International Women's Day 2026: Katie Dunbar and Stuart MacSween

In this interview for International Women’s Day, Katie Dunbar reflects on her career in commodity trading and executive search, while Stuart MacSween shares his perspective on leadership, allyship, and creating workplaces where everyone can succeed.

“Give to Gain” in Career and Leadership

Katie describes the theme as a long-term approach to supporting growth: giving time, mentorship, and guidance to help others flourish. “I’ve always believed in ‘what you give is what you get,’” she says. Katie emphasises that creating supportive environments allows women to perform better, stay longer, and pay it forward – benefits that ripple across teams and organisations. She shares how mentorship and guidance she received from other women in her career shaped her approach, and now she prioritises sharing insights, whether it’s helping someone evaluate an opportunity, negotiate compensation or navigate a career transition.

Stuart echoes the sentiment from a leadership and allyship perspective. “Gain shouldn’t always be interpreted as something you personally receive,” he notes. Drawing from his experience in the military and current professional life, Stuart highlights how supporting others – from colleagues to broader communities – produces collective benefits. In the workplace, investing in people and creating environments where others can succeed strengthens teams and decision-making.

Career Journeys and Defining Moments

Katie reflects on her decade-long career journey in recruitment and executive search, which began in engineering and transitioned into commodity trading. She credits the support and coaching of both male and female leaders for giving her the confidence to enter new markets and build networks in traditionally male-dominated industries. A recent sabbatical, where she focused on personal growth and wellbeing while travelling across Asia, was a defining moment that allowed her to reset and return to the markets with renewed perspective.

Stuart shares that the relationships built over his career, including during his time in the military, have shaped how he views leadership and opportunity. He stresses that supporting others, mentoring, and creating inclusive environments are critical to fostering collective success.

Challenges and Leadership Lessons

Katie notes that balancing career and caring responsibilities continues to be a challenge for many women. She highlights the importance of open dialogue and understanding in the workplace. “Whether in formal leadership positions or not, we all have a responsibility to the current and future workforce to address inappropriate behaviour and model best practice,” she says.

Stuart emphasises the role leaders play in shaping inclusive workplaces. While he has worked in organisations with strong female representation, he acknowledges that this is not universal across industries. Leaders must actively support progress, ensuring that all individuals feel confident contributing ideas and participating meaningfully in the organisation’s success.

Progress and the Road Ahead

Katie highlights positive trends, with more women entering STEM and commodity trading roles. However, career inflection points like motherhood and caring responsibilities still affect retention and progression into leadership. She emphasises that flexible working, clear career pathways, and inclusive practices are key to retaining female talent, and that supporting women in this way brings tangible commercial benefits. Katie also notes cultural barriers, such as decisions made in informal settings, which can restrict opportunities for those not included.

Stuart MacSween reflects on the workplaces he hopes his daughter will experience, focusing on fairness, support, and meritocracy. “I would want my daughter to be assessed on her ability, contribution and character rather than her gender,” he says. He stresses that true meritocracy requires environments where people feel they belong and are given equal encouragement to develop their skills. Leaders must move beyond policy, actively embrace diverse perspectives, and create cultures where talent is supported, heard, and empowered.

Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders

Katie advises women to seek mentorship, both formal and informal, with a structured approach for learning and growth. “Once, at a crossroads in my career, some time working with an amazing female coach was instrumental in helping me to step forward with confidence and conviction,” she says. She encourages women to approach each step with an open mind, recognising that careers rarely follow a perfectly linear path.

Stuart underscores the responsibility of leaders to support development and equity in the workplace. By understanding where they can make a meaningful impact, leaders can ensure opportunities are accessible to all and help create inclusive environments where talent can thrive.

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We’d like to extend thanks to Katie and Stuart for sharing their experiences and perspectives with us for International Women’s Day this year.