Long before she published Lean In, the book that became an international bestseller and the modern manifesto for ambitious women, Sheryl Sandberg had reservations about even mentioning her gender. Before she gave her now-famous Tedx talk outlining why there are too few female leaders, she was warned off.
“You cannot be a serious business executive and speak about being a woman. You’ll never be taken seriously again,” Sandberg was told.
Fortunately the Facebook COO ignored that advice and did more than mention her gender; she created a platform for a new and more meaningful global conversation about what it is really like to be a woman who works in this day and age. It would be asinine to say Sandberg hasn’t been taken seriously since.
In Lean In Sandberg acknowledges there are structural and cultural barriers which still prevent women from participating in the workforce to their full potential. The dearth of women in the leadership ranks in politics and business is evidence of this. But Sandberg also identified another, more personal, barrier to women’s success. And that is our own beliefs and expectations.
There is obviously a complicated causal relationship between these factors: the same cultural barriers which might impede a woman’s progression at work will also shape that same woman’s expectations of herself and her career, which then potentially impact the former. In Sandberg’s words it is the ultimate ‘chicken and the egg’ situation. But rather than waste time pinpointing exactly which came first she suggests we wage a war on both fronts.
At Women’s Agenda we agree. There are absolutely big-picture changes that need to take place to help the advancement of women at work. Issues like mainstreaming flexibility and caring responsibilities in the workplace and improving the affordability and availability of childcare are not changes any person alone can bring about. But they are changes that will, broadly, improve the extent to which women can participate at work. They are important battles to fight.
But while we fight those big battles to level the playing field, as women committed to building fulfilling careers we must also take an interest in the battle and field we are in right now. You, alone, might not be able to shape the future for all women at work but you can make choices to shape your own career. That is why we are thrilled to be launching My Agenda, a members-only site created to help you shape your career.
My Agenda is for career-minded women who are not afraid to lean in. Whether you are just starting out or you’re on the cusp of a senior leadership role, My Agenda will help you reach your career goals. And, perhaps most valuably, it will give you the opportunity to do that while enjoying the support and camaraderie of a group of like-minded women.
We have engaged three of Australia’s most accomplished leadership coaches to mentor, guide and teach you through My Agenda. Megan Dalla-Camina, Avril Henry and Michelle McQuaid each had successful corporate careers before they developed careers leading others. Now, they are each highly sought after coaches, authors and speakers. They coach some of Australia’s most senior executives and are regularly engaged by large companies and organisations, here and overseas, to develop and improve the leadership skills of others. But that is not an opportunity afforded to everyone.
If you’re not yet the chief executive you may not be in a position to engage a coach. Your employer might not have the budget, or the inclination, to invest in your leadership potential. But it doesn’t mean you can’t. My Agenda will give you access to some of the wisdom, expertise and benefits of a leadership program without the price tag. The coaches will be writing exclusive content for My Agenda and you will have the opportunity to interact with them and pick their brains during regular webinars and Google hangouts. In addition to the coaches, My Agenda members will have access to a variety of high profile successful mentors who will talk to you, openly and honestly, about their own career challenges and successes.
And you will get all of this in an environment like Women’s Agenda; that is unconditionally supportive and encouraging of women’s success. So if you want to take your career to the next level and reach your full potential, lean in and do it with My Agenda. I can’t wait.