At age 15 Sophie McNeill borrowed her school’s video equipment and, without her family knowing, travelled to East Timor to make a documentary about the health crisis that was unfolding.
It piqued her curiosity and passion for reporting and as a young television journalist she travelled to Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. She became accustomed to travelling with rocket launchers in the back of her truck “just in case”.
But last week the award-winning journalist told a group of 90 women that the biggest challenge of all was not working in war-torn countries; it was realising that gender inequality was alive and well in her own backyard.
“I never really thought about being a woman until I went to the Middle East,” McNeill told the group gathered in Canberra to launch the YWCA’s She Leads program for 2014. “It was actually an advantage [because] I was treated as an honorary man. It meant I could interview men and women. [But] I came back to Australia to try and have children and a career, and suddenly I was faced with all these issues about my gender.”
Hearing McNeill speak of her experience prompted Frances Crimmins, the executive director of the YWCA of Canberra, to engage her for the She Leads launch event.
“When I first heard Sophie speak I was immediately taken by her authenticity,” Crimmins says. “I just thought here is a young woman who understood her values and what she wanted to achieve from the age of 15. Her trust in her own values and abilities saw her travel throughout the Middle East doing some amazing work.”
Crimmins says Sophie’s story models the leadership style the YWCA wants to foster in the She Leads program which comprises a year-long Diploma of Management tailored specifically to women leaders, and a one-day conference.
“Leadership is often not a ‘safe’ space so it’s important when you take a leadership position that you have some emotional intelligence and resilience,” she says. “Being true to your values and understanding your goals can help you develop that resilience and help you to develop trust in your judgement when you’re the leader out in front.”
Julia Gillard’s experience as prime minister highlights how isolating and lonely leadership can be, Crimmins says.
“When you put yourself out there you have to be prepared that people won’t always agree with you,” she says. “Knowing your values and being true to them can help leaders to negotiate the hurdles and barriers in their pathway.”
It is the second year the YWCA has delivered the She Leads program which addresses an important need in the community — providing a safe space for participants to explore their leadership potential, and to learn about the unique challenges faced by women leaders.
“The traditional foundation for leadership has been dominated by men,” Crimmins says. “Some women tell us that they haven’t come across discrimination in their workplace, which is welcome news. But unfortunately, current research shows that women are significantly under-represented in the top echelons of most industries. Our program is to help people see the gender bias and explore it.”
The inaugural She Leads Conference will take place on Tuesday 13 May at Hotel Realm, featuring a long list of prominent women including journalist and pioneering feminist, Anne Summers, Executive Director of UN Women Australia, Julie McKay, and Deputy Secretary Defence People in the Department of Defence, Carmel McGregor.
Tickets for the She Leads Conference can be purchased here and expressions of interest in the She Leads Diploma of Management can be directed to [email protected].
Women’s Agenda is a She Leads media partner.