International Women’s Day and the importance of Real Life Role Models - continued

In celebration of International Women's Day and ahead of our Real Life Role Models event taking place tomorrow, we asked two of our panellists, Faye Levin and Dr Julie Humphreys to share their thoughts on role models including typical traits, the significance of their internal and external profiles and how they have been helped by role models in their own careers.

CP: Please describe the traits you see as most important in a role model

FL: There are three traits which I would see as the most important in a role model:

Authenticity – someone who is their true self and is real in their professional life. This shows others that we do not have to conform to a certain way of operating
Honesty – someone who speaks the truth to those around them and uses this constructively to drive progress in both what is delivered and the culture in which it is delivered
Pragmatism – the ability to convey a means to operate and talk through real life situations to offer practical advice that can be readily used

JH: I believe to be a true role model a person needs authenticity, above all else. It also helps to talk about yourself with humility (or is that too much of a perceived female trait?? 😊) whilst being reflective about your achievements. Role models also need to be mindful of their position. It’s not enough to wear a rainbow lanyard and call yourself an LGBT role model or celebrate IWD on 8th March and believe you are feminist role model…

CP: Please tell us how a role model has helped you in your career

FL: Role models have taken many forms for me. I haven’t had one role model per se, instead I have taken many elements from many people. The idea of one role model would have never worked for me. That said, the key ways role models have helped my career have been through teaching me to:

Value my contribution and not get hung up on the mistakes I have made
Trust my instincts and pursue the course of action I think best
Focus on the bigger items that really make the difference – I now think in terms of my top three priority items, which can really help me to focus when life gets busy

JH: There have been a number of role models which I have taken inspiration from throughout my career. When I was young my mother was a ‘reverse role model’ for me, in that she didn’t take up an opportunity and regretted this for her whole life. I’ve carried this with me and really try to take advantage of any opportunity I get. During my early career and working in insurance I had a female department head who was not only kind and compassionate but also very operationally focussed. She taught me to look beyond the surface with people and give them the benefit of the doubt.

CP: How do you think that women can make themselves more visible as role models for others?

FL: By valuing their contribution and not believing they have to be and do more to be valued in the same way as men. This means recognising there are isn’t always a title required, a certain level of expertise, or a certain level of experience before a woman can be, or view herself, as a role model.

JH: I am a firm believer that not only should you pay any good fortune forward by visibly helping other women, but I also believe that we have a duty to challenge poor behaviour by other women. This can obviously be an uncomfortable experience but as I have aged, I’ve become less tolerant of disappointing behaviour!

Women can make themselves more visible by using social media, joining and taking positions of responsibility in appropriate network groups (both internal and external) and putting themselves forward for opportunities to showcase their achievements at work.