Women – the Vital Force!

DISTRETTO SUD-OVESTConvegno distrettuale

Soverato 15.6.2014Tuulikki Juusela, BPW International President

1985-89

Some historical remarks

Beijing Platform for Action adopted by all189 countries at the UN Fourth World Conference on

Women in 1995 and the Millennium Declarationadopted by 189 countries in 2000, contribute to the

overarching human rights framework

”We all, men and women, need to ask ourselveswhat we can do for the women who bear the

greatest responsibility for the world, and for thefuture,” Helvi Sipilä urged women in Beijing

So True!

“We are smart, we are hard working and we know we are doing good work, but we still find all sorts of reasons

for questioning whether we deserve more than we already have. Women hope the world will figure out

how brilliant they are through their work, when in truth, it is their job to get the word out."

”Even the most talented woman has a thousandtimes more obstacles and difficulties in her path

than her male colleagues”- statement byFamous Minna Canth from the 1880s

Nordic countries

By having a strategic focus on supporting workingparents and dual income families, these countries

have the smallest gender gaps in terms of economic empowerment and political

participation (World Economic Forum)and boast some of the highest birth rates in Europe

as well as some of the most stable economies

Nordic strategy - comprehensive school system

In 1921 universal compulsory education in Finland93 % of Finns graduate from high school

The difference between weakest and strongest students is the smallest in the world

43 % of high school students go to vocational schoolThe school system is 100% state funded

Finland has same amount of teachers as New York city! All teachers has to have a masters degree

Finland publishes more children's books than any other country

Is Finland one of the very best places in which a woman could live ?

The first in Europe to gain the franchise 1972 the Council for Equality to advise lawmakers on methods for

realizing full legal equality for women1983 Legislation: both parents were to have equal rights for custody

of their children, parental leave1987 Legislation: forbidding any discrimination on the basis of sex

and providing protection against it 1995 Legislation: gender-based discrimination on the labour

market prohibited 1999 the principles of equality mainsteraming incorporated into the

national employment programmes

The Finnish strategy, 4 components

Research and studies: ‘Female Leadership and Firm Profitability’ by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA35 demonstrated that firms led by

women are more profitable (10-20%) than those led by men. Corporate governance code: in2008 updated code 36 includes the

recommendation that ‘…both genders shall be represented on the board’. The code is applicable to large listed companies.

Quick governmental action: government has set the right example by putting forward a target of appointing at least 40% women on boards of state-owned

companies and achieving it quickly. Active role of the media: the Finnish media have actively published both

positive stories of companies that made a difference and bad examples of companies with all-male boards. This has put pressure on companies to

make the necessary changes and avoid negative publicity.

Women`s Enterprise Agency

Courses on entrepreneurshipStart-Up counselling

Info sessionsShort notes and sessions

Networking eventsBusiness mentoring

State funding

EMPOWERMENT

Empowerment means that people -both women and men – can take controlover their lives: set their own agendas,

gain skills (or have their own skillsand knowledge recognized), increaseself-confidence, solve problems, and

develop self-reliance. It is both a processand an outcome.

6.3. 2014 marked 4 years since the launch of the WEP

Why get businessworld involved

Gender diversity helps business performbetter signals that self interest and common

interest can come togetherThrough ”gender lens” business can survey

and analyze current practices, benchmarks and

reporting practices

Equality can be a plus

the skills, knowledge and experience of both genders diversifies practices, makes product and service development more creative, and brings greater sensitivity to the anticipation

of customer needs - better results

Building a diverse workforce

What is the representation of women at the bottom,middle, and top levels of your organization?

What is the gender mix of your senior leadership?What leadership roles do women occupy relative

to men?What is the gender mix in your slate for senior

roles?Is there a certain stage of career advancementthat women seem to be “getting stuck” and not

moving into leadership? Why?

Women at top level

The companies where womenare most strongly represented at board

or topmanagement level are also the companies that perform best

sufficient participation of women

Goal setting is a must

SpecificMeasurableChallenging

RealisticTime-limited

Action-orientedGetting heard

Looking and acting the partFocusing on the big picture

Gender diversity and business outcome

In Europe, of 89 publicly traded companieswith a market capitalization of over

150 million pounds, those with morewomen in senior management and onthe board had, on average, more than

10 percent higher return on equity thanthose companies with the least percentage

of women in leadership.

SMEs in Europe

are the main engine of growth and employment and they harbour enormous potential for job creation.

There are 23 million SMEs in Europe, accounting formore than 75 million jobs and over 80% of employment in

certain sectors, such as textiles,construction and furniture.

“Generation Y”

will move not only among jobs, but also among careers through their working lives, reinventing

themselves many times over; for them, technology is not a tool but a part of what

they are (as shown by their use of social networking and web 2.0 technologies);

they want challenges and development opportunities from work, but also choice and flexibility in order

to accommodate their personal lives; they value employers who demonstrate a

responsible approach to society and to environment.

Womenomics

Refers to women as one of main engines of growth.

Many economists say that women are one of the three emerging forces shaping the 21st

century. The three “Ws”:

Weather, Women and the Web

Networking is a prime component

In the future, information is power

The larger your Network, the better your chance of finding out exactly what you need to know

Knowing whom to call is almost as good as knowing!

Networkers can accumulate influence or power by control of information and, of course, by learning

Women - Mentoring

it has been said that women in mentoring relationships have greater job satisfaction than women whitout mentors

a mentor can significantly accelerate a woman’s professional development compared to that of women whitout mentors

mentors are important in introducing women to the organization’s power structure, formal and informal.

women may face different problems to men in mentoring relationships

To become successful Executive

Network-seize every opportunityBe visible-develop contacts and resources

Develop your skills- skills inventory, specialization, new skills

Have a plan- re-evaluate alsoKeep up with the times-trends in the economy and

in your industryGo online-power of Internet, access to knowledge

Do your homework-identify companies with policies for women

To become successful Executive

Learn the corporate culture -fundamentals,ask questions

Keep your eyes open-watch, listen, learn Attend to the home front-support, balancing work

and family Collect experience-even lateral moves

Get a mentor-female or maleBe personable- peers can influence a career

Keep your eyes on your goal-stay focused, admit to the mistake, move on

Future - feminine!

“We must have the courageto look far into the future”

Helle Kannila, Finland

“The future belongs to those of us, female ormale, who can adopt and embrace the

feminine archetype.”John Hagel III,

cofounder Deloitte Centerfor the Edge, Deloitte United States

An empowered woman has

Notions of self-worth and dignity (individual).Bodily integrity; freedom from coercive forces over a woman’s

very body (individual and structure).Control and influence over household and public resources

(structure and relations).Experience with or appreciation of the value of collective

effort and solidarity among women (relations)

THANK YOU