July 2012: Women in Management

July 2012: Women in Management

With the announcement that the NZX will be adopting a gender diversity rule, it only seems fitting that this month's newsletter focuses on the issue of how few women there are in management and governance. Included in this newsletter are a number of articles about this issue, along with a resource list of current ideas and research.

Also, keep reading to find out more about our Women in Governance seminar for women seeking directorships or planning their careers to position themselves for future board roles.

We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members, Transitionz and Access Ability.

In this Issue
Corporates cultivate female leaders

The 25 Per Cent Group

Making the breakthrough

Book your tickets

A blueprint for change

Tartan skirts and old school ties

Introduction to Corporate Governance

'Women in Leadership' resources

EEO Trust events

Useful events

New EEO Library resources

Corporates cultivate female leaders

A recent case study report compiled by the EEO Trust, explores what six leading New Zealand companies are doing to encourage talented women into leadership roles. Transforming Cultures to Grow Women Leaders addresses the concrete actions each corporation is taking and also details the initiatives developed to support gender diversity goals.

The 25 Per Cent Group
High-powered board members and executives are among members of The 25 Per Cent Group, launched last month to boost the representation of women on New Zealand boards. Their objective: 25% female participation on boards by 2015.
Among the members are Dave Chambers, Managing Director of Progressive Enterprises; Barbara Chapman, CEO of ASB Bank; Jonathan Ling, CEO and Managing Director of Fletcher Building, and Gabriel Makhlouf, Secretary to the Treasury. The companies they lead are all members of the EEO Trust.
The EEO Trust had a hand in the launch of The 25 Per Cent Group, compiling the research report Transforming Cultures to Grow Women Leaders which it promotes.

Making the breakthrough

A new report from McKinsey & Co looks at what organisations can do to improve the number of women they have in senior management. The research reviewed the gender diversity programmes of 235 large European companies and investigated initiatives developed, what worked well, what didn't, and why. The report found that most companies take gender diversity seriously, devoting real resources to redress gender imbalance, but it notes the frustration organisations experience when their efforts do not always create the expected impact.

Book your tickets
The judges for the ANZ New Zealand & EEO Trust Work & Life Awards 2012 will be making their final decisions regarding winners this week. Now is the time to book your tickets to the Awards dinner on 30 August so you can secure your seat at what will be an amazing and inspiring event. You have until 31 July to register for the Early Bird rate.

A blueprint for change

At a recent Wall Street Journal conference, a taskforce of business and government leaders examined what is holding women back in the workplace, noting that the corporate talent pipeline is leaking. Included in the article is an action plan for creating new opportunities.

Tartan skirts and old school ties

Diversity Council Australia has launched the Issues Paper, 'Tartan skirts and old school ties: The boys club/girls club in Australian boardrooms', in an attempt to advance public debate around gender diversity on corporate boards. The paper notes the importance of ensuring that the patterns of the past are not repeated to ensure diversity.

Introduction to Corporate Governance
This one day Auckland workshop, facilitated by Janine Smith, offers an introduction to corporate governance. The workshop is jointly organised by the EEO Trust and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and is designed for women who are currently seeking directorships or reflecting on how to plan their careers to position themselves for directorships in the future. This event will be held in Auckland on Friday 10 August and the cost is $350 + GST. For more information, contact us on events@eeotrust.org.nz

'Women in Leadership' resources

We have recently updated our comprehensive Women in Leadership list of resources, which outlines the current national and international research on this topic. To access this resource list and keep up to date, click here.

EEO Trust events

Parental Leave Return to Work Programme
15 August, Auckland
At the next Diversity Practitioners Group meeting to be held at Bell Gully on 15 August, Martin King, GM People and Performance, Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand Ltd and Jayne Muller, a transition coaching specialist from Altris Ltd will discuss Coca Cola's Women in Transition programme. It has been very successful in helping women make the transition from maternity leave back to work as smooth as possible. It's about supporting talented employees by offering flexible hours and extra support so they don't hand in their resignation if family demands clash with work.
For more information, or to register for this free member event, please email us on events@eeotrust.org.nz.

Engaging With Diversity
23 August, Auckland

This EEO Trust workshop, led by facilitator Jenny Magee will provide a fitness check for organisations to examine how well they are responding to diversity challenges. It will help attendees build their knowledge of issues around diversity, learn tools to respond to difficult situations and identify strategies for continuous diversity development. Cost: $450+GST for EEO Trust members and $495+GST for non-members. The workshop is generously hosted by Hudson. For more information please email us on events@eeotrust.org.nz

Leveraging Diversity - Moving Towards an Effective and Diverse Organisation
4 September, Dunedin

Led by facilitators Lana Hart and Jan Eggleton, this workshop will help attendees develop a business case for diversity that is relevant to their organisation, experiment with strategies to meet workplace diversity challenges and gain confidence in practicing diversity through informed discussion and interaction. Cost: $450+GST for EEO Trust members, $495+GST for non-members. This workshop is generously hosted by Otago University. For more information please email us onevents@eeotrust.org.nz

Engaging with an Ageing Workforce
5 September, Wellington

This one-day workshop, facilitated by Geoff Pearman, is designed to help managers understand the challenges and opportunities of an ageing workforce.
Geoff will draw on his recent experience of working with several large organisations in New Zealand and Australia to provide attendees with practical tools and strategies to adapt to their ageing workforces. He will also explore how to leverage the business and economic opportunities of this fast growing and often overlooked group of potential employees.
Cost: $450 + GST for EEO Trust members and $495 + GST for non-members. This workshop is generously hosted by Victoria University of Wellington. For more information contact us on events@eeotrust.org.nz.

Useful events
Creating Your Pathway to Boardroom Effectiveness
18-20 July, Auckland
This three-day workshop for women brings together the latest thinking in governance and learning. Interactive sessions enable you to learn while developing your business confidence in a supportive environment. You will gain in-depth understanding of the practices necessary for effective governance and create your own personal development plan.
Assertiveness, Influencing Skills and Conflict Management for Women Managers
6-7 August 2012, Auckland

20-21 August 2012, Wellington
Assertive behaviour enables us to act in our best interests and exercise personal rights without violating the rights of others. Assertive people say and think without apologising or dominating. Assertive people are willing to find mutually satisfactory solutions to interpersonal problems and conflict - which means they are usually able to send the right signals and get the right responses.

This course will help you to:
• Develop your skills in assertive communication;
• Build your confidence in dealing with challenging situations;
• Capitalise on your strengths in communicating with others.
Diversity at Work: HRINZ conference
8-10 August, Wellington
This year's HRINZ conference, to be held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa, takes a good hard look at diversity in the workplace - both physical diversity and diversity of thinking.
Speakers include:
• Peter de Jager
• Nigel Latta
• Mojo Mathers
• Roseanne Hawarden
• Angela Atkins
• Peter Merry
• Tim Grogan
The Diversity at Work conference is supported by the EEO Trust.
Managers as Coaches
8 August, Auckland
This one-day course is designed for managers and team leaders who want to become more confident and competent in handling everyday problems when managing staff. It offers tools for a range of performance conversations: developmental coaching, performance appraisal and performance improvement.
It ensures managers will be able to confront and act decisively with under-performers in ways that maintain their self-esteem and promote individual responsibility.
EEO Trust members enjoy a 15% discount. Please indicate membership when enrolling.

The Power of Peer Coaching
14 August, Auckland
Peer coaching groups are a low-cost way to spread core coaching skills throughout an entire organisation and are a powerful professional development tool for individuals and teams.
This skills-based workshop:
• Introduces peer coaching as a leading-edge tool for performance improvement;
• Provides training on seven tools for coaching or mentoring groups;
• Provides opportunities to experience the power of peer coaching through small group practice;
• Equips you with all you need to set up and run effective peer coaching groups.
Future NZ Workforces: Enhancing productivity and capability through improved organisational flexibility
28-29 August, Auckland
This Conferenz event explores how flexibility links to improved organisational productivity.
• Gain insight into best-practice techniques for quantifying productivity;
• Learn how New Zealand workplaces are adopting flexible practices;
• Explore the connection between flexibility and productivity with perspectives from HR practitioners, employers and union representatives;
• Increase your knowledge of change management through a legal and HR lens;
• Discover what needs to be considered from an OSH and contract-development point-of-view when integrating flexibility into your practices.
EEO Trust members benefit from a 10% discount. Enter the promotional code AZWS6Wwhen registering online.
Leadership for Women
6-7 September 2012, Auckland
13-14 September, 2012 Wellington
This course is designed for women who have a strong desire to grow in their personal and professional development and who want to share with other women their experiences, aspirations, challenges and concerns.
The course will present you with up-to-date research and leadership models for women leaders and help you to integrate the practical and intellectual principles of effective leadership with your own authentic leadership style.

New EEO Library resources
Click on the title for more details of each resource. If you are a member and would like to borrow a book, log in and make a request. If you haven't yet joined the library, email us for a library card. You can check out other recent additions to the library here.
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Shattered: Modern Motherhood and the Illusion of Equality
This UK publication draws on the experiences of parents in the UK and around the world, and looks at modern motherhood and the illusion of equality The book notes that the consequences of an enduring inequality perpetuated by employers, the state and the parenting industry reach beyond individuals into and into society as a whole. Asher suggests imaginative ways forward to achieving balanced and fulfilling lives.

Child Care Today: What we know and what we need to know
Child care is the 21st centurys biggest unsolved conundrum: Childrens needs have not changed, but in a world that puts a premium on paid employment and personal fulfilment, who should and who can meet these needs?
In this book Penelope Leach, a world renowned expert on child development and parenting issues and co-director of the UKs largest child care study, offers an honest evaluation of these complex issues. She considers the view points of politicians, parents, and children themselves, and summarises what international research can tell us about the effects of different kinds of care on families and children.

ENDS

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