We might just save the world... Reflections on the CMI Women in Leadership Conference
"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Today I attended my very first in person CMI event: the Chartered Management Institute's Woman in Leadership annual conference.
The focus was 'divide or prosper' and the line-up of speakers was hugely impressive and the collective wisdom was inspiring.
Here are my top takeaways from the event…
Modelling behaviour, is a concept that has far reaching connotations. If you've been with me on my learning journey thus far, you'll already know that behaviour is the 7ᵗʰ direction of my self-awareness compass. Giving the keynote speech, Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party reflected on conduct in public life. If you recall the party gate debacle and hauling wine back to the office in suitcases, you'll understand exactly what she means. If we want to see change in our teams, organisations or country, every single one of us as to live and model our values. Be the change you want to see.
The power of Queenagers is underestimated. Queenagers are those of us from around 45 and beyond who are independent and financially secure leaders and decision makers, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Yet we are sidelined by businesses who overlook our buying power and organisations who ignore our expertise. Edwina Dunn referred to the invisible pound and calls out the media who portray life through a distorted lens. Women are viewed as past their sell by date when they hit their Queenager years, which puts both women and companies at a significant disadvantage.
As women in leadership, our role is to hold out our hand to the women coming up the ladder behind us. Things are changing and the percentage of women on boards and in positions of power is increasing. But, to continue this sea-change, we need to support each other. Through our experience, we, as Queenagers, can mentor others and model the behaviour we expect to see in our boardrooms, our parliaments and our magazines. Experience is the 9ᵗʰ direction of my self-awareness compass. I define it as both gaining experience and sharing experience. With our hand held open to other women coming up the ladder, our role is to mentor and share our experience to keep fighting for the equality we know will benefit us all.
"If you want someone to do a good job, give them a good job to do". This quote from Pamela Dow is the best description I've heard of the Pygmalion Effect in action. You'll remember when I spoke to Rob Thomas we discussed the impact of our expectations on individual’s performance. Having high expectations of others often means they reach it! Only yesterday I was speaking to a colleague and reflecting on changes that I had observed, directly linked to purposefully and actively changing my expectations on others and seeing them grow into giants.
Cognitive diversity might just save the world. The event brought together people of all ages, all genders, all sectors and all backgrounds. The sharing of knowledge, skills and experiences created incredibly innovative ideas to solve some wicked problems of our time. No longer can the fate of the planet and its people rest on the ideas of stale, pale, male boardrooms. We need to draw from a far broader talent pool if we want to create a planet fit for future generations.
I became a Chartered Manager in 2023 as a way of recognising my management capabilities and experience. If you’re a manager, you too might want to consider chartered status as a way of connecting with brilliant people, learning new things, attending top quality events and rubbing shoulders with Queenagers like me!
Looking forward to having you on my learning journey!
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Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.