In the labyrinth of leadership, passion emerges as the North Star, guiding us towards fulfilment and impact is not a consequence; it is a deliberate act of leadership. Change is the heartbeat of progress.
The CII IWN – Southern Region Say Yes Leadership Conclave 2024 highlights the pivotal role women play in driving meaningful change. Whether within corporate boardrooms, community organizations, or global initiatives, our collective strength lies in our ability to be architects of transformation. This is the 5th edition of the leadership conclave and is scheduled on 7-8 February 2024 in Bengaluru.
The theme of the conclave is "Passion. Impact. Change" and looks to encapsulate the essence of women's leadership, emphasizing the emotional and strategic dimensions that drive positive transformation. Each element of the theme contributes to creating a holistic narrative that goes beyond traditional discussions on leadership and embraces the multifaceted nature of women's roles in various fields.
Passion:
Passion is the driving force that sustains leadership and influences the culture, motivation, and success of the teams and organizations. It transforms leadership from a mere job into a purposeful journey, making a significant impact on both personal and organizational levels.
Say Yes 2024 looks to Embrace Personal Drive and reflect on and celebrate consistency, commitment, and enthusiasm. It underscores the idea that true leadership stems from a genuine passion for one's work and a deep sense of purpose.
Sessions are structured to Foster Motivation as leaders inspire and motivate others. The conference will explore how harnessing and communicating effectively can be a powerful tool for building effective teams, driving innovation, and navigating challenges.
Impact:
Strategic Influence involves creating positive and lasting change and the conclave will delve into strategies and approaches that leaders employ to make a tangible impact in their respective fields.
The discussions look beyond the lens of professional achievements into the broader societal and organizational changes that result from effective leadership. Impactful leaders leave a lasting legacy, and the conclave will feature changemakers narrating their journey and showcasing how actions today can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future.
Change:
In leadership, change is not just inevitable; it's integral. Our theme propels participants enthusiastically embrace the dynamic nature of their roles and industries. It cultivates a mindset where change isn't a challenge but a powerful opportunity for unprecedented growth.Change also involves advocating for broader societal shifts. Discussions will focus on how women leaders can engage in policy advocacy to bring about systemic changes that benefit not only individuals but entire communities.
The CII IWN Say Yes Leadership Conclave 2024 aims to catalyse a positive transformation in the landscape of women's leadership across diverse sectors and feature discussions on women leadership in manufacturing, technology, IT/ITES, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and policy advocacy.
By intertwining passion, impact, and change, the conclave conference seeks to create a narrative that goes beyond individual accomplishments, aiming to inspire and equip women leaders to make a meaningful difference in their professional spheres and society at large. The interconnectedness of these themes emphasizes the idea that leadership is a dynamic and purpose-driven journey that, when fuelled by passion, can lead to impactful and transformative change.
Defining Leadership:
In the dynamic landscape of leadership, women are emerging as architects of change, igniting a paradigm shift with their commitment to passion, impact, and transformative leadership. The IWN leadership development initiative serves as an enabler for women to navigate the intricate realms of executive roles, offering a transformative journey that transcends traditional boundaries.
Pew Research highlights that the issue of having more female leaders goes far beyond equality in the workplace. Four-in-ten of them (38%) say having more women in top leadership positions in business and government would do a lot to improve the quality of life for all women. (Source: PEW Research - https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends)
Leadership is a complex and multifaceted trait, and successful leaders, whether male or female, often draw on a combination of these qualities based on their unique personalities, experiences, and contexts.
The Pew Research paper also highlighted that women are more likely than men to say that female leaders in both politics and business outperform male leaders on most of the traits and characteristics tested in the survey!
So – Say Yes to a sisterhood that upholds leadership and transformation!
Mentoring Leadership:
Leaders often recognize the importance of mentorship and the development of others. They may actively mentor aspiring leaders, and work towards creating opportunities for career growth and advancement.
Revisiting the Pew Research Center report on mentoring, 63% of women have never had a formal mentor and it’s clear that they’re missing out. Statistics from February 2022 indicate that 90% of workers who have a mentor report being happy in their job and that employees who are involved in mentoring programmes have a 50% higher retention rate than those not involved. 25% of employees who enrolled in a mentoring program had a salary-grade change, compared to only 5% of workers who did not participate, and mentees are promoted 5 times more often than those without mentors.
Mentorship is a powerful tool for empowering women to break through the glass ceiling. It provides a supportive relationship that goes beyond formal education and training, addressing the unique challenges women may face in their professional journeys. The guidance, advocacy, and support provided by mentors can make a significant difference in helping women overcome obstacles and reach their full leadership potential.
Say Yes looks to feature the IWN – SR EVEmpower Mentorship initiative and the Impact the initiative has enabled in career transformations.
Advocacy for Women Leadership:
Advocacy for women leaders and women in workplaces involves addressing and dismantling the barriers that hinder their representation in leadership roles. It's crucial to recognize that these barriers are often rooted in societal and institutional factors. It is also true that women are more likely to highlight these systemic challenges as obstacles to their advancement than men.
Within an organisation, it means, creating an ecosystem that may address biases in recruitment and promotion processes to ensure that women have a level playing field. It also means advocating for increased representation of women in decision-making bodies, including boards of directors and executive committees. Diversity in leadership contributes to better decision-making and organizational success.
UN Women Statistics reveal that as of 15 September 2023, there are 26 countries where 28 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government. It goes on to state that at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years!
And why do we need equal representation in policy making? A research on panchayats in India discovered that the number of drinking water projects in areas with women-led councils was 62 per cent higher than in those with men-led councils. In Norway, a direct causal relationship between the presence of women in municipal councils and childcare coverage was found.* (source UN Women Website)
Advocacy efforts can contribute to breaking down the barriers that hold women back from achieving greater representation in top leadership ranks. It requires a collaborative effort from individuals, organizations, and policymakers to create a more inclusive and equitable landscape for women in leadership.
The Say Yes to advocacy is our endeavour to fuel synergies and co-creating an ecosystem of Gender Partnerships and Advocacy leaving no one behind!
Leaders & Brand Building:
George Eliot, Novelist and Poet said, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
Branding involves consciously shaping and promoting image and reputation. Personal branding, in the context of leadership, involves consciously shaping and promoting one's image, values, and expertise to establish credibility and influence.
About 82% of respondents to a study on brand building conducted in US in 2022 said that women would be more successful leaders if they had a personal brand plan. Ironically, the majority (55%) do not have a personal brand plan! In many cases, it was highlighted that Women doubt their own accomplishments and capabilities, experiencing imposter syndrome, which hinders efforts to build a personal brand.
Saying Yes to Branding is the way to ensuring change and impact! The showcase leadership event will feature discussions, spotlight and masterclass on effective brand building.
To conclude, referencing a line from the previous conclave - each one of us as allies, irrespective of gender needs to step in to advocate for equity and inclusion. This is a continuous journey and will enable the creation of an environment where women feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive in leadership roles.
We invite you to explore and Say Yes to the best in you!