Representation matters

Back in the 1990’s airbags were introduced to lower car accident fatalities and injuries. But after their introduction, women and children were dying in low-impact car collisions that shouldn’t have been fatal.

It was the new technology – the airbags - that were killing them.

The airbags had been designed for a male body so the force wasn’t adjusted for the weight and height of women and children, and there were no female crash test dummies.

Representation matters.

Women are under-represented at all levels of decision-making worldwide. In Australia while women make up half of the employees (51%), women comprise only:

• 19.4% of CEOs

• 32.5% of key management positions

• 33% of board members

• 18% of board chairs.

In ASX 300 companies women hold only 9% of CEO roles.

The key barriers to women reaching the highest levels of decision making are bias, stereotypes, lack of self-confidence and a lack of work life balance.

I speak to inspire women to lead; to challenge the status quo; and to define their own version of success because representation matters, now more than ever.