By Anne Campbell - Vice-Principal of Skills and Enterprise, Ayrshire College

At the start of October 2025, I will reach a significant milestone - 25 years in the college sector. This month - the month of International Women’s Day - I find myself reflecting on the progress made for women aspiring to leadership roles in our colleges and the journey that brought me here.

My career in the college sector began, as many careers did at that time, by sheer accident when I happened to stumble across an advert for a part-time temporary lecturer. I began my career teaching one politics class during my first week, but by the second week, I had a full timetable and taught across two departments – Social Sciences and English.

Very unusually for the time, a permanent lecturer position came up within ten months of me working at the college. I applied for the job and was successful. That happened in August 2001, and I’d just got married in the July of the same year. HR colleagues – please stop reading now! My lasting memory of being offered the role was when my then line manager said, ‘Congratulations, Anne. We know that you have just got married, but we are trusting that you will wait a few years before getting pregnant!’

It's quite unbelievable to reflect on the fact that the comment was made only 24 years ago and was absolutely meant seriously! I am delighted to say that we have moved on significantly since then!

My career as a senior and executive member of a leadership team has involved being led by four female principals. All had very different styles, but the one thing that they had in common was that they were all fantastic mentors. When I reflect, they each exposed me to different learning experiences both in my respective colleges but also ensured that I became involved in regional and national work - often in areas that stretched me well out of my comfort zone.

Given how much those mentoring experiences have benefited me on my journey, I have committed to mentoring female colleagues throughout my time in the college sector. I know how important it is to provide colleagues with the space and time to chat through particular challenges, to share experiences and to build confidence in themselves.

It's natural to think of a mentor as being in a hierarchical relationship, but I have also had the great privilege of working alongside some inspirational female peers, wider female staff colleagues and, of course been humbled by the achievements of our wonderful students. The lessons I’ve learned from these interactions over the past 25 years have been instrumental in shaping the leader I am today and the leader that I continue to aspire to be.

I’m not going to lie, I would say that sometimes I do suffer from imposter syndrome probably mixed with a good dose of West of Scotland, ‘who do you think are’ mentality! Each day, however, I thank my lucky stars that I ‘accidentally’ discovered this truly inspirational and life-changing sector that I am privileged to work and hold an extremely influential role in.

As an executive leader in the sector, I am acutely aware that I have a duty to enable a culture and a working environment where every single female staff member and student can thrive and where gender is no barrier to success.