Your Shape Talent LinkedIn newsletter - November edition

November is one of our most insight-packed months so far!

• Must-read/Listen: Our latest blog?includes actionable strategies and shows you how gender-inclusive succession planning strengthens your leadership pipelines.
• New research: Join this month’s webinar and discover some of the hidden barriers to gender equity in European corporates and what you can do to move the dial in your organisation.
• Catch up on this week’s LinkedIn Live: Learn how gender-balanced succession planning for your C-suite helps ensure high-performing teams and better outcomes.
• Meet the team: Get to know Julia and her approach to driving impactful change.
• Why menopause awareness must go beyond an awareness month: Missed our October Special LinkedIn Live with BSI?? You can tune in to our podcast.

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November Shape Talent blog: Gender-inclusive succession planning - the key to sustainable, equitable leadership.

Our latest blog, What Does A Gender Inclusive Succession Strategy Look Like – Key Considerations for your C-Suite, explores the strategic imperatives of gender-inclusive succession planning, highlighting why a diverse leadership pipeline is critical for modern businesses.

Learn more on:

• Understanding gendered discrepancies in the succession pipeline, including the barriers that often exclude women and marginalised genders from senior roles.
• Breaking down outdated leadership criteria that perpetuate inequality and focusing instead on future potential and team strengths.
• Practical strategies for implementing a gender-balanced approach to succession planning, such as the gender proportionality principle.

Webinar: Beyond legislation - new research reveals what's really stopping women from progressing in European corporates

We’re excited to present our new research – ‘The reality gap: Three barriers to women's advancement in European corporates’ at our webinar on Tuesday, November 26th, at 10:00 AM GMT? / 11:00 AM CET. In this session, we’ll discuss fresh findings from our Three Barriers data and explore why even in some European countries ranked high for gender equity, structural challenges remain. This research will provide actionable takeaways for organisations aiming to move beyond compliance and achieve true gender equity. Save your spot here.

November LinkedIn Live recap: Rethinking succession strategies for a gender-inclusive C-suite

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday's powerful discussion on gender-inclusive succession planning for the C-suite. Shape Talent's CEO Sharon Peake and Eleri Dodsworth of global executive search and leadership consultants, Stanton Chase, led an insightful session that unpacked useful strategies for building more inclusive leadership pipelines. The engagement from attendees highlighted just how important this topic is for organisations committed to achieving genuine gender balance at the top.

Key takeaways included how to:

1. Design succession plans that prioritise gender-balanced leadership, ensuring high-performing teams and better business outcomes.
2. Remove biases from C-suite leadership selection processes, identify overlooked talent, and leverage data to spot and address pipeline leaks.
3. Develop C-suite leaders who actively champion inclusion and gender balance, fostering a culture built on diversity, psychological safety, and accountability.

If you missed the live event, you can watch the full replay to hear the full discussion and practical insights shared.

Meet the team

Meet Jools, whose passion for creating positive change is matched only by her dedication to running marathons (though she claims 'never again' after each one!). As a key team member driving gender equity, Jools shares her insights, experiences and what keeps her motivated both professionally and personally…

Breaking Barriers podcast: supporting menopause in the workplace

Our October Breaking Barriers podcast episode covers powerful menopause awareness conversations, featuring Anne Hayes from BSI and Lyn Bartholomew from Ericsson.

Tune in and discover:

• Why menopause needs reframing as a critical business issue, impacting talent retention and organisational performance.
• Practical steps for creating menopause-friendly workplaces, from policy development to cultural change.
• How the new British Standard BS 30416 provides a framework for organisations to better support employees through menopause, perimenopause and menstrual health.

The blend of personal experience and professional expertise makes for compelling listening. Why not share this with your network to help normalise these crucial conversations?

Ready to build a gender-equitable organisation?

At Shape Talent, we are committed to helping organisations tackle the most complex diversity challenges with impactful, tailored solutions. If you’re ready to elevate your diversity strategy, let’s connect and work together to make a difference.