​Is the onus on Kiwi women to secure top CEO roles?

Should women change their mindset to secure the managerial positions currently occupied by males?

“Many women fail to apply for promotions or jobs at a higher level in another organisation because of this lack of confidence in their own ability to use the skills they have and learn the rest on the job,” Stove adds.

Stove says employers should also be aware of this potential obstacle and encourage high-performing women to apply if they see their confidence may be lacking.

“For an employer, it’s always better to have more applicants to choose from, and even if a woman doesn’t get the position, the push may give her more confidence to apply for the next one,” she adds.

For many women, juggling the various requirements of everyday life at home and the office can be overwhelming, but Stove says shifting your mindset could be as simple as eliminating one word.

“Women need to banish the word ‘busy’ from their life and instead concentrate on being ‘remarkable’,” Stove adds.

Stove says taking the emphasis off how much they need to do in a day and instead finding ways to do their best while balancing all facets of their life makes women feel more efficient and portrays a confidence in their abilities that will be respected by senior managers.

“Rather than trying to do everything women also need to empower their teams to do their jobs, and to stop feeling guilty about what they can’t fit into their day,” she says.

“Their life and career may look different to those of their male counterparts, but that doesn’t mean it is less successful or that they aren’t getting the job done. It just may be at different times or in a different way.”

Anna Stove, CEO, GSK New Zealand
Anna Stove, CEO, GSK New Zealand

Employers have a large part to play in this, Stove believes. “There is subtle sexism and an unconscious advancement bias in many organisations, which is why managers need to be open-minded when it comes to finding alternative pathways that work for the company and star female employees.”

One of the biggest challenges facing Kiwi women is finding strong mentors and role models, says Stove.

“With the lack of women in senior positions in this country, it can be tough to find someone who can help them plan their career,” she adds.

“But it's essential for women to find those who can share their knowledge and experience in order to reap the benefits of lessons learned along the way.”

Going forward, Stove believes managers need to be aware of this also, and encourage senior female staff to support and challenge other women in the organisation.

“Having a role model in your organisation is a huge benefit, and can really help women succeed,” she says.

Stove says if women and employers both take on the challenge of ensuring there is more diversity among senior staff and executives, the decline in women at the top of business can be turned around for the positive benefit of everyone.

“Countless studies have shown that diversity helps not just develop a better culture, but also improves the bottom line, making it an increasingly essential part of corporate strategy for all Kiwi businesses,” she adds.

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