Closing The Gender Gap: An Interview With Change Leader Beatrix Dart

Knowledge Keiretsu sat down with Professor Beatrix Dart, Ph.D., Professor for Strategic Management, in advance of her speaking engagement at “Alternative Investor Opportunities in an Uncertain World” in Toronto October 24th.  She is the Executive Director, Rotman Initiative for Women in Business, as well as Country Lead The 30% Club Canada

KK:      We know the gender gap is alive and well – how are we REALLY going to change it?

BD: Closing the gender gap requires a change of mindset and attitudes, and we all know that cultural and societal changes are very tough to do. However, there is a practical example and success story: mandatory parental leave, ie both parents have to take a minimum time off in order to receive government benefits paid out. In Scandinavia (and some other European countries), a six-month mandatory parental leave for each parent has created a significant change in attitude how the role of fathers and mothers are perceived. We need that in Canada.

KK:   You wear many hats: Can you please give us a social media soundbite on the Executive Back to Work Program at Rotman's?

The Back To Work program helps to keep the corporate pipeline filled with talented women. We wish to see more women in senior roles and on boards, but that requires a steady career stream of women at all levels. In Canada, women who have dropped out to take care of family responsibilities find a very difficult to re-enter the workforce after a few years. The Back To Work program provides support in closing skill gaps, boosting confidence, providing professional networking opportunities and preparing the women for the practical aspects such as resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interview training etc. It is the only program of its kind in Canada.

KK:      Which Canadian companies would you applaud for their gender diversity?

BD:  While the professional services firms are often exemplary in their commitment to advancing women, I would applaud all those companies which recognize that gender diversity is not only the morally right thing to do, but also good for business. Better decision-making, better governance, better risk assessments – women’s contribution to business simply leads to better outcomes, more innovation, and higher returns on investment. We now have over 160 CEOs and board chairs who have joined the 30% Club campaign and are publicly declaring their support to advancing women – ask them why…

KK:  In What has been the dollar value so far in investment loss or transfer due to firms taking a stand on gender inequality?

BD:  MckInsey’s latest report (June 2017) “The Power of Parity in Canada” they write:

Advancing women’s equality in Canada has the potential to add $150 billion in incremental GDP in 2026, or a 0.6 percent increase to annual GDP growth. That is 6 percent higher than business-as-usual GDP growth forecasts over the next decade. Put another way, this figure is equivalent to adding a new financial services sector to the economy.

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Knowledge Keiretsu’s ‘Alternative Investor Opportunities in an Uncertain World’ series comes to Toronto on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at the Drake Hotel. The event will see attendees comprising institutional investors, family offices, HNWIs, seeders, portfolio managers, entrepreneurs and social disruptors meet to discuss the challenges and opportunities investors will be facing in the coming years.

Contact me or at [email protected] to request an invitation to attend.