“This was a phrase we coined to reflect the fact that sometimes, the career trajectory of talented women can rest entirely on their leader, be they male or female,” Smith said. “Women told us they tended to excel with leaders who demonstrate strong values; are inclusive; and supportive during the various stages of their life and career.”
By way of contrast careers stall when a great leader moved on or the woman moved on to a less capable leader.
“It strikes me that we need to celebrate men who have a track record of hiring, developing and advancing women – but actually these men are quite rare,” he said. “Making inclusive leaders the norm rather than the exception – be they men or women – might just be the circuit breaker we need on this issue.”
Hearing that searing insight shared by a man at the helm of one of Australia’s biggest companies, to a room filled with more men than women, was welcome. Smith’s awareness and discernment on this issue was echoed by the chief executives who joined Leigh Sales on stage.
These men included Commonwealth Bank’s Ian Narev, Lieutenant General David Morrison, Telstra’s David Thodey, IMB’s Andrew Stevens, Treasury’s Dr Martin Parkinson, ASX’s Elmer Funke Kupper and Qantas’ Alan Joyce. They spoke freely, frankly and emphatically about the moral and economic imperatives for improving women’s representation in leadership.
But, critically, they spoke about what is required to make that happen. About normalising flexibility in the workplace, looking at caring responsibilities in non-gendered terms, being proactive about reaching targets, setting targets and making management accountable for meeting them, putting a disproportionate amount of resources into boosting women in senior ranks. The level of detail with which these men spoke on these issues impressed me most.
And it is that understanding of those details that underpins their new report. After considerable consultations, conversations and research the group has devised a 12-point action plan to fix the issue that Mike Smith says “we’ve discussed for decades”.
Momentum on the issue of women in leadership is undoubtedly building. On Tuesday the Business Council of Australia launched its direct action plan to ensure women hold 50% of senior positions by 2023. This week the Australian Financial Review published an editorial calling for more women. And yesterday a powerful group of chief executives lay down the gauntlet. It is time for this issue to be addressed and they’ve given a few hundred of the country’s leaders a road map for doing it. There just aren’t excuses.
There is no doubt there is a commercial imperative for business to act on this. They know the data; companies with better gender diversity at senior levels perform better, they attract and retain the best talent and the bottom line is boosted.
The economic imperative for the government to lead on this issue is just as persuasive. However unlike business the government’s lack of awareness on this issue, evidenced by cabinet, is glaringly obvious.
Three weeks ago Australia received a damning assessment for the opportunities it affords women. The World Economic Forum’s 2013 Global Gender Gap report indicates that yet again Australia ranks 1st in the world for educating women. More women reach higher levels of study here than in any other country. Critically, however, we rank 52nd in the world for female workforce participation. The disparity between those criteria is expensive and appalling. As is the fact no one from government commented on this. Considering the productivity gain for closing that gap is estimated at 13% of GDP, there is a convincing reason this should be discussed.
Before we sat down yesterday the minister assisting the minister for women, Senator Michaelia Cash, told a guest the fantastic thing is that there is now realisation among businesses that there is a financial reason to act on gender equality. That is not only true for business: government stands to gain too. Failing to lead on this issue is a failure bigger than the issue itself. If the Treasurer Joe Hockey or Senator Cash, take anything away from yesterday’s event I hope it’s that.
This article originally appeared on our sister site, Women’s Agenda.
