Let’s change the world for women — step by step!

Women, second generation biasWatching an episode of ‘Working Moms’ with my daughter recently, reminded me just how difficult it can be for working women, particularly with a new baby, to go back into work and thrive. Yes, we giggled together at the automated breast pumps and the comedy in the script. However, through the humour it brought back memories of being admonished for having baby sick on my suit jacket and being interrogated about my commitment to my career at every juncture.

Sadly in some organisations, I don’t believe much has improved in the last twenty years. So in my last blog for #iwd2019, I want to explore some very simple steps that most organisations can implement straightaway to move gender equality and equity forward. Continue reading


Use Sponsorship to erode the gender pay gap

Gender Pay GapThe economic gap between men and women is forecast to disappear by 2186. So financial gender inequality will be with us for an awfully long time yet! As part of our blog series for #iwd2019, Lis Merrick considers the current gender pay gap situation and gives two top tips for using sponsorship mentoring to remedy this situation.

She will recommend some fundamental changes that need to be made in the workplace and society to expedite more equality. But also offer a couple of suggestions that any organisation, which is serious about tackling gender inequality and the gender pay gap, can implement straight away. Continue reading


Five ideas to develop male mentors for female mentees

Male mentor for female menteeIn the first of our series of blogs for International Women’s Day 2019, here are some ideas to use in briefing male mentors to mentor in a female mentoring programme. Research shows there are pros and cons to using female and male mentors when mentoring your female talent. Some male mentors are just naturally brilliant when mentoring a woman. Others need a little more support to really blossom. Here are some ideas to support them: Continue reading


Does Queen Bee Syndrome make women cruel?

Queen beeOrganisations may face a higher risk of losing female employees who experience female instigated rudeness as they report less satisfaction at work and increased intentions to quit their current jobs in response to these unpleasant experiences. This is according to a new study to be published shortly in the Journal of Applied Psychology by a team led by Allison Gabriel of the University of Arizona.

Queen Bee Syndrome has always been with us, women can be terribly cruel to those underneath them in the hierarchy and pull the ladder up behind them, rather than extend it down to support them in their career progression. If women have had a tough time becoming successful in their career, some women, rather than become the great role model and mentor they could be, feel other junior women coming up behind them are a threat and deciding to either be unpleasant to them or deliberately block their career path.

So how much of an issue is Queen Bee Syndrome in organisations and is it impacting the increase in numbers of women into the Board Room? Continue reading



Fill in our contact form.