What we also know is that those talented women don’t always have the opportunity to network and get mentored with those who can best support such ambitions.
The AICD Chair’s Mentoring Program aims to support such connections by offering year-long mentorships with the chairs of ASX 200 organisations.
Its goal is to help increase the number of women on ASX-listed boards, with women now accounting for a quarter of ASX 200 board members – although a small number of boards still have no women.
The program’s been running for five years and has seen 250 mentees and 200 mentors participating. Previous mentors have included David Gonski, Dr Bob Every, Roger Corbett, Helen Nugent, Elizabeth Proust, Ziggy Switkowski and many more.
Marina Go is a past participant, having been mentored by Graham Bradley. She recently said of the experience that he opened doors for her, and challenged her thinking.
“Most of all he devoted a lot of time to meeting with me. I met with Graham on a monthly basis for about an hour. He asked a lot of why questions, “Why? Why? Why?
“I still had to do the work, he would recommend that I speak to somebody or he would send an introductory note but I had to go out and speak to these people and I had to impress them.”
Regular mentor and AICD chairwoman Elizabeth Proust says mentoring programs like this assist those who are already senior in their careers to develop a network that can help them go even further.
“Often people think that by working hard someone will engage them and it will just happens,” she says. “That’s important, but it’s also important to have those networks.”
Women’s Agenda has partnered with AICD on promoting this program.
Please follow this link if you’d like to apply. Get in quick, nominations close this coming MONDAY the 22nd May.