THE CONVERSATION YOUR EMAILS, BLOGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS The roots of gender bias


I read with interest your excellent profile of Mary Portas (February/March) and her views on gender bias at work. We should also recognise that the problem takes root early through conditioning in childhood, some self- sabotage and unconscious bias in the wider world. I have spoken with many honest and intelligent


women who unwittingly suff er from impostor syndrome – talking themselves out of “thinking big” or applying for senior roles because they feel they can’t meet every requirement. While men win accolades for showing emotional intelligence, women are often branded soft. To succeed in business, we may try to reject our femininity and identify more with men, hiding the things that make us diff erent. This can include rejecting other women who are seeking promotion, kicking down instead of off ering a step up. We must acknowledge a key reason why more


women are not in leadership roles is that we are subtly conditioned to think we cannot perform them. Because there are so few of us up here with a clearer view of the barriers, it’s hard to demonstrate to men what the issues are. In most cases, my colleagues, friends and clients understand the benefits of a diverse leadership team, but lament the lack of candidates. Business leaders should take a step back and think about how to help everyone, regardless of gender, reach their full potential. And, after looking at the immediate issues in the workplace, we should go back to the beginning, with a focus on toys and education, to foster a more enlightened society. Myfanwy Neville, head of property at BKL


YOUR TWEET S @pauldonno


“Great read in @The_IoD Director magazine about @maryportas. I liked it so much, I bought her book.”


@SJTrethowan


“Fascinating facts about employing ex-offenders from @DirectorIoD. Seems like another solution to the skills shortage. Would you employ an ex-offender? If not, why not?”


@mdorchester1 “Good article in Director on the business benefits of hiring ex-offenders. I’ve eaten @TheClinkCharity in Cardiff – superb.”


YOUR BLOGS


AI ethics: cutting through the hype


Recent events have shown us that AI – with no governance – raises significant concerns about bias that firms must take steps to tackle, writes Ivana Bartoletti, head of privacy at Gemserv.


CONGRATULATIONS…


...to Ken Cherrett, who won a two-night stay, plus dinner and a spa treatment, at Fishmore Hall, Ludlow. For a chance to win a luxury stay at The Grand, York, turn to p65.


We need a childcare levy Most existing childcare support options do not incentivise women to go back to work, but


investment from the state and employers can help families and unlock talent, writes Carolina Brière, founder of the Childcare Levy Campaign.


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