Former Twitter VP Kirstine Stewart: Getting out of your own way is not an insult
On her first day of leading CBC Television, Canada’s equivalent of the ABC, Kirstine Stewart was mistaken for an assistant.
Somebody stopped her in the hallway, asking her to take a bunch of ‘documents to Kirstine’ and Stewart realised she, “Was literally being told in that moment that I was an imposter, I didn’t look like I could be the boss.”
The network had never seen a leader like her before, but it was also in serious need of a transformation. Then at last place of the ratings, CBC needed a fresh approach and a leader different to anyone who’d led it previously. Stewart got to work quickly, assembled a new team, and prepared to present a new lineup of ground-breaking programming to advertisers. While journalists following her first major presentation in the role decided to focus on her blonde hair, red dress and high heels – something which initially left Stewart wondering if she should change her entire look to fit in – she quickly concluded that her difference was her advantage.
“I looked different. I had different experiences. I was there to do something different,” she said.
Speaking at a Business Chicks event in Sydney Thursday morning, Stewart shared such stories as a reminder to embrace your differences and realise businesses are now in need of a fresh leadership approach in order to survive and thrive in a fast-changing world.
Having recently stepped down as Twitter’s VP of Media, and now currently promoting her book Our Turn, Stewart started her career as a ‘Friday Girl’ (or an office helper), a job she said provided some valuable lessons for her career. Within a few years she’d worked her way up to company president, and later became the first woman and first person under fifty to lead CBC Television. She’s seen many styles of leadership throughout her career, and learnt plenty of lessons.
Frustrated by the continued lack of female leaders, she believes the new style of leadership businesses need is a huge opportunity for women. “I really believe there’s an opportunity to push that needle forward. We are in this unique time and space where technology is being a major driver to change how we live and work,” she said.
But taking advantage of such opportunities also means women need to step up.
For Stewart, who concedes she’s actually very shy, stepping up meant learning to “Get over herself” in order to work effectively as a leader.
“I had to get over this inherent shyness by understanding it’s actually a bit selfish. You have a place in leadership. You’re responsible for stepping up … Getting out of your own way is not an insult, it’s actually about doing good for the team around you.”
She also urged women to lose the superwoman cape. You can’t be good at everything, nor can you manage it all.
“The best way to do that is to build the team at home to support you, but also to build the team at work … Determine what you are good at, and what you need help with.”
Sharing her own career start and the fact she never could have predicted where she’d end up, she also encouraged women to be open to numerous career paths.
“You have to trust you do the things that are right at the time. Keep your head up, know what’s going on in the industry around you, and know what you do well.”
As for those journalists who commented on her appearance, Stewart learnt a valuable lesson: to be comfortable in your own skin and run with it. And later on, when social media gave her the power to control her own narrative, she’d simply call out any sexist behaviour. “Our individual voice is incredibly influential these days,” she said. “When things get in your way and you’re worried what other people think of you, you can now tell your own story on these platforms.”
