CoreStream: In a special edition of the Spotlight on Women in GRC podcast, we spoke to Chief Risky Woman and founder of Risky Women, Kimberley Cole about the community she created back in 2014, which has since become a global network, and a real-time indicator of where GRC is heading next.
What is Risky Women and why do we need it?
Risky Women was founded to solve a visibility problem, too few women on panels, too few expert voices shaping the conversation, and too little recognition of the leadership already present in risk and compliance.
- Founded: 2014 by Kimberley Cole
- Mission: connect, celebrate and champion women in GRC
- Global community: London, New York, Charlotte, Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, Copenhagen
I was increasingly frustrated by conferences filled with ‘manels’, – all-male panels – and a lack of female keynote speakers. When I looked at the media, the pattern was the same: very few women bylines, and even fewer quoted as experts. Those gaps made it clear there was an opportunity, one that became the foundation for Risky Women and our mission to connect, celebrate, and champion women across GRC.
Kimberley Cole, Chief Risky Woman, Risky Women
This observation from Kimberley matches the reality from recent reports too, according to GMMP “Women account for only 31% of expert sources quoted in news content globally” and “Women represent roughly 38% of speakers at events globally, with even lower representation in finance, tech, and risk sectors.”
This is why events and websites like Risky Women can’t be underestimated.
What are the tangible benefits for female risk and compliance professionals in becoming a Risky Woman member?
The Risky Women network isn’t just about social connection, it’s about access, opportunity, and influence.
Research from the World Economic Forum shows that professional networks are critical to career progression and opportunity flow, yet they often operate invisibly, through sponsorship, referrals, and advocacy. World Economic Forum research also shows men’s networks tend to be smaller but more influential, while women’s are broader but less connected, limiting access to sponsorship and leadership opportunities.
This could explain why according to McKinsey Women in the Workplace: “For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women are promoted.” As men are twice as likely as women to have a senior leader actively advocating for them.
Risky Women’s events and Risky Women to Watch platform are therefore critical to help close this gap, which Kimberley illustrates the power of:
I often hear from members who tell me the impact has been tangible, whether that’s building new business connections, increasing their visibility, or gaining momentum in their careers, from securing new roles to progressing toward board positions.
Kimberley Cole, Chief Risky Woman, Risky Women
Confidence and communication are critical for effective leadership, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and long-term career progression. CoreStream GRC’s host, Lucy Montague, highlights how Risky Women has helped build these skills in practice:
Since joining Risky Women, my confidence in meeting new people has grown massively. Networking has made it second nature, and for anyone hesitant, you’ll find plenty of people turning up on their own and open to connect.
Lucy Montague, Head of Marketing, CoreStream GRC
What skills can you develop with Risky Women’s Rev Ups?
“Soft skills need to change their brand… they’re quite strategic.” Soft skills like communication, storytelling and negotiation may have been underestimated, but are core GRC capabilities, according to Kimberley and previous Spotlight on Women in GRC podcast guests.
Jaypee Soule, VP of Compliance at Pension Bee stated:
Compliance is often seen as the ‘policing’ function, enforcing rules and keeping people in line. But I’ve found you can be firm and focused while still bringing personality. Being approachable and authentic helps build stronger relationships, and ultimately makes you more effective.
Jaypee Soule, VP Compliance and MLRO, PensionBee
The most effective GRC leaders aren’t the most technically accurate, they’re the most persuasive, convincing stakeholders, shaping decisions and driving behavior change.
As Kimberley Cole puts it:
It’s now management by influence, not authority.
Kimberley Cole, Chief Risky Woman, Risky Women
Why? Because risk no longer sits in silos. AI, third-party ecosystems, regulatory overlap, these require cross-functional alignment, not top-down enforcement. And alignment only happens through influence. If you can’t influence the business, you can’t protect it.
Risky Women’s Rev Ups are designed to build on, not fix, the capabilities of women in GRC like these soft skills. Rather than focusing on perceived gaps, they aim to “add to your superpowers ”offering practical, high-impact sessions on areas like communication, negotiation, and leadership alongside core risk and compliance topics. The goal is simple: to equip members with the skills and confidence to be more effective in their roles.
How can risk and compliance leaders get involved with Risky Women?
Risky Women brings together multiple channels to create an always-on community for GRC professionals to connect, learn, and build influence. From Risky Women Radio, which amplifies diverse voices across the industry, to its website and content platform, where insights and thought leadership are shared, the ecosystem is designed to continuously raise visibility. Initiatives like Risky Women to Watch spotlight leading talent across the global GRC community, while the Risky Women Writing Competition gives practitioners a platform to publish original perspectives and gain recognition. Alongside this, global in-person events and virtual Rev Ups sessions enable peer-to-peer learning and skill development. Together, these channels form a powerful network, one that helps members grow their profile, strengthen relationships, and unlock new opportunities.