Wise Women Lead
Our story
At Wise Women Lead, we're on a mission to inspire, teach, and ignite the innate wisdom and power within all women. We believe every woman deserves to lead authentically and bring balance to both her work and life without compromising her essence.
The seeds of Wise Women Lead were planted in 2012 when our founders, Karen and Lucy, first met during a coach training course. Though life initially led them on separate paths, the connection remained strong—a shared recognition of their desire to uplift women and challenge the status quo.
Nearly a decade later, in 2022, Karen and Lucy reconnected—not just as professional women but as mothers, friends, and seekers of change. Their weekly conversations about life and the challenges faced by modern women slowly grew into something much larger. What began as personal exchanges became fertile ground for an empowering project—the "Say It Sister" podcast, a space for conversations that heal, inspire, and challenge preconceptions.
Through these conversations, Karen and Lucy noticed something deeply familiar among their clients, listeners, and even themselves. Women excelling in their careers were showing up for everyone else with endless energy but struggling to fully embrace their potential. A calling emerged—a purpose only they could fulfil together. With years of combined experience, countless lessons, and a shared desire to uplift others, they created the Wisdom School, a transformative space within Wise Women Lead. This platform is built on the best tools and practices they’ve honed over the years, empowering women to cultivate feminine energy, tap into their innate wisdom, and lead from their heart.
Our Mission
We are here to awaken what’s already within you. Wise Women Lead is about creating a world where women lead authentically, building harmony between the professional and personal, and embodying their unique feminine energy. Together, we aspire to inspire, teach, and ignite the power that each woman holds—because it’s time to step fully into who you are meant to be.
Our Core Values
Everything we do is rooted in our core values:
- Feminine Energy – Embracing creativity, intuition, and balance.
- Wisdom – Honouring the lessons of the past and the innate knowing within us.
- Truth – Speaking openly, honestly, and courageously.
- Care – Supporting one another with empathy and compassion.
- Love – Approaching our work and each connection with kindness, and an open heart.
- Hope – Holding a vision for a brighter, balanced future.
- Creativity – Innovating and finding beauty in new perspectives and solutions.
- Collaboration – the power of women supporting women.
The Path Forward
Wise Women Lead isn’t just a company; it’s a community. It’s a refuge for women seeking more than just success—it’s for those striving for balance, authenticity, and lives aligned with their values.
Are you ready to explore your potential? To step into your power with wisdom, care, and clarity? Join us at our Wisdom School, tune in to the Say It Sister podcast, and become part of a movement that celebrates who you are and all you can be.
Together, we’re reimagining leadership—one wise woman at a time.
Meet Karen and Lucy
Karen Heras-Kelly
Lead coach and Programme Director
Karen is known for her empowerment work with C-Suite women leaders. She drives impact across businesses in a way that creates greater balance, equity and success.
Grazia magazine recommended her as a top holistic coach and called her “The Visualiser.” Her work creates safety, clarity, creativity, collaboration and encouragement. It is designed to tip the balance from surviving to thriving.
She is committed to unearthing taboos and disempowering stories, changing the narratives and behaviours of women, business and society.
Helping you to elevate your vision and take your seats at the table from a place of deeper awareness, self-worth, personal sovereignty and self-authority.
Karen is also Catalina's Mum and this journey has made her even more committed to creating a positive impact and legacy for future generations. Her work with Lucy on the 'Say It Sister' podcast has led to deep personal healing and helped her claim her voice.
Clients include Bayer Consumer Health, Heineken, Bauer Media, Mattel, Canesten and the new menopause brand, CanesMeno. She has also occupied senior leadership roles with brands like St. Tropez tan and GHD hair.
Lucy Barkas
Lead Coach and Programme Director
Lucy Barkas, our co-founder, is no stranger to challenges. With a career forged in leadership within the energy industry, Lucy transitioned into Leadership and Team Development in 2012. A social scientists, armed with certifications as an Organisational Relationships Systems Coach and CTI Coach, along with her experience as an author and BBC contributor, Lucy embarked on a powerful mission to create meaningful change.
As an award winning business leader, her personal life intertwined with her professional pursuits. Becoming a single mother to two beautiful daughters brought its own set of challenges and triumphs.
Lucy learned first hand the barriers women face—structurally, emotionally, and culturally. She learned about the perceptions of women, the judgements, and how hard it is to try and do-it-all. These experiences shaped her perspective and fuelled her desire to empower not just her own daughters, but women everywhere.
Now, with her daughters ready to spread their wings and with the wisdom of her own peri-menopausal transition, she is fuelled to empower women of all ages, across the world, to live a life that is lead by them and chosen by them.
She is here to support more women into leadership positions and to create the change the world needs.