6 minute read
Women's Biz Magazine Sept 2022
HOW JUGGLING BABIES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT
BY ANNIE GIBBINS
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IN THE US, THIS NUMBER HAS HIT A RECORD HIGH, WITH 8.3% OF FORTUNE 500 CEO'S LISTED AS FEMALE LEADERS!
Female CEOs remain a rare commodity. And it’s time for drastic change. Certainly, we are seeing more women fill executive leadership roles, but few are handed the baton when it comes to feeding the bottom line Did you know that only 4 6% of the Global 500 CEOs are women?
In the US, this number has hit a record high, with 8 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs listed as female leaders! It is clear that we still have a long way to go With the pandemic severely denting the gender C-Suite, it feels a little like, ‘one step forward, and twenty reforms back’.
If you haven’t guessed it already, I am a passionate thought-leader and ‘fempreneur’ when it comes to healthily disruption of stagnant thinking. I am a progressive CEO, who is inspired to support women like me.
Women, who have raised a family, juggled a household, commanded a boardroom, and increased profitability for companies that count.
Starting my career as a Registered Nurse didn’t come without its massive hurdles
In fact, life felt like one huge balancing act, testing my resilience and thirst for success. Whilst starting my professional life in Health Care, before launching into Change Management as a CEO and Entrepreneur, I was raising my family of five including 2 sets of twins born just 26 months apart.
As a CEO, Global Women’s Empowerment Coach, Podcast Host, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Author, I am now a powerhouse in business
Our goal must be 50%!
Not only do I champion Australasian enterprises seeking successful leadership, but I am also an advocate for equal balance in the workplace, because I know the struggles in getting to the top
But this isn’t a new topic.
For years, we have recycled the narrative that we need to see more women climb the leaderboard in business For the most part, this agenda has been a success. Despite such a low percentage of women sitting in CEO roles in the Fortune 500 companies, in 2021, the number of women running businesses on the Fortune 500 hit an all-time record: 41
As a former of CEO of Glaucoma Australia, an organisation dedicated to providing sight saving education, support, and advocacy to people with glaucoma and their families, I am no stranger on how to maximise impact with a punch.
Becoming Annie, The Biography of a Curious Woman’, inspires women to set the bar high to achieve success, balance and happiness on their terms
As the host of ‘Memoirs of a Successful Woman’ podcast, I have interviewed over 100 inspirational women worldwide My incredible portfolio of guests ranges from business leaders, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, athletes, and the creators of start-ups on a mission.
And when it comes to business, we need to get clear (and honest) of how the cogs to change, fundamentally work Hiring really does come from the top We know that HR companies and recruitment executives tap into a pool of regular candidates
This in turn, ignores any untapped talent resources and reduces the concept of ‘fresh blood’ into senior roles.
My question on the forefront of my forever moving mindset is, ‘how can we inspire, lead and achieve gender parity without resistance?’
The answer tends to be not one without struggle Therefore, I herald any strategy that enhances a woman’s ambition Because, that is the leader that I am.
As the founder of The Women's Business Incubator, Life by Design and Women
Collaborating Globally, I coin myself the digital pioneer helping women to push their limits of what is truly possible.
In addition to raising a family of five, I have gained many big wins and professional accolades over 30 years of striving to the top in business
Working across multiple sectors including Health Education, Corporate, NFP and Charity sectors, I am considered one of Australia’s female leaders to watch
As an industry leader, I was awarded the distinguished title in 2020, as one of ’50 Unsung Business Heroes’, in recognition of my formidable courage, compassion, perseverance, conviction, and selflessness when coaching women to aim for their highest potential.
This is why ‘The Women’s Incubator’; an innovative collective, was designed to help Start-ups, Scale-ups and those wanting to Dominate in Business succeed
Women from around the world access my experience, lifehacks and strategic breakthroughs, through
comprehensive programs with a VIP experience. I offer bespoke programs, short courses, masterclasses, books, and exclusive access to my renowned network, offering women the freedom and confidence to accomplish their goals.
Emerging from a global pandemic for so many,
hasnotbeeneasy.
With an economic nose-dive and employment losses worldwide, I don’t want women to just survive, I want them to unequivocally thrive. With so many women forced from the workforce into the default role of primary child carer, working from home ‘on paper’, was no longer an option. Women had no option, but to quit
Conversely, the pandemic was the trigger that for so many, was the catalyst to rethink their life goals. The year that changed the modern world, was the year to ignite dormant dreams In a time of such unsettledness, women were prepared to rock the boat, and become the CEOs of their own making
This is where I step in.
Behind my purpose is to ensure th woman can land a 7-figure salary i possible You see, business needs women. Not just to lessen the gen parity on the current record, which remains fiercely unbalanced, but because we make profits It doesn simpler than that Inviting a woman an executive board cannot be a to gesture.
With diversity, inclusion, equity, and equality, forming operational plans for corporate giants, talking about it theoretically is no longer enough. Teasing out the parts of women’s leadership is owning the parts of ourselves we were previously asked to mute
More organisations need to take that leap of faith We need to encourage mindsets and discourage regression We need to be passionate, persuasive and persistent. Otherwise, it would be all too easy to throw in the towel and not recover from these unprecedented times
Women have the ability to champion collective leadership, think innovatively and still roll-out a decent profit. Women can juggle, mentor and teach
In leadership, we need to inspire and not just venture onto a one-woman journey to the bank. Never has there been a more important time to uncover and discover a back-burner business obal champion for equity and y, I want to see a woman not every boardroom, but in fifty per the boardroom seats.
