Building a strong community and empowering women

“In a world where women are over-mentored and underfunded, we need more people in leadership advocating for women and making sure they get the opportunities they deserve,”  says Alexandra Ciobotaru, founder of Femme Lead.

At a time when DEI is a hot topic, Femme Lead is turning words into action. By building a supportive community, offering coaching, and prioritizing sponsorship, they empower women to step into leadership roles with confidence.

At MOO, we love spotlighting bold founders who are making a real impact. That’s why we sat down with Alexandra to discuss how she is helping more women take on leadership roles with confidence.

Founder journey

“I realized there were not many women in the field I was looking at,” Alexandra recalls. “At the time, I was working in technology as a product leader, and I wanted to see myself represented more in leadership.” 

Instead of waiting for change, she built it. Femme Lead started as a podcast, where she interviewed women she admired about their career journeys. The podcast gained traction, and so did the community, leading to events, coaching sessions, and networking opportunities for women worldwide.

“Like any other founding journey, we’ve had challenges along the way,” Alexandra reflects. “In the beginning, for example, I was doing everything myself. I was spending a lot of my free time outside of my full-time job building Femme Lead. While that gave me a lot of satisfaction, I quickly realized this is not a one-woman show.”

As Femme Lead grew, so did the team. “Now we’re almost 10 people, and that’s made a huge difference,” she says. “We learn from each other and grow together. It’s been a game-changer for the community as well as for ourselves.”

Redefining leadership and career development

Traditional leadership models often favor specific traits. Alexandra challenges this by advocating for a modern leadership style, one that values emotional intelligence, adaptability, and collaboration over competition.

“Successful teams thrive with collaboration, not competitiveness. These are the traits that are essential for today’s leaders, and they need to be celebrated.”

She also challenges the idea of a linear career path, advocating instead for portfolio careers – where skills are transferable, pivots are encouraged, and growth isn’t confined to a single industry or job title.

“In today’s world, you can pivot your career easier. You can use interchangeable skills to try another industry or use those skills, especially leadership skills, in another environment.”

Sponsorship over mentorship

Guidance is great, but what women need to boost their careers is sponsorship – people who advocate for them and open doors.

“What we see in Femme Lead is a collective shift when it comes to building more opportunities for women and their careers,” Alexandra shares. “Firstly, the confidence to step up. Women sometimes lack the confidence to believe in themselves, this is something we want to challenge and support – giving them the opportunities and having  discussions on how they can build that confidence to go for leadership roles.”

One of the key pillars of Femme Lead’s work is sponsorship. “Sponsorship is what happens when you’re not in the room, and someone mentions you,” she says. “How can we create an environment where you set yourself up for success and also build that sponsorship needed to take that leap into leadership?”

Through its events and initiatives, Femme Lead fosters this sponsorship culture – bringing people together to exchange opportunities, open doors, and have conversations about making an impact in their companies. 

“When it comes to building future leaders, we’re looking at what skills are important for the modern leader, but we’re also looking at uplifting each other,” Alexandra explains. “It’s about breaking barriers, seeing yourself as part of the leadership community, and supporting others while moving forward in your own career.”

DEI initiatives in a tough political climate

For Femme Lead, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) aren’t just buzzwords—they’re business and leadership needs. “We see that the need for diverse voices will continue to grow, impacting businesses and the world,” Alexandra explains. “Companies that invest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not just checking a box – they’re setting themselves up for success by building stronger and more innovative teams.”

“Companies that invest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not just checking a box – they’re setting themselves up for success by building stronger and more innovative teams.”

She points to data proving that diverse workplaces perform better, with increased talent retention, improved well-being, and higher job performance. “When employees feel a sense of belonging, they thrive. And when we foster inclusive environments, we open doors for those who historically haven’t had those opportunities.”

How to build a strong, purposeful community

For Alexandra, the key to building a strong niche community is simple: listen first.
“We focused on our community’s needs and listened to what they wanted to know more about,” she explains. “We also invited guests we admired—people who could share genuine advice that would inspire others to believe in themselves and take the leap.”

Beyond listening, consistency- no matter the size of the audience- has been key to Femme Lead’s growth. “Something I admire about my team is that we always show up,” Alexandra says. 

“Even if, in the beginning, you have two people or ten people joining, that’s just one step of the way. You need to keep going. Most likely, it won’t look like what you envisioned at first, but little by little, it will grow into what you are building toward.”

How female founders can build a lasting brand 

Alexandra’s biggest lesson? Start before you’re ready.

“We tend to overthink things in life, and that holds us back,” she shares. “My motto is: just try it out. If it doesn’t work, at least you know you gave it a shot and learned from the process, rather than postponing and never taking that first step.”

She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and trust. “A strong community is built on shared values and a sense of belonging,” Alexandra notes. “That’s what keeps people engaged, and that’s what we’re striving for at Femme Lead.”

For female founders just starting out, she advises:

“Focus on solving a real problem, stay consistent, and don’t give up when challenges arise. The most successful brands are built on purpose, authenticity, and community.”

If you are Inspired by Alexandra’s vision, find out more at Femme Lead.