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ICCC Weekly Newsletter - 07 March 2021

07 Mar 2021 9:30 AM | Anonymous

ICCC Weekly Newsletter

07 March 2021

Women make better leaders

During the Covid-19 crisis, we’ve heard anecdotally about women leaders doing a better job and new research backs that up. One study found that outcomes related to Covid-19, including number of cases and deaths, were systematically better in countries led by women.

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) decided to look at its global database of 360-degree assessments to see if there were any evident patterns in how male and female leaders inside organizations are reacting and responding to the crisis.

Between March and June of this year, 454 men and 366 women were assessed on their leadership effectiveness using HBR’s Extraordinary Leader 360-degree assessment. Consistent with HBR’s pre-pandemic analysis, it was found that women were rated significantly more positively than men.

Comparing the overall leadership effectiveness ratings of men versus women, once again women were rated as more effective leaders (t-Value 2.926, Sig. 0.004). The gap between men and women in the pandemic is even larger than previously measured, possibly indicating that women tend to perform better in a crisis.

Women Leaders who handled Covid-19 crisis better

Women were rated more positively on 13 of the 19 competencies in HRB assessment that comprise overall leadership effectiveness. Men were rated more positively on one competency — technical/professional expertise — but the difference was not statistically significant.

HBR states that the most valuable part of the data that it is collecting throughout the crisis is hearing from thousands of direct reports about what they value and need from leaders now. Based on its data they want leaders who are able to pivot and learn new skills; who emphasize employee development even when times are tough; who display honesty and integrity; and who are sensitive and understanding of the stress, anxiety, and frustration that people are feeling.

HBR’s analysis shows that these are traits that are more often being displayed by women. But as the crisis continues, and intensifies in many places, all leaders, regardless of gender, should strive to meet those needs.

Read more: HBR

Happy reading, and send us your feedback at iccc@iccconline.org

ICCC's 9th Annual International Women's Day Celebrations

Resilience and dedication

– the mantras for women to rise to the top

ICCC’s 9th International Women’s Day Celebrations bring together talented women leaders

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

LISA LISSON

President, FedEx Express Canada

Watch the recording: Lisa Lisson

GUEST OF HONOUR

MARY NG

Canada's Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion & International Trade

Watch the recording: Mary Ng

Panel discussion

Women Leaders: What it takes to reach & stay at the top

Apoorva Srivastava

Bonnie Crombie

Vasudha Seth

Lisa Lisson, President, FedEx Express Canada, in her keynote address highlighted the significance resilience. “I have learnt that we are all born with a resilient muscle and it is up to us to decide if we want to strength it. They say that what doesn’t break you, makes you stronger, but I have come to realise that there is an X factor in there. We all need to strength our resilient muscle when life doesn’t go according to our plan because adversity in some form or another is just a fact of life. Some of the factors that make a person resilient are maintaining a positive attitude, being optimistic, being mindful, regulating our thoughts and emotions, the ability to look for life lessons during tough times, and believing that there are brighter days ahead even when we are not sure how.”

In her special address, as the Guest of Honour, Hon. Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, said, “Evert year on International Women’s Day, we take time to reflect on the incredible contribution of women to our communities to our economies and everything in between. After a challenging year, which has disproportionately affected women, we know that their inclusion and empowerment is the way forward.”

Introducing the panel discussion, Sangita Iyer said, women Leaders face a glass ceiling in their rise to the upper echelons of their career ladder – whether in the corporate world, or in government or in bureaucracy. This is an undeniable fact that persists despite enactment of legislations globally to empower women.

Although 82 percent of women aged 25 to 54 now participate in Canada’s workforce, they are still underrepresented in leadership roles. Women hold only 25 percent of vice-president positions, and 15 percent of CEO positions. Women are also underrepresented in Canadian Government. Women currently make up 27 percent of the House of Commons, which is the highest percentage in Canada’s history. So, as can be seen, it takes a lot for women to succeed and rise to the top.

Apoorva Srivastava’s father was a bureaucrat and wished that at least one of his children joined the public services. The mantle of carrying forward the parental wish fell on her as she was the youngest in the family. She passed the highly competitive public service examination and then waited for her positing, which could have been in any government sphere – administrative, the police service, the railways or even diplomatic. And as luck would have it, she was chosen for foreign service.

Mayor Bonnie Crombie said that her path to the top was accidental, but once she had chosen the path, she was determined to reach the top. “I have always been interested in politics. I was inspired by Pierre Trudeau, and the policy of multiculturalism. I worked hard for other people for many years in different vocations including my own business, and was always involved with the community and was driven to make my city a better place.”

Since high school, Vasudha Seth was deeply interested in math and physicals and had made up her mind to have a career that would involve both; she decided to follow her father’s footsteps and become an engineer, and when she was in her third and fourth year at the University of Toronto, she had the opportunity to work during summer at Dofasco. The steel industry was then and even today male dominated.

The program was interspersed with three entertainment skits that were submitted by women of the Indo-Canadian diaspora.

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ICCC Weekly Newsletter - 07 March 2021

07 Mar 2021 9:30 AM | Anonymous

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