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, 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.
Bios
Kimberley Cole
Kimberley Cole is the founder and “Chief Risky Woman” of Risky Women, a global community she launched in 2014 to connect, celebrate, and champion women in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). With a background in financial services and risk leadership at Thomson Reuters, Kimberley has built a platform that amplifies female voices, fosters meaningful networks, and promotes the strategic role of GRC in modern organizations.
Risky Women
Risky Women is a global community and platform dedicated to advancing women in governance, risk, and compliance. Built on the pillars of connect, celebrate, and champion, it brings together practitioners through events, content, mentoring, and initiatives like Women to Watch and Risky Women Radio. With a presence across major global hubs, Risky Women is helping reshape how the industry collaborates, learns, and leads.
Spotlight on Women in GRC Podcast
The Spotlight on Women in GRC podcast, hosted by Lucy Montague and backed by CoreStream GRC, explores the stories, perspectives, and leadership approaches of women shaping the future of governance, risk, and compliance. Through candid conversations with industry leaders, it highlights the evolving role of GRC and the people driving meaningful change across the profession.
Condensed transcript of the Risky Women, Spotlight on GRC podcast episode
Lucy Montague:
Welcome to this special feature episode of Spotlight on Women in GRC. I’m joined by Kimberley Cole, founder of Risky Women. Kimberley, can you start by introducing yourself and what Risky Women is?
Kimberley Cole:
Absolutely. I’m the founder and “Chief Risky Woman.” I launched Risky Women in 2014 with a mission to connect, celebrate, and champion women in governance, risk, and compliance. We bring people together through global events, our podcast Risky Women Radio, online sessions we call Rev Ups, and initiatives like Women to Watch and our writing competition.
Lucy:
What inspired you to start it?
Kimberley:
It came from the women I was meeting in the industry—senior leaders doing incredible work, but not always visible. I also saw too many “manels” and very few female voices in conferences or the media. That gap made it clear there was an opportunity to build something that amplified women in GRC.
Lucy:
Risky Women is now truly global. How has it evolved?
Kimberley:
We started in Hong Kong and expanded across Asia, then into London, New York, and beyond. Now we have hubs across multiple regions and continue to grow. But it’s not just about events—it’s about building a connected ecosystem.
Lucy:
From all the conversations you’ve had, what themes stand out?
Kimberley:
The biggest one is the importance of networks. They’re not just social—they’re critical to opportunity. The World Economic Forum highlights how powerful networks are for career success, but also how they often operate invisibly through sponsorship and advocacy.
Men’s networks tend to be smaller but stronger and more influential. Women’s networks are broader, which is valuable—but they need to be leveraged more effectively to drive outcomes.
Lucy:
That really resonates. People can underestimate networking, but it can lead to opportunities you don’t expect.
Kimberley:
Exactly. I often say community is a commercial strategy. You don’t always know where a connection will lead, but over time those relationships create real value—whether it’s business, career progression, or influence.
Lucy:
What leadership traits are most important today?
Kimberley:
Adaptability, resilience, and authenticity. The pace of change is huge, so leaders need to be able to shift quickly, stay grounded, and build trust.
Lucy:
And Risky Women doesn’t just focus on technical GRC—it builds broader skills too.
Kimberley:
Yes. Our Rev Ups are about adding to your superpowers. We focus a lot on communication—negotiation, storytelling, media training—because those skills are critical for influencing and driving change.
Lucy:
That’s something I’ve seen firsthand. Since joining Risky Women, I’ve started attending events on my own, and my confidence has really grown. I’m much more comfortable talking to new people now.
For anyone nervous about networking, I’d say don’t overthink it—lots of people attend solo, and the community is very welcoming.
Kimberley:
I completely agree. It’s a very open environment, and those connections make a real difference over time.
Lucy:
Can you share the impact you’ve seen?
Kimberley:
We regularly hear from members who’ve gained new business connections, increased their visibility, or progressed in their careers—whether that’s securing a new role or moving toward a board position.
But beyond that, it’s also about changing perspectives—seeing risk and compliance as an opportunity function, not just the “Department of No.”
Lucy:
That shift feels really important.
Kimberley:
It is. Risk and compliance should have a seat at the top table. It’s about building trust, enabling the business, and influencing outcomes—not just enforcing rules.
And increasingly, it’s about influence over authority. Leadership today is less about command-and-control and more about bringing people with you.
Lucy:
Finally, what advice would you give to women starting out in GRC?
Kimberley:
Build your network. It’s one of the most powerful things you can do—for your career and for your perspective. Connections open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Lucy:
Thank you so much, Kimberley.
Kimberley:
Thank you, get risky with us!
Frequently asked questions on community, networking & GRC career growth
Risky Women is a global community founded in 2014 by Kimberley Cole to connect, celebrate, and champion women working in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). It supports career growth by increasing visibility, amplifying expert voices, and providing access to networking events, mentoring opportunities, and leadership platforms. For professionals in risk, compliance, and cybersecurity, Risky Women helps unlock new opportunities, build influence, and accelerate career progression.
Risky Women addresses the lack of female representation in GRC, particularly across conferences, media, and leadership roles. By creating platforms for women to share expertise and gain recognition, it helps close the visibility and opportunity gap. This is critical in industries like finance, technology, and cybersecurity, where diverse perspectives improve decision-making, innovation, and risk management outcomes.
Joining Risky Women provides tangible benefits, including access to influential networks, career opportunities, and professional visibility. Members gain connections that can lead to new roles, business opportunities, and leadership advancement. The community also supports confidence-building, personal branding, and sponsorship, key factors that influence promotion and career progression in GRC and risk management.
Risky Women Rev Ups focus on developing high-impact leadership skills such as communication, negotiation, storytelling, and stakeholder influence. These skills are essential in modern GRC roles, where success depends on influencing decisions, managing complex risks, and driving organizational change. By strengthening both technical and strategic capabilities, members become more effective leaders in risk, compliance, and cybersecurity environments.
