Solaris: Breaking the black glass ceiling
Yetunde Hofmann MBA ChCCIPD FRSA
Independent Non-Executive Director @ Cranswick | RemCo Chair| Founder @Solaris | Keynote Speaker| Inclusion and Love-Based Leadership Advocate
Solaris is a pioneering new leadership development programme for black women
Breaking ‘The Black Glass Ceiling’
Why this programme matters:
? Only 1.5% of senior positions in UK businesses are held by black people
? Black women face a double burden of racism and sexism to reach the top
? Solaris aims to shatter ‘The Black Glass Ceiling’ – empowering black women professionals to advance into senior management, the C-suite and to board level
? Founded by Yetunde Hofmann – former FTSE 25 Global HR Director, CIPD Director, IBE Board Trustee, Visiting Fellow at Henley Business School, TEDx speaker and author
? Developed by black female executives for black female executives – providing role modelling, a strong network, mentoring, sponsorship, coaching and creating a talent pool to contribute to organisations’ achievement of diversity and inclusion goals globally
Launching in April 2021, Solaris is a pioneering leadership development programme for black professional and executive women – empowering black women to break through ‘The Black Glass Ceiling’.
The one-year programme develops the confidence, resilience and skills required to achieve career targets, personal and professional goals, as well as building a strong professional network for black women.
The programme aims to help tackle the inequality at management, CEO and board level, help organisations to become more inclusive at every level and generate a strong internal talent pool of black women.
The programme – internationally renowned speakers, mentoring and mastermind sessions
The programme’s diverse range of speakers includes directors and professors from some of the world’s foremost business schools and universities - including London Business School, University of London and University of Michigan.
The programme includes:
- In person group learning sessions
- Virtual mastermind support and challenge group sessions
- Individual business challenge solutions and action learning
- Career development series with industry leaders
- Delivery against a commercial business and a personal development objective
- Peer-to-peer networking
- One-to-one mentoring with a senior business leader
Solaris is championed by executive search consultancy Sapphire Partners – recognised by the UK Government’s Department of Business, Innovation & Skills for their work promoting women non-executives and leading the way in ensuring more diverse candidates are promoted and hired.
#Equality #Inclusion #Diversity #BlackWomen #LeadershipDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership #BlackGlassCeiling #ConcreteCeiling #WomenInLeadership #BlackWomenInLeadership #Solaris #ExecutiveDevelopment #TalentManagement #TalentDevelopment
Associate lecturer and researcher in leadership at Henley Business School
3 年This is truly an inspiring initiative. I came across Solaris for the first time today, in the process of conducting my doctoral research, and hope it has been a successful journey for everyone involved so far. Best wishes
Founder & CEO | I help progressive organisations head hunt exceptional talent | Diverse Talent Acquisition | Career Coach | Fractional CFO
4 年This is a great initiative Yetunde Hofmann Chartered FCIPD and really needed, I sometimes feel that black women face concrete ceilings, not seen and too many very competent black women have had their confidence knocked. I would have definitely benefitted from such a programme in my corporate career. I will be sharing with network.
Outreach Volunteer at ISUOG (International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology)
4 年Well done Yetunde. Wonderful to see black women helping each other to break these ceilings. As a black professional woman myself, who has experienced these ceilings in the medical field, I look forward to being a part of this.
Adviser on business ethics and governance
4 年Such an important initiative.
Chair Berkshire LEP, NED at Maintel Holdings plc.
4 年Well done Yetunde. I agree that developing black, female leaders is extremely important and I am glad that you are focusing on general leadership skills, combined with specific modules for females to drive not only diversity but inclusion which is key . I am convinced by the evidence around cognitive diversity and see an opportunity to use diverse leadership as a stepping stone towards a more full diversity. If you would like to discuss this further please ask.