Women in Business 2026
Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2026 report highlights how gender diversity in leadership supports business growth, resilience and long-term success.
Leadership today cannot be defined by a single description. It can be discussed at length, but most often it becomes visible in everyday decisions, collaboration, the ability to stay clear-minded, and to support colleagues in different situations.
Above all, leadership is about the person — their values and their ability to inspire others. These everyday choices shape not only the direction of a team, but also the culture and direction of the entire organization.
To mark International Women’s Day, we chose to look at leadership through the experience of our inspiring women leaders at Grant Thornton Baltic (GTB). For many years, they have successfully led our audit, payroll, legal, and administration teams. Some built their careers within the company, while others joined with established leadership experience and perspectives. Working with different teams, projects, and challenges, each of them brings unique insights that shape their approach to leading others. That is why we invited them to share their thoughts on what leadership means to them, what they see as the foundation of a strong team, and which competencies they believe are most essential for leaders today.
Inesa Greičė
Partner | Head of Payroll
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me is the ability to work through others, inspire them, and achieve the best results based on their individual strengths.
One word that best describes your leadership style?
Structured.
What helps you maintain a balance between supporting your team and achieving results?
Empathy and the ability to "put myself in someone else’s shoes". Open communication, dialogue, and mutual feedback help me stay focused on priorities.
How would you define “good teamwork”?
Work in which everyone knows their roles and priorities, is open to helping others, and confidently shares responsibility.
What do you consider the foundation of a strong team?
Psychological safety, trust, and openness.
One quality you value most in your team members?
Ambition.
What inspires you most at work today?
Seeing how my team grows and what great results we can achieve together.
What does your ideal workday morning/day look like?
Clearly planned tasks, constructive meetings, an interesting project, and genuine conversations with colleagues with a touch of humor.
Which habit or practice helps you stay calm even in the biggest work challenges?
The ability to pause, take a deep breath, and let myself settle before making any decisions.
Which competency do you believe is most important for a leader today?
Without a doubt, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, openness to new ideas, and a genuine desire to grow.
Your favourite activity or hobby that helps you relax and recharge?
I really enjoy nature. Sports help clear my mind, and right now I’m trying to discover my talents in padel.
Asta Šidlauskienė
Head of Legal
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is impossible without a cohesive team. It is the courage to set an example, empower others, and take responsibility even when things go wrong, as well as the wisdom to step back so others can grow. I believe that the best leader is the one whose team eventually surpasses them.
One word that best describes your leadership style?
If I had to choose one word — trust. I wouldn’t even use the word “to lead” — I believe more in collaboration, shared leadership, and communicating on the same level.
What helps you maintain a balance between supporting your team and achieving results?
Open and regular communication and maintaining connection. When we know each other not only through tasks but also through expectations, a “team spirit” naturally develops - a shared understanding that we are working toward common goals. Then results become not a pressure, but a natural direction.
How would you define “good teamwork”?
Good teamwork cannot exist without a positive team atmosphere, a sense of safety and energy at the same time, and shared values. It is when people are not afraid to offer ideas, make mistakes, and take responsibility.
A friendly connection with each team member helps a lot, and I also try to be open and maintain a sincere relationship. Sometimes it helps to change the environment - a conversation while walking can bring people closer than an hour in a meeting room. I would compare good teamwork to an orchestra, where each performer has their own solo part, but only harmony creates a symphony.
What do you consider the foundation of a strong team?
Strong interpersonal relationships, trust, and mutual accountability. When challenges arise, it is this mutual support that brings the team together and helps maintain motivation.
One quality you value most in your team members?
Inner calm - the ability to keep a cool head and stay patient when the workload is at its highest.
What inspires you most at work today?
The goodwill, support, and sharing of experience within the team. I am especially inspired by people who can keep things light and maintain a sense of humor even in difficult situations - it shows true maturity.
What does your ideal workday morning/day look like?
A smile for myself and others, a cup of coffee or green tea, and a short, lively conversation with colleagues. Then - clear priorities for the day and focus on what matters most, while staying calm even as the day picks up speed.
Which habit or practice helps you stay calm even in the biggest work‑related challenges?
A walk along the Neris riverbank during lunch - that’s my “reset button.” And sometimes an open conversation with a team member is enough to put everything back into place.
Which competency do you believe is most important for a leader today?
Emotional intelligence. The ability to listen, understand, and notice more than what is said out loud. Various professional skills can be learned, but the ability to build a trust‑based relationship is the real test of a leader’s maturity.
Your favourite activity or hobby that helps you relax and recharge?
Walks in the forest with my dog — the best form of meditation. I also really enjoy reading traditional “paper” books, especially historical ones. It’s a great way to step back and regain inner balance.
Aurelija Baratinskė
Head of Kaunas Audit Department
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me is the ability to set a clear direction by leading through personal example, to take responsibility, and to create an environment where people feel safe, seen, and inspired to pursue both shared and individual goals.
One word that best describes your leadership style?
Hopefully, collaborative.
What helps you maintain a balance between supporting your team and achieving results?
A clear definition of priorities and expectations, along with open communication based on trust and shared values. When people feel supported and trusted, a natural motivation arises to meet high expectations and deliver strong results.
How would you define “good teamwork”?
Good teamwork, to me, is when all team members work toward a common goal, understand their roles, and take responsibility not only for their own tasks but also for the overall result. It is a team where people are willing to support one another, and communication is based on respect, openness, and trust. Such a team is able not only to achieve its goals, but also to strengthen itself in the long term.
What do you consider the foundation of a strong team?
Clear communication, mutual trust, and taking responsibility for the shared outcome.
One quality you value most in your team members?
A sense of responsibility — the ability to commit and uphold quality standards.
What inspires you most at work today?
I am inspired by seeing progress — the personal growth of team members, the team becoming more confident and taking on more responsibility, and, at the same time, our results improving and our processes evolving.
What does your ideal workday morning/day look like?
Ideally, the morning starts with clarity — when I have clearly assessed my priorities, know the main tasks ahead, and can begin the day without rushing, giving time to my team. At the end of the day, it is important for me to feel that I maintained a balance between results and people, and that we are moving forward.
Which habit or practice helps you stay calm even in the biggest work‑related challenges?
Reviewing priorities and taking a short pause to organize my thoughts and define what is truly important here and now helps me most. In chaotic situations, it is especially important not to “transfer” my chaos to others — to clarify my priorities and communicate them clearly to the team. And knowing that challenges and chaos drive growth and bring the most learning and experience also helps.
Which competency, in your opinion, is most important for a leader today?
The ability to make decisions and empower the team — to trust people and give them space to grow and take responsibility, while maintaining clarity and stability within the team.
Your favourite activity or hobby that helps you relax and recharge?
Any kind of physical activity. At the moment, mostly padel and Pilates Reformer workouts. And as soon as the weather gets warmer, I always take my rollerblades out of the closet.
Vida Grigaitienė
Head of Klaipėda Audit department
What does leadership mean to you?
A connection that unites the whole team, strengthened by support and trust.
One word that best describes your leadership style?
Team.
What helps you maintain a balance between supporting your team and achieving results?
Attention and simple communication without focusing on positive or negative traits.
How would you define “good teamwork”?
When you can feel a shared pulse, a shared commitment to the goal, and open discussion without fear — in both success and failure.
What do you consider the foundation of a strong team?
Sincere communication.
One quality you value most in your team members?
Responsibility.
What inspires you most at work today?
The team.
What does your ideal workday morning/day look like?
A light conversation with the team before starting the day’s tasks.
Which habit or practice helps you stay calm even in the biggest work‑related challenges?
I allow both myself and the team to express frustration about the situation, and during that moment, I offer a solution. I let them understand that there is always a way forward.
Which competency, in your opinion, is most important for a leader today?
The ability to understand people, because everyone is very different - and the ability to approach them in the right way.
Your favourite activity or hobby that helps you relax and recharge?
Activities and time with my family.
Erika Vadeišienė
Head of Administration and HR
What does leadership mean to you?
Capability.
One word that best describes your leadership style?
Constructiveness.
What helps you maintain a balance between supporting your team and achieving results?
Constant balancing.
How would you define “good teamwork”?
A team that can collaborate and trust one another.
What do you consider the foundation of a strong team?
Trust and collaboration.
One quality you value most in your team members?
Initiative.
What inspires you most at work today?
Interesting, diverse people.
What does your ideal workday morning/day look like?
Arriving at work no more than 15 minutes later than needed.
Which habit or practice helps you stay calm even in the biggest work‑related challenges?
Personal qualities - confidence.
Which competency, in your opinion, is most important for a leader today?
Empathy.
Your favourite activity or hobby that helps you relax and recharge?
The forest, the sea - nature.
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