Greta Thomas and Claire Hatton* outline what needs to be achieved to smash down barriers and help pave the way for more female leaders.
Photo: Samuel Zeller
The lack of women in senior leadership around the world today is the result of hundreds, if not thousands, of years of social norms and stereotypes being created that defined what women “were expected to do”.
Of course, this means that there’s no single or easy fix.
There is good news, however: things have been changing, albeit slowly.
Australia actually leads the world (just!) when it comes to the percentage of women in senior executive roles (21 per cent) and also on our corporate boards (27.7 per cent for ASX 200).
We believe that until the time when we all get used to women being just as likely to be the “boss” as a man, we’ll continue to have to push for greater equality.
That’s why having female role models and shining a spotlight on today’s female leaders and innovators is so important.
It helps us chip away at those stereotypes of what women can be and what we can do.
Did you know that in the general news media, for example, women are only used as expert sources around 21 per cent of the time?
That’s crazy to us, as there are so many expert women on all manner of subjects out there.
We’ve just launched a podcast called Don’t Stop Us Now! to help position women as the natural leaders, innovators and pioneers they already are.
We believe that not enough women are getting acknowledgement for the amazing things they have achieved.
With downloads of the podcast from more than 40 countries to date, we believe this is a signal of just what an appetite there is for all of us to hear from more women about their inspiring journeys and their world-class expertise.
(Listen up mainstream media!)
So don’t ever let a news editor or conference organiser tell you they can’t find a suitable female expert to be quoted or speak.
There’s one simple answer we have to that: try harder.
How the system needs to change
If role models can help effectively change stereotypes, what else can be done to smash barriers and reach a more equal playing field, you may ask?
Well, we could write a book on that and plenty of people have!
There is one thing we believe is critical for organisations to address and that is the need to focus on creating flexible working arrangements.
We don’t see enough employers really trying hard on this one and yet there’s really little excuse.
We know from our own boardroom experience that there’s barely an organisation out there that isn’t talking about the need for transformation and the need to digitise and prepare for the changes that lie ahead.
We urge all people to ensure that boards, CEOs and exco’s get the message that: if your transformation doesn’t include options for 50 per cent of the population to contribute equally, then you will be left behind and your “transformation” will not create the value it could.
Here’s to celebrating female role models and creating the pathways for many more to thrive.
* Claire Hatton is CEO and Co-Founder of Full Potential Labs and former “UK Person of the Year”.
Greta Thomas is Non-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Full Potential Labs.
This article first appeared at womenlovetech.com.
