​Behind the LinkedIn Profile: Lessons from Female Leaders in Retail and Consumer Goods.

Last week, we hosted our third Female Leaders in Retail & Consumer Goods breakfast – a morning carved out for candid conversations, community, and career reflections. Over coffee and croissants, our theme this time was "The Truth Behind the LinkedIn Profile — and How to Bounce Back in Your Career."

We were lucky to be joined by three powerhouse female leaders — Sarah Hochholzer (Leadership & Communication Specialist, PPL Centrik), Michelle Malone (Chief Architect, Mulberry Group), and Erin Height(VP of Product, MAAP) - who shared honest, thoughtful reflections on leadership, resilience, identity, and the expectations we place on ourselves as women in the workplace.

Here’s what stuck with us most.

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Michelle Malone

Michelle opened the conversation with an inspirational and ambitious start: stop waiting and start steering. She spoke about something many women forget in the busyness of our careers — the power of being intentional. Of choosing your path, rather than drifting into roles or routines that don’t serve you.

You don’t just stumble into leadership – you choose it. You claim it.

“Don’t let life just happen to you. Get in the driver’s seat,” Michelle said.

Michelle shared how easy it can be to get caught up in titles, progression, or what other people think leadership should look like. But for her, real leadership starts from within — and grows when you begin to back yourself and hop into that driver’s seat.

She challenged the notion that we must wait for perfect timing, permission, or confidence to step up, and that “Fear isn’t a stop sign. Sometimes, it’s an invitation to do something. You don’t have to feel ready to begin—you just have to begin”.

Michelle encouraged the room to aspire boldly, to lead powerfully, and to live intentionally — referencing Mel Robbins’ award winning book, “The Let Them Theory”as a reminder to align your path with your values.

“You get one wild and precious life — live it in a way that makes you proud,” Michelle said.

This was a call to stop waiting and start owning your journey — with courage, clarity, and agency. “Courage isn't about being fearless—it's about showing up even when you're scared”. Michelle’s message was a gentle but powerful call: be intentional, be brave, and take ownership of your story — even if the next chapter feels uncertain.

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Erin Height

Erin brought a refreshingly real take on career, motherhood, and the illusion of balance. She doesn’t subscribe to the idea of neatly splitting life into compartments — instead, she believes in integration. For her, the worlds of work and life don’t compete — they coexist.

But that mindset was hard-won. At 39, Erin made the bold decision to have a baby on her own.

“I was single, unemployed, and pregnant — but I knew I was employable,” Erin said.

She described two major hurdles: first, falling pregnant. Second, finding a job in a niche category.

She landed her current role at MAAP — forgetting to mention she was expecting. Eighteen months later, she is thriving in the role with the support and grace of the team.

“I’m not the mum at the park sending work emails — I’m the mum who is present.”

Her approach isn’t formulaic — it’s intentional. She’s not chasing perfection, but clarity: knowing what matters, and when. She wants to be a present mum, not one caught multitasking at the expense of either role – they both deserve her full attention.

Erin reminded us that reclaiming time isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.

“Don’t feel guilty taking your time back if you’ve worked crazy hours earlier in the week.” It’s about trusting yourself — and earning the trust of others — to know when you’ve hit your limit.

Erin kept referring back to her core leadership style, one that is transparent and allows all voices to be heard and understood.

“You have to co-create the environment you want to work in,” or else how can you expect someone to work and perform at their best?

Her story was one of clarity, courage, and quiet confidence — showing us that living on your own terms sometimes starts with one brave decision.

Sarah Hochholzer

Sarah closed the morning with remarkable candour and emotional depth. A seasoned leadership and communication expert, she spoke to the often-unseen work that HR professionals do — and why it’s essential.

She reminded us that emotional labour often sits squarely in the HR seat —and what we call “people issues” are often symptoms of unclear direction, poor systems, or missing leadership.

Her MD said to her: “The conversations you’re having with our people are as hard or harder than the conversations the sales team are having with the retailers. We value your team.”

But Sarah’s most powerful moment came when she shared a personal story — a line she repeated to herself for years as her husband became ill and eventually passed away: “He’s fine, I’m fine, my kids are fine.”

It became her armour — a way to keep moving forward. But eventually, she realised it wasn’t strength — it was survival. She was sick of hearing herself say it, so she changed her mindset.

Sarah reminded us that asking for help isn’t a weakness – it is wisdom. You don’t have to carry everything all the time. Those that care and love you want to help you, and you need to let them. To be human is to feel but blocking yourself off 100% of the time will only hinder you.

Sarah also touched on the transition from peer to leader. It’s a strange shift—when someone you once worked alongside becomes your leader. The dynamic changes, but she recognised the importance of respecting their new role, honouring the shared history, and supporting their success. It became a new kind of partnership—one that could drive meaningful change together.

Final Thoughts

This event was a strong reminder that what you see on a LinkedIn profile is just the surface. Behind every “title” is a story — and behind every setback is an opportunity to bounce forward.

Michelle, Erin, and Sarah showed us that leadership isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about claiming your path, setting intentional boundaries, asking for help when you need it, and giving yourself permission to evolve — even when it’s uncomfortable.

We’re grateful to these three women for their vulnerability and wisdom, and to all the incredible women who joined us in the room.

Visit the Sharp & Carter Retail & Consumer Goods landing page to connect with our expert consultants and learn how we can support your career or business in this sector. With significant growth across HR, Retail, Digital and Technology, Business Support, and Supply Chain at a national level, we are well-equipped to assist with all roles within the Retail and Consumer Goods industry.

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