LEH is Fearless and Bold at the GSA Conference

The Feminine Leadership Advantage

The Girls’ Schools Association Conference Service

Heather Hanbury drew on research from a variety of reliable sources, including UNICEF, McKinsey and Co and the Harvard Business Review to build her case for the clear global benefits of more women and girls fulfilling their ambitions. Their findings show:-

• Firms with more women at executive level are more profitable. Going from zero to 30% of women in C-suite positions boosts profitability by 15%.

School Association Conference with its Future Female theme.

In her keynote speech, Head Mistress and GSA President, Heather Hanbury, gave a clarion call for the importance of girls’ only education as she addressed the assembled masses of Head Teachers from leading independent and state girls’ schools. “It’s absolutely time to finally acknowledge that working like a woman is a great way to work and live. I’ve had enough of being told otherwise. No one should feel they have to ‘be like a man’ to succeed in life.”

She added: “Girls’ schools are incubators of new and better ways of thinking and being. We all recognise the value of empathy and understand the importance of ‘soft power’. We all need to unleash our feminine side – it doesn’t matter what your gender – everyone can work this way. And it’s proven that this is pivotal for society to become truly great. Much has been made of The Female Leadership advantage and quite rightly so. The benefits of more women and girls achieving their ambitions are remarkable in the world. The effects are tangible when women take their rightful place in the world. The data is compelling.”

Her comments generated headlines across the national press, with a frontpage story in The Telegraph, followed by a double page spread talking to prominent female leaders and even an opinion piece in The Times

LEH pupils also made their mark in a feisty exchange between the Head Girl team and Conservative MP Dame Andrea Leadsom. “You’re throwing it at me, so I’m just throwing it back at you,” Andrea told them as she criticised young people for failing to use critical evaluation skills to look at the real situation behind the headlines.

“Use your critical faculties and don’t think you can believe everything you see on Snapchat.”

THE GIRLS’ SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE SERVICE

St Ann’s Church, Manchester Monday 22 November 2021, 5.15pm

• When women participate in public life they help create more inclusive societies. It’s been estimated that it could be worth $12 trillion worldwide if all countries could match the most advanced nations in gender equality.

• A global survey revealed that 66% of people thought “the world would be a better place if men thought more like women”.

All Hallows by the Tower

• Women are good mediators and networkers because they prioritise building relationships and keep a cool head in a crisis.

21 NOVEMBER 2022

• There were fewer COVID cases and deaths in nations led by women rather than men. Findings suggest this is down to women’s more proactive and co-ordinated policy initiatives.

• When women are involved with peace agreements, they have a much higher chance of succeeding – a 20% increase in the probability of it lasting at least two years and a 35% increase in the probability of it lasting at least 15 years.

The beautiful singing of the Cantata choir moved many delegates at the Conference Service at All Hallows by the Tower, while the L6 string quartet entertained everyone at the pre-dinner reception.

Our alumnae also proved inspirational with a talk called An ExtraOARdinary Adventure. Abby Johnston, Class of

2007, and Charlotte Irving, Class of 2008, had Head Teachers spellbound as they talked about teamwork and the lessons they’d learned as they battled the elements, sea sickness, salt sores and sleep deprivation to smash the world Atlantic rowing record earlier this year.

WANT TO GET AHEAD? – BE A WOMAN

The Daily Telegraph was so inspired by Mrs Hanbury’s case that feminine qualities get results that they asked eight female leaders to share their experiences. The double page spread asked: Is winning at work all about soft skills and office democracy?

Those taking part from the world of business and politics included Sheryl Sandberg, ex-COO of Meta, Amber Rudd, former Home Secretary, and Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella.

Helena Morrissey, CEO of the 30 Per

Cent Club, said: “The neuroscience backs up the intuitive argument that women and girls are, on average, more empathetic, more collaborative and more emotionally intelligent. While men are more systematic. We are equal but different.”

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