Beneath The Surface

Gender & Leadership

Episode Summary

Global leadership expert Dr Liz Coffey on how to achieve gender equality at C-suite level... and brilliant advice to land a top job.

Episode Notes

Are there enough women in C-suite (top-level executives within a company, typically those with titles starting with "C" (chief), such as CEO, CFO, COO, and CIO) positions? Are things moving in the right direction? What barriers do women face getting the top jobs and how can these barriers be removed or overcome? How can men help create gender equality at the top of organisations? How can any individual make the leap from senior executive to a C-suite position?

In this fascinating episode Dr Liz Coffey - author, coach, speaker, consultant (and Founder of Spark Leadership)- joins hosts Lila and Perminder to shares insights from her vast experience of researching and coaching people around the world in C-suite positions... and people trying to get there.

The episode starts with a look at the latest stats on gender equality in leadership positions before exploring a whole variety of discussion points including:

• How the majority / minority dynamic is still at play in the workplace and the huge impact it has on equality, diversity and inclusion
• How the experiences of women in leadership have changed over the years and where things are going next
• What "strategic influencing" is and its vital importance in making it to C-suite level and then being successful
• Why different male/female experiences growing up may explain some common boardroom dynamics
• How women can harness and exploit collaborative skills that may come to them more naturally to be brilliant leaders
• The vital part men have to play in creating gender equality and, in turn, better outcomes for organisations

This episode is a must-listen for anyone at any level of the water sector but could be especially useful for women wanting to progress to the very highest levels of leadership.