inspiration from my mother and her work.

What has been the most significant barriers in your career?

Every good thing comes with challenges and barriers. When helping women understand the benefits of working on their mindset, the change they experience may not be easy. This could be due to the challenges they are currently facing, such as problems in their marriage, relationships, home-schooling/parenting and work-life balance – it can be overwhelming. However, I help them understand that it doesn’t matter where they currently are but where they want to be. It is all about taking one step at a time and being consistent. Every individual has a different approach to dealing with challenges. That is why I am there to build trust and provide guidance and strategies to work on their mindset.

What does female empowerment mean to you?

Female empowerment can mean different things to different women. However, women have inherent leadership skills. Not only because they raise a family – they the glue of society, holding family and society together. They are peacemakers and drivers of change for a better society. I believe that globally women are hungry to change their lives and should be given the opportunity to do so. 

Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women?

Oh yes, I have definitely and of course, many. From Eleanor Roosevelt to Michelle Obama. Most recently Mirela Sula, CEO and Founder of Global Woman, has been my greatest inspiration. The work she is doing to inspire, support and empower women globally, and help them reach their full potential has been inspiring. In her words, ‘if you want to empower a woman, give her a microphone.’ Therefore, women should never underestimate the power of their hidden potential.

You have helped women move from self-dependency to self-efficacy and find their purpose in life. What advice would you give to women trying to make this shift in their mindset and life?

I will like to let every woman out there know that there is always room for growth and expansion. It all depends on how much they want to invest in themselves. I will tell them to never be afraid of failure or trying something new. Failure is just one step on the path to success. There is no limit to the heights they can go. It all has to do with the willingness to shift the mindset and taking one step at a time.