Crafting CVs That Lead: Power Words for Women in Leadership
Consider the difference:
Before: Managed faculty teams across departments.
After: Spearheaded cross-departmental collaboration, fostering academic excellence and strategic cohesion.
And:
Before: Taught leadership courses to postgraduate students.
After: Delivered high-impact executive education, shaping leadership capacity in postgraduate professionals.
Words matter!
A great CV will get you an interview. It’s as simple as that. And part of making your CV stand out is to use the best words that capture your skills and expertise. I checked in to claude.ai and asked Claude if he could provide me a list of power words for your CV.
So, along with the advice in my blog on how to write a compelling CV, here is what Claude came up with.
Strategic Leadership
Visionary - Developed long-term strategic plans
Transformational - Led major institutional changes
Innovative - Introduced new approaches or technologies
Entrepreneurial - Created new revenue streams or programs
Collaborative - Built partnerships and coalitions
Inclusive - Fostered diverse and equitable environments
Operational Excellence
Optimized - Improved processes or systems
Streamlined - Made operations more efficient
Scaled - Expanded programs or departments
Restructured - Reorganized for better outcomes
Implemented - Successfully executed major initiatives
Accelerated - Increased pace of progress or growth
Financial and Resource Management
Secured - Obtained funding or resources
Maximized - Achieved optimal use of resources
Allocated - Distributed resources strategically
Diversified - Expanded funding sources
Stewarded - Managed resources responsibly
Leveraged - Used resources for maximum impact
People and Culture
Mentored - Developed emerging leaders
Empowered - Enabled others to succeed
Cultivated - Developed talent and culture
Championed - Advocated for important causes
Influenced - Shaped opinions and decisions
Galvanized - Motivated teams toward common goals
Academic and Research Leadership
Pioneered - Led groundbreaking work
Established - Created new programs or initiatives
Elevated - Raised profile or standards
Integrated - Combined different elements effectively
Sophisticated - Demonstrated advanced expertise
Distinguished - Achieved notable recognition
Measurable Impact Words
Increased - Use with specific percentages
Reduced - Show efficiency improvements
Generated - Created value or revenue
Achieved - Met or exceeded targets
Delivered - Completed projects successfully
Exceeded - Surpassed expectations
Communication and Engagement
Articulated - Clearly communicated vision
Negotiated - Reached beneficial agreements
Facilitated - Enabled productive discussions
Advocated - Represented interests effectively
Influenced - Shaped stakeholder perspectives
Mobilized - Organized collective action
Industry-Specific Enhancement Terms
Higher Education Administration
Student-centred - Focused on student success
Evidence-based - Used data for decision-making
Stakeholder engagement - Involved all relevant parties
Institutional effectiveness - Improved overall performance
Academic excellence - Maintained high standards
Shared governance - Worked collaboratively with faculty
Research and Innovation
Interdisciplinary - Crossed traditional boundaries
Cutting-edge - At the forefront of development
Translational - Moved research to application
High-impact - Achieved significant influence
Peer-reviewed - Maintained academic rigor
Competitive - Won contested opportunities
Remember: These keywords should reflect genuine experiences and achievements. The most effective CVs combine strong action words with specific, quantifiable accomplishments that demonstrate real leadership impact.
Ready to transform your interview approach and advance your academic career with confidence? Book a clarity session to develop your personalised leadership strategy and discover how to present your expertise with the impact it deserves.
Professor Christina Hughes
Founder and CEO, Women-Space Leadership Limited