Give women the tools and training to take on senior leadership roles

International Women’s Day is an ideal opportunity for us to think about not only the inspiring women within Criticaleye’s own leadership Community, but also how far organisations have come when it comes to addressing gender disparity in the workplace.??

In 2024, it should be unremarkable to see women occupying the top jobs on senior leadership teams and Boards. This is certainly our experience within the Criticaleye Membership, which includes some of the most successful female leaders within global organisations including CEOs, CFOs, HR Directors, Chairs and Non-executive Directors.??

Similarly, the positive impact of diversity amongst leaders on the success and culture of an organisation is both recognised and undisputed. Gender is one aspect of this which needs to start at the top in order to create a more diverse and inclusive culture. Without question, women starting in their careers or talented individuals seeking to move into an organisation, look to who is sitting around the boardroom table for reassurance that their opportunities with an employer will not be limited by the gender.??

Here at Criticaleye, we believe the right development pathways for high potential women are fundamental to getting even more executives into the most senior roles.??

Developing leaders?

In addition to creating diversity at a senior level, organisations need to commit to developing their female talent pools, particular when it comes to those with the right skills and capabilities to progress to a c-suite role. Organisations offering dedicated mentoring and leadership development programmes have an opportunity to foster gender equality more effectively.?

• Peer to peer learning: offering women the chance to interact and share ideas with peers, including both men and women, outside of their own organisation, discipline, sector, or geographical location will develop and prepare them for leadership more quickly. It’s through connections with a diverse range of executives and non-executives that leaders discover fresh perspectives, develop new strategies, and gain the confidence to step up.??
• External insight: in today’s challenging and fast-paced environment having access to knowledge and diverse viewpoints outside your immediate field of vision is indispensable. Any leadership development for women should incorporate the opportunity to step outside of the day-to-day, whether that be through speaking to other businesses, or having time with an experienced external mentor.?
• Stakeholder support: leaders often tell us that stakeholder management is one of the hardest challenges when stepping into a leadership role. It’s important to prepare the next generation of female leaders for the additional responsibilities of having a c-suite position, be it communicating with internal teams and the Board, to effective investor relations, before you take on a leadership role.?

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As gender equality increasingly defines the present and future success for businesses, Boards and leadership teams will have to take rapid steps to put effective development in place if they want to attract women into leadership roles. At Criticaleye, we will continue playing a vital role in the progression of women and a diverse range of leaders.?

Happy International Women’s Day 2024.?

#InspireInclusion?