On 27 May, allies of the Alliance Of Her gathered in Brussels for a candid conversation about something too often left unsaid in politics: what power does to those who hold it, and how women can navigate it without losing themselves.
The event was inspired by the new book Confronting the 10 Traps of Power by the Alliance Of Her core trainer Katrien Van den broeck. Based on interviews with women in leadership roles across Europe, the book breaks down ten common “traps” that can derail women in politics, from burnout and isolation to reputational double standards and loyalty pressures.
The event was guested by two high-profile political leaders who understand these traps well: former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager and Belgian Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden.
Both shared lessons from their political journeys, reflecting on challenges of leadership and the pressure to meet expectations that often conflict with reality.
Looking back on her career in politics, Vestager said:
“You cannot win by trying to be perfect…Don’t try to build a safe space around you. Don’t be on an island – get comfortable in the water.”
On listening and connecting with people, she added:
“It’s a very basic political skill to produce any kind of result. But for me, it only works when I can answer that I don’t know. But I take notes, and maybe I can do something about it. If I gave myself the burden of answering everyone, then I wouldn’t be able to listen anymore….very often, people find that disarming.”
Reflecting on the role of positive political leadership in this moment, Verlinden shared some of her motivation and what keeps her going:
“For me as a politician, I truly believe that hope is worth fighting for. Hope is the belief that it’s worth fighting for something, even if you don’t see the outcomes immediately. If not us, then who will keep the hope?”
The message of the evening was clear: power isn’t just a position, it’s a dynamic that tests confidence, values and resilience. And while the traps are real, they’re not inevitable.
At the Alliance Of Her, we believe that when more liberal women in politics can thrive, we get closer to building a truly free, open and prosperous Europe for all. That starts with being honest about the challenges that women in politics face - and we’re committed to dismantling them.
Confronting the 10 Traps of Power is available for download as a free e-book here.
View photos from the event here. Don’t forget to follow @theallianceofher for more updates!