When we talk about women’s career advancement and success at work, the conversation often gets caught up in the ways we can “fix” individual women.
It’s a lazy trap that doesn’t acknowledge the pervasiveness of gender inequality in the workplace over decades, nor does it help dismantle the systemic and behavioural barriers that can hold women back at work.
While we’re starting to see some shifts in the way we have these conversations, many workplaces are still far away from real change.
Cultivated in the right way, workplace sponsorship has the potential to be an effective game-changer, not just for women facing entrenched structural barriers at work, but also for leaders to really step up and start thinking deeply about the ways gender equality can be improved in their workplace.
Take engineering, architecture, environment, and construction services firm GHD, which has engaged in an intentional sponsorship program with Cultivate Sponsorship, as they look to better attract and retain female talent in a sector that is heavily male-dominated.
As part of the program, a strategic alliance is forged between a senior leader – the ‘sponsor’ – and an emerging leader – the ‘sponsee’ – with a view to investing in the careers of emerging leaders by giving them opportunities and support they would otherwise go without.
Principals at GHD have reported that becoming sponsors through Cultivate Sponsorship’s flagship program has been eye-opening and even transformative. And it’s pushed them to double down on their commitment to dismantle the structures that allow gender inequality to flourish.
President and Global Leader at GHD Advisory Richard Fechner is one such sponsor, who says his participation in the program helped him develop self-awareness around the structural barriers that women face at work.
“The program ensured I took the time, over a substantial period of 7 months, to think more deeply about supporting all forms of diversity in our business – and that it all starts with awareness and insights to drive meaningful change to remove both actual or perceived barriers,” Fechner told Women’s Agenda.
“It was a great opportunity to explore through regular long conversations with my sponsee. This made it a low pressure and meaningful activity.”
Indeed when it comes to a sponsorship alliance, the sponsor can have just as much to learn as the sponsee. For Fechner, participating in the program helped him look beyond the daily grind to focus on the bigger picture.
“As a sponsor it provided the opportunity for me to grow, to reflect through the feedback I received, to pause and think – what is really important for me and what is my legacy?” he says.
“The program helped me to be more purposeful in how I develop others, and provide encouragement, not just in check-ins or for the next job application, but constantly in day to day dealings.
“Developing the art of sponsorship is an important attribute for all leaders to support an open and inclusive environment where all can thrive and achieve.”
General Manager at GHD South Australia Dr Kerry Neil has also participated in Cultivate Sponsorship’s program as a sponsor, and she says it has left her with a sense of who she is, what has contributed to her success to date, and how those lessons might help others.
“The program is designed to encourage you to reflect inwards and really test your own thinking on what has benefitted you in your career journey.” Dr Neil shared with Women’s Agenda. “And then you are encouraged to share that with the person you are partnered with.”
“Openly sharing that with someone who is curious about my journey has clarified my leadership direction and what legacy I want to leave.”
Dr Neil says the program’s resources were helpful in honing an honest, meaningful connection with her sponsee, and it also challenged her to become more aware of her own biases in the workplace.
“The program provides great articles and materials which I have used many times. So I am not only learning and growing through collaboration with others but also through the prep-work required for each session. It really gave me permission to test my own thinking and challenge my own biases in a gentle but structured way,” she said.
She says the program has been an essential piece in helping GHD to support more women on their career journeys.
“Our construction, engineering and design sectors are still a long way from achieving gender equity so it is important to amplify and shine a light on the capabilities and potential of women in the sector and support more people considering the benefits of choosing a similar career path.
“You cannot be what you cannot see – and Cultivate is helping our high potential female talent to see their own potential, to learn from the career lessons of others and also to be seen for the value they bring by an audience wider than their day-to-day team.”
This piece was written in partnership with Cultivate Sponsorship. Learn more about their programs here.