The movement to achieve a more proportional
representation of women on boards in most of developed nations repeatedly pops
up over the last year or two. I see it reading the newspaper. I hear
about it attending a lecture at the University. I talk to women who
want to lead about it because I am one of those women. It is
no coincidence, the words “women on boards” floats in my head – I have
subconsciously chosen for it to be a mantra of mine. I have the art of
execution as a life mandate. I love making decisions. I love
strategic planning. Since my days
at General Motors Corporation when the Director of Global Security told me it
was why my answers were the best; I rely on my common sense and social
intuition to guide me. I have experience in leadership through
adversity that most people cannot comprehend having worked on the Somali border
with refugees. My Master of Public Administration degree is really
just a simple addition to the fact that I have a great deal to
contribute. Like many women who are highly qualified, skilled, and
ambitious, I want the right venue to direct my energies. The
boardroom is it.
I am not there yet for a couple of
reasons. I am only 32. I have not sought out the opportunity
until now. I hadn’t thought to – because I am a woman with a series of
skill building roles and needed to climb to the level where I believed that I
have a significant contribution to make.
There is some hesitance. It takes
balls to lead - metaphorically, and I mean metaphorically even more so than
literally. I met The Honourable Nicola Roxon MP (Australia) today at
a conference and commentary about her afterwards from the other women
during evening drinks made it seem as if every woman who aspires to lead
has a complex…uncaring, infertile, mean to their husband, political, selfish, a
brat! What about
ambitious? Caring? Wonderfully fierce? Holding
her own? One of the qualities I have always valued in women is
their generosity of spirit, their warm hearts and yet, when it comes to other
women who succeed all they see is bitterness and sacrifice (as if every win
must mean a happy child or husband on the line. What about relishing the moment
for them? For US, HER time has come.
The hesitance contributed to my delay in
pursuing a position on a board, but I refuse to succumb to this anti-women women-whispering
manifesto. I don’t mean to alienate any women who don’t want to be a
CEO, MP or other powerful acronym. I do not think less of you – in
fact I want a position that demands the world think more of you. I
honor and respect the profession of women in the home. I have great
reverence for women who choose less of a career and more of a job because
“someone” in the family had to make the sacrifice. I did this for
four years – I know the challenges. And, whilst you may find no need
for leaving this, as it is often a very happy place, I want to represent you
and me, and the 50% of the population that we women are. I am a
feminist, in the sense that if it weren’t for the feminists before us I
couldn’t make the choice to work outside the home, vote, or wear jeans! But I am not angry or pushy, I just
believe it is time to reignite the fire and finish what we as a gender began
many years ago. I embrace what is
feminine in feminism – there is no reason for us to try to fill a man’s shoes
when ours are as good or better anyhow.
I want to keep my head and my heart and demonstrate that Gender Equality
has never been as much an issue as Gender Quality. I want to motivate others to achieve their ambitions and
allow us a footpath to empowerment without treading on the women around me, or
the men who do well by us in their own roles.
And so, this is my first post. Take a journey with me through
presentations, videos, experiences, interviews, articles, and books and
reviews. I want to hear real views
– whether you are an executive woman with advice, a business man who wants to
know more, or a young woman boldly leaping into her own journey – I encourage
you to post your views! The experience is not mine alone. Indeed, it is global. I hope that it serves others in
stimulating conversation, in reflecting on what is working and what is broke,
and in supporting each other in achieving Gender Quality!
Now, Let’s see what it takes to become The
Chairwoman of the Board.
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