#BeBoldForChange - International Women’s Day challenge

7 March 2017
For immediate release

AMP celebrates International Women’s Day by challenging Kiwis to #BeBoldForChange

AMP Financial Services is launching its annual Women in Leadership Pathway programme to coincide with International Women’s Day and Women’s Entrepreneur Week, to help Kiwi women reach their potential and encourage diversity throughout the business world.

AMP’s Women in Leadership Pathway Programme is an exclusive leadership programme tailored for women in senior business roles. It offers a mix of workshops and an accredited Ignite Leadership Coaching Programme that is supplemented with one-to-one executive coaching from International Coach Federation (ICF) credentialed coaches.
AMP Managing Director Blair Vernon says International Women’s Day is an opportune time to reflect on women’s achievements and progress in New Zealand and to acknowledge what more needs to be done.

“We are committed to seeing women realise their aspirations and grow and achieve their personal and professional best within our organisation and the wider business sector in New Zealand. For a whole nation to prosper, it’s vital that women have opportunities to develop their leadership abilities and advance their careers.

“We’re pleased that our programme offers a vital step in that journey, providing high-achieving female professionals with the skills and confidence they need to take their careers to the next level.”

Past participant Kimberly Bray, National Services Manager for Ravensdown, a farm inputs and technology services cooperative, and finalist in the 2016 Deloitte Top 200 Young Executive of the Year Awards, says the AMP programme has equipped her with top-level leadership, conflict resolution and influencing skills in a male dominated industry.

“The biggest challenge that many women face in being a leader is overcoming unconscious bias. AMP’s Women in Leadership programme helped me to not only recognise the barrier, but equipped me with the skills to amplify my influence and become a more impactful leader.

“The programme is rigorous, but worthwhile in the way that your development is supported at a one-on-one level with executive coaching and through the networks that are created with other leaders across New Zealand.

“The commitment that AMP’s executive team show to the participants even after the programme finishes is testament to an organisation that really believes in supporting the development of women into leadership roles in New Zealand.”

The programme, now in its fifth year, is by invitation only for women in senior positions with the capability and aspirations to progress to executive leadership roles. It is an opportunity for individual growth with a focus on developing crucial leadership skills. 90 women from a diverse range of industries have so far completed the programme and 25 more will go through it this year.

The 2017 programme will run from April to December and is led by ICF credentialed Executive Coach and leadership development specialist Yvonne McLean, who runs her own coaching and leadership development consultancy Strategic Direction Consulting Ltd.

Yvonne is also the New Zealand Chapter Chair of the New York based Women Presidents’ Organisation. She was formerly the Programme Director for the New Zealand Global Women, BreakThrough Leaders Programme from 2010 to 2013.

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