Blog by Pam Allinson
Susan Vinnicombe shared with us statistics which illustrate the progress that has been made to ensure greater gender equality in the highest levels of management but also the challenges that remains to further raise women’s involvement.
The majority of graduates are now women yet many women disappear when they should be rising through their professions. Only 5% of the CEOs of the FTSE top 100 companies are women. While the EU has brought in a 40% quota for women on boards, Professor Vinnicombe believes improved representation of women should be brought about through culture change. Progress is being made and there are now no all-male boards and 22% of boards members in the FTSE 100 are female.
Professor Vinnicombe talked about the different perceptions men and women have of themselves in the workplace. Men tend be ‘climbers’ concerned with status, seniority, pay and are competitive. Women are more inclined to be ‘self realisers’, focussed on personal development, rising to challenges and concerned with work/life balance.
Ladies, we are encouraged to be bold, confident, positive, speak up for ourselves and to be VISIBLE. Wear bright colours and BE SEEN. Professor Vinnicombe’s book, ‘Women with Attitude’ sounds like a ‘must read’! Surely,as Soroptimists, we can be role models – there are many Women With Attitude in our midst!
See Susan Vinnicombe’s presentation slides (PDF format)