The 2nd edition of Leadership Boost is already here! Inspired by the upcoming Mother’s Day, we’ve tailored this edition specifically to female leadership, highlighting the pivotal role of women leaders in the workplace and the need to enhance their empowerment. Dive in for inspiration, and as HR professionals, discover actionable steps to empower women within your organization!
đź’ˇINSIGHT FOR YOU
📌 Female leadership – how are we doing? A global perspective.
Good news! According to a report by McKinsey and LeanIn, women now hold the highest level of C-suite positions in history, reaching 28%.
đź“ŚIt’s not just about soft skills.
The most significant growth in executive women appointments over the last two years has been in technology sectors such as software, IT, healthtech, and semiconductors.
Shout out to our esteemed partners, Women Go Tech, the first mentoring program in Lithuania dedicated to helping women start and accelerate their careers in tech. Proud of their contribution to a positive shift in the field!
đź“Ś But why does this matter for my company?
Alright, you might ask – why invest extra effort in this? The answer is a resounding YES! Here’s the clincher – data that organizations with more women in leadership financially outperform industry competitors.
đź””MONIKA SHARES
This time, Monika Lasiene, our Director of Executive Education programs, reached out to one of the exceptional women on our faculty, Aysun Barın, to gather valuable insights. Serving as the facilitator of our short-term program, Resilience-Based Leadership for Female Leaders, and boasting an impressive background as a coach, consultant, and Founding Partner of Avvartes, she offers valuable inspiration.
1. What are some essential skills and qualities that women leaders should prioritize developing to thrive in leadership roles, especially amidst today’s rapid changes and uncertainties?
- At its core is self-awareness. Women leaders juggle various roles at work, home, family, and society. Accepting imperfection, adopting a growth mindset, and learning from mistakes fosters risk-taking, adaptability, and openness to new experiences. Increasing self-awareness not only benefits them but also enhances empathy, deepening connections with others. Acknowledging emotions and vulnerabilities helps women leaders become more compassionate and empathetic, fostering meaningful connections and supporting a culture of growth and collaboration.
- Another quality is self-kindness, self-care and overcoming the fear of saying „no“. Setting boundaries creates the space, time and energy that helps women to stay focused on what is most meaningful and leads to be more efficient. This helps to improve self-esteem, feel better about themselves, their relationships, which is also crucial for mental health and wellbeing.
- And lastly, creating a village of trusted people, creating network at operational, personal and strategic level helps to establish strong bonds whom they can turn to ask for support and advice. This sense of connection helps women leaders grow by gaining new perspectives, receiving support, and learning through the experiences of others.
2. What steps can HR professionals in organizations take to ensure continued progress and empowerment in this space?
Below are several actions I suggest for HR professionals:
- Encourage diverse candidate pools for leadership positions, ensuring women are considered for future roles and addressing unconscious bias in decision-making.
- Cultivate a culture of sponsorship and mentoring, with senior sponsors and mentors supporting women leaders’ development.
- Establish a women’s network to provide a safe space for learning, networking, and introducing role models.
- Provide coaching and leadership support to accelerate growth.
- Implement flexible work arrangements such as hybrid or remote work to accommodate the needs of women leaders.
đź’ TO REFLECT ON
âť“In what ways does our organization currently support and encourage women’s leadership development?
📢MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
We invite you to delve into the newest publication on executive trainings and the latest trends shaping this field. Gain insights straight from Monika Lasiene, our Director of Executive Education programs, and discover the optimal times to choose between live, virtual, synchronous, and asynchronous training for your teams within your organization.
âž•Extra leadership boost from us
Our upcoming events:
📅 16 May LIVE in Vilnius: Business Success Through Healthy Soil – specifically dedicated to HR professionals.
📅 30 May ONLINE: Bridging the Intergeneration Gap – a great opportunity to meet the facilitators of the Resilience-Based Leadership for Female Leaders programme.
Partner’s event:
📅 10 May LIVE in Vilnius: Women on Boards Directive: What Ambitions does Lithuania have? – a perfect match for the topic of female leadership and a great opportunity to discuss gender diversity in boardrooms together with members of Association „Lyderė“.
Programmes to join:
➡️Resilience-Based Leadership for Female Leaders – a perfect way to empower female leaders to boost their confidence and help them become more resilient!
➡️International Executive MBA – a ticket to personal and professional growth for those seeking to join an elite international business network of executives!
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for the upcoming leadership boost soon.🧡
