For 26 years, the Women Management and Work Conference (WMWC) has been discussing how women can get ahead at work and reach their full potential.
Naturally over three decades, the challenges and barriers facing women have changed, as have the topics of conversation at the annual event. However, the figures representing the actual numbers of women in leadership have hardly taken off. The fact women still account for just 5% of CEOs on the ASX 200 and just over 18% of board directors, highlights the work yet to be done.
There are still plenty of cultural and physical barriers that explain why a significant portion of women do not reach senior leadership ranks.
But there are personal barriers some believe also stand in the way: notably – and it’s a controversial one – a lack of confidence.
The problem, according to a number of women at a Women’s Agenda/Macquarie University roundtable in the lead up to the WMW Conference, isn’t that women lack confidence in their abilities, but rather in promoting themselves publicly.
“It’s not the internal confidence that’s a problem but maybe the external confidence,” said Donna Meredith, MD, Keystone and Principal, Interaction Associates Australasia. “It’s in how they articulate that confidence and turn that into an external asset.”
Many of the women on the roundtable agreed that support networks will help. And the best supporters are sponsors – those who usually have a vast amount of experience and contacts, and who will directly advocate to see those they sponsor get ahead.
According to Deborah Harrigan, the executive director of Global Order Experience and Customer Care Solutions at Dell, a sponsor can help bridge the gap between the confidence women have for managing their roles and responsibilities to the confidence they need to take a career to the next level. “A sponsor sees your capability – especially the capability that for some reason you can’t express or find difficult to realise,” she said. “They help us bridge that gap. That’s my perception of what we need right now.”
Dr Sally-Ann Ernst, the CEO and Cofounder of Cyber Security Networks, added that a powerful support network can help with not only expressing an idea or innovation, but also in managing any fallout such an expression might attract.
“There is often this fear that as soon as one puts themselves or an idea out there, that it can be threatening and that person will become a target. While that does happen – this is business and that’s competition — if there’s no support network it can be challenging,” said Ernst. “It’s having this network of potential reassurance, and even sponsorship, that really helps.”
Meanwhile the issue of likeability must be considered, according to former Apple MD and now MD of Xplore Success Diana Ryall. “Women want to be liked and therefore they use different language that downplays their skills. It took me a number of years to say, ‘I actually don’t care if I’m liked. I want to be respected for what I do’. And when you make that leap, then all the sudden you can be a lot more confident about it.”
Telstra regional general manager Angela Lovegrove said sponsorship and other support networks, such as working with a business coach, have helped her build the relationship skills she needs for now working with a large corporate. She says it’s a form of confidence that’s worlds away from her decades of leadership experience growing tech start-ups.
Like Lovegrove, most participants on the roundtable – which was mainly made of those who’re speaking at the WMW Conference – reported having had a sponsor at some point in their careers, and noted that their careers had benefited from such individuals.
It’s not a confidence in ability that some women are missing – but rather in ensuring others are aware of such abilities. A network will help, especially one that features a powerful and influential sponsor.
Check back with Women’s Agenda for more from this roundtable. Macquarie University’s Women Management and Work Conference is on 12 November in Sydney. See the full program here.