Blog » Lean In seminar spells out how balance can boost business

Lean In seminar spells out how balance can boost business

7th November 2016

WORKPLACE and boardroom gender balance is good business for everyone.

That was the message from a panel of industry experts at a special seminar in Belfast.

The event, hosted by Allen & Overy as part of its Diversity & Inclusion Month, was facilitated by the Belfast Chapter of the global Lean In movement and examined how leading businesses have removed many of the barriers that prevent women excelling in the workplace and wider society.

Speakers included senior representatives from Allen & Overy, Allstate, Pinsent Masons, Equality Commission, EY, PwC and Citi.

Founded by Facebook Chief Operation Officer, Sheryl Sandberg to empower all women to achieve their ambitions, the Lean In movement has more than a million members worldwide, including more than 600 in Northern Ireland, drawn from diverse backgrounds including business, law, medicine, construction, digital and the charity sector. Leader of the Belfast Chapter of Lean In, Nuala Murphy said:

“For most organisations, the lack of women in senior roles or with comparable earnings to male counterparts is not the result of conscious discrimination.

Yet equal access to opportunities and career advancements do not exist. “Businesses need to ask why that is the case and consider the impact this imbalance has on the workforce and their bottom line.

“While the vast majority of employers support the concept of gender equality, in our experience very few have set targets or considered how they should gauge and correct a potential imbalance in their workplace.

“The disparity is a business problem as much as a societal one. It is right that business leaders — male and female — consider what they can and should do to address it.”

Jo Dooley, Senior Manager for Diversity & Inclusion, Allen & Overy added: “The barriers that prevent women from fulfilling their potential lead to a waste of talent that impacts on business and the wider economy, but it is within our means to change that.

“We know that organisations that create an inclusive environment where diverse talent can progress to the top, see better financial results because they have more balanced decision- making and are better able to innovate and respond to the needs of their clients.

“The success of A&O depends on attracting high calibre people and providing a workplace where everyone can excel.

“Our thriving Belfast operation has almost parity of gender in management and staff positions. It is a good example of the results that can be gained by embedding inclusion and diversity within a focused business plan.”

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