women in business 37
Why women need to make their own rules
The hard question we should be asking is – ‘do we need to take much bigger steps to reshape the business world into something more women want to be involved in?' Kath Shimmin, partner and leader of the banking and finance team at law firm Blake Morgan, one of the sponsors of this year's Women in Business Awards, says more needs to be done to persuade women to develop their careers. Alison Dewar of The Business Magazine spoke to her
“I think it is relatively common for women today to look at the hierarchy of the business world and think ‘I don't want to do that'. There is a generation of women who don't feel the need to be part of it and we have to work out how to make it more desirable,” she said.
“Women don't always have the confidence to push themselves. They would often rather be seen as brilliant at what they are already doing, rather than have the potential to try something else. That's why we refer to the sticky floor rather than the glass ceiling.”
At Blake Morgan, women make up 70% of the non-partner workforce, but at partner level the figure flips to just 30% of females represented.
Making both splits more even is something Shimmin is keen to address and having already adopted flexible working on a discretionary basis for all employees, one idea currently being trialled is a mentoring scheme for women on, and returning from, maternity leave.
“We are looking at different ways in which women can be encouraged to stay and develop their careers and also making it more acceptable for whichever parent wants to be the carer,” she said.
“We invest a great deal in training and if one of our female employees takes maternity leave and decides not to come back, that's a huge loss for us. Part of our mentoring scheme is around persuading them that it doesn't have to be difficult. Sometimes it's around confidence and we want to show that not only can we make it work, but they can excel – it's
about what you contribute, not whether you are in the office nine to five.”
Having become a partner while on maternity leave with her second child, Shimmin says her own experience was a positive one.
“Twenty years ago, when I had young children, it was seen as odd if you came back to work full-time and I certainly experienced that. That attitude has changed, but it needs to change even more.
“I also think it's a shame that some women experience peer pressure to stay at home to look after their children, rather than doing so because they really want to. There's a sense that if they don't feel this way, there must be something wrong with them.
“It's really important to say to women you are not letting your children down and you are not a failure as a mother if you decide to work full-time.
It's the
criticism every woman fears and it's something that was levelled at me.
“Fortunately, I have a pretty thick skin and a husband who supported me fully, so I was able to pursue my career and I want to make it easier for other women to think like that.
“If you're considering whether or not to apply for a promotion or a partnership, worrying about being a good parent should not be at the top of the list of things to think about.”
Shimmin says she is often frustrated when talk of women in business focuses solely on issues such as maternity leave and flexible working because although
Kath Shimmin
the tools are in place, she believes not enough is being done to encourage women to want to make use of them.
“Events such as the Women in Business Awards are really important because it's an excellent opportunity to showcase all sorts of women who have achieved great things,” she continued.
“I love the diversity of the awards and the fact they show there needn't be boundaries. That's a message we need to get out there, it is about giving women confidence to look around them and see that all across the business world women are doing extremely well.
“These are all women who have found different opportunities for themselves. That is what we need to encourage more women to do – to make their own rules and play the game in their own way.
“As sponsors, we will be looking for women who have found a way to make what works for them deliver great results in their chosen fields and for role models who are using their transformative powers to make it easier for the next generation.”
Kath Shimmin
kath.shimmin@
blakemorgan.co.uk 023-8090-8090
blakemorgan.co.uk
Business THE M A GA ZINE TM THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – JULY/AUGUST 2016
w
IN BUSINESS 2016
omen
womeninbusiness.biz businessmag.co.uk
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