The Leadership Compass with Michelle Redfern, Gender Equality Advisor and Founder or Advancing Women
Michelle Redfern, Founder of Advancing Women
How can we continue to accept the status quo when it will take over a century to achieve gender parity in leadership roles?
Despite significant strides toward gender equality over the past few decades, the leadership gender gap remains a critical issue. Statistics highlight the urgency: women hold just 29% of senior management roles globally, a figure that has seen only marginal improvement in recent years.
Alarmingly, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2023 estimates it will take 132 years to achieve full gender parity at the current rate of progress. These numbers reflect deep-rooted systemic barriers that continue to hinder women's advancement in leadership positions.
The persistence of this gap underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to address gender inequality. Diverse leadership teams are proven to drive better business outcomes, yet women, especially women of color, remain significantly underrepresented in executive roles. The slow pace of change calls for renewed focus and innovative strategies to dismantle these barriers, making the work of advocates like Michelle Redfern more crucial than ever.
In a recent interview on The Uncharted Leader podcast, Gender Equality Advisor Michelle Redfern shared her unwavering commitment to closing the global leadership gender gap and creating a level playing field for women and girls. With a career dedicated to advocating for gender equality, Michelle's journey began with a profound awareness of the injustices women face in the professional world and a fervent desire to drive change.
Michelle's mission is deeply personal. She has navigated the complexities of balancing work and family responsibilities and has faced frustration with the slow pace of progress in achieving gender equality. These experiences fuelled her determination to advocate for systemic change and to assist women in overcoming the barriers within corporate structures. She identifies key issues such as the lack of progressive policies, the need for inclusive leadership training, and the necessity of redistributing workloads to promote flexibility and equity in the workplace.
Her inaugural book, The Leadership Compass, serves as a crucial guide for women aspiring to leadership roles. It provides practical advice on building confidence and navigating one's leadership journey.
As Michelle candidly shares, "I want to share my epic fails with women and say try to avoid this because this is what happened to me, his is what I learned."
A central theme in Michelle's advocacy is the concept of knowing one's unique value proposition and being clear about your core competencies. She believes that recognising and leveraging these strengths are fundamental to inclusive leadership.
While Michelle collaborates closely with CEOs to foster inclusive workplaces, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to organisational culture, her passion extends beyond corporate boardroom. She is a staunch advocate for women in sports, championing their representation and participation both on and off the field.
Michelle's call to action is clear: it's not just about helping women navigate the existing system, it’s about advocating for a system that better supports gender equality. Her belief that "fake it till you make it is really bullshit advice" resonates as she champions authenticity and self-awareness in leadership.
In her own words, "Angry women will change the world."
Michelle Redfern is indeed a “human GPS”, a compass guiding women through the often challenging landscape of leadership. Her insights and strategies provide a roadmap for women to not only succeed but also to drive systemic change, ensuring a more equitable future for all.
Tune into the podcast to hear more about Michelle's inspiring journey, her actionable advice and vision for a world where leadership is truly inclusive.
Key Takeaways
The system needs to change to promote gender equality, including the implementation of progressive policies and inclusive leadership training.
Flexibility and equity are crucial in the workplace, and organisations should redistribute workloads and normalise men's involvement in caregiving.
Michelle's book, The Leadership Compass, serves as a guide for women to build confidence and navigate their own leadership journeys. Self-leadership and vulnerability are essential in leadership.
Knowing one's unique value proposition and core competencies is crucial.
“A leader is someone who can lead themselves, others and organisations to reach their full potential””
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and get a copy of The Leadership Compass here.
Book a call with Kylee and ask her about how the Emerging Leaders Program can help you unleash your hidden potential to lead with purpose and achieve unprecedented growth.
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Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
