After recognising that there was a need for focus on women in business, the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce last month initiated monthly meetings for women in business. It is difficult for many women to get to evening meetings, so every second meeting will be at lunchtime, hopefully being manageable for women with family commitments.
Last week I was one of three women asked to speak at the inaugural lunchtime meeting. The Chamber of Commerce posed us a series of questions around governance, past work/life experiences, handling conflict and juggling the competing needs of family and careers. We were also asked to comment on the different decision-making styles of men and women.
As women we often need to juggle our work and home commitments and while our work is of equal importance to that of our partners, it is usually us that have to drop what we’re doing if disaster strikes or the kids get sick.
As women, I believe we have an enormous capacity for adapting to change, be it personal, physical or fiscal. It is this ability that stands us in good stead in business, where common sense can be in short supply and a willingness to work with what you have got can lead to good decision making.
A further step for some women is a position of governance and while there are far fewer women at this level worldwide, the benefits to a company, organisation or government are real and quantifiable.
So girls, when you are ready, put yourselves forward for a position to effect change somewhere at a governance level. To you men reading this, remember the huge range of skills and experience women can bring and support us in any way you can.
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