Wed 23 Sep 2026
Interviewing Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Dodge RLC
Winner of 2025 Women into Leadership Award: Network of The Year
Every leadership journey has a defining moment. Looking back, was there a particular experience, opportunity or challenge that gave you the confidence to step into leadership?
On 3 January 1999, at the age of 22, I nervously drove through the gates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to begin British Army officer training. My experiences with the Air Cadets and Birmingham University Officer Training Corps had brought me to that point, but Sandhurst was where my leadership journey truly began.
The 44-week course is demanding, physically exhausting and mentally challenging. There were moments when I doubted whether I could continue, let alone succeed. Yet those challenges taught me some of the most important leadership lessons of my career: resilience, self-belief and the ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure.
The shared adversity also created a deep sense of teamwork and trust. More than 26 years later, some of the friends I made at Sandhurst remain among my closest friends today. That experience showed me that leadership is not about individual achievement; it is about building teams to achieve more together than any one person could accomplish alone.
Sandhurst laid the foundations for everything that followed, enabling me to lead at Troop, Squadron and Regimental level, with responsibility for teams of 30, 120 and ultimately more than 500 people. It was the defining moment that gave me the confidence to step into leadership and never look back.
What advice would you give to women who are aspiring to leadership roles in the Civil Service?
My advice is simple: just do it.
Too often, women wait until they feel completely ready before stepping forward for an opportunity. We can be our own harshest critics, focusing on the experience we do not yet have rather than the strengths we already bring. Meanwhile, others are often far less hesitant about putting themselves forward.
Throughout my career, I have learned that growth rarely comes from staying within your comfort zone. Some of the opportunities that shaped me most were the ones that initially felt daunting. I certainly did not have all the answers when I took on new roles, but I was willing to learn, work hard and ask for help when I needed it.
Leadership is not about being perfect. It is about having the courage to make decisions, support others, uphold your values and continue learning every day.
Women make exceptional leaders. We bring diverse perspectives, empathy, resilience and the ability to build strong, inclusive teams. If a leadership opportunity excites you, do not talk yourself out of it. Believe in your abilities, trust your potential and take the leap.
You may be far more ready than you think.
One year on from winning the Inclusive Leader of the Year award, what opportunities, achievements or personal growth are you most proud of, and has the award played a part in that journey?
Winning the Women into Leadership Award was an incredible honour, but what I value most is the impact it had on the Army Servicewomen's Network (ASN) Committee that I have the privilege to lead. The award gave the whole team a tremendous boost and created an opportunity for us to pause, reflect and take pride in what we had achieved together.
Over the past 2 years, we have delivered two inspirational conferences. In 2025, we celebrated the ASN's 10th anniversary at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol. This year, at Cheltenham Racecourse, we brought together military and civilian leaders to explore how diversity strengthens operational effectiveness. Both events demonstrated the power of creating spaces where women can learn, network and be inspired.
I am also proud that the ASN continues to represent the voices of servicewomen at the highest levels. Seeing senior leaders actively listen to our experiences and recommendations has reinforced the importance of constructive challenge and inclusive leadership. A particularly proud moment was hearing the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) encourage the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) to engage directly with the ASN.
Receiving recognition through the Women into Leadership Awards, and later seeing the ASN recognised as Network of the Year, was hugely rewarding. However, my greatest pride is helping to create a supportive environment where servicewomen can thrive, fulfil their potential and bring their best selves to work every day.
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