Women who mean business

22.04.2008, 10:55

Some of Belgium and Europe's most powerful women will be gathering in Brussels on 26 and 26 April to share their experiences on how they got to the top of their professions and overcame the career obstacles that their male colleagues just didn't face.

The Jump Forum for Active Women offers two full days of talks, seminars, coaching sessions and networking for working women and those thinking of restarting a career, on subjects such as negotiating salaries, breaking through the glass ceiling, returning to work after a career break, becoming self-employed and achieving a life-work balance.

The impressive line-up of speakers includes Patricia Ceysens, the Flemish minister whose portfolio includes economy, enterprise, science and innovation; Sabine Laruelle, Belgium's federal minister for the Economy and Agriculture; and Belinda Pyke, director of equality and action against discrimination at the European Commission's Department of Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

Also speaking are Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, author of Why Women Mean Business, Lulu Wang, author of Heldere Maan and Dr Lois Frankel, author of Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office. But the high-profile speakers are not only women. Steven Vanackere, Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family is just one of the men participating.

The pitfalls facing working women have become more evident in the last five years. A European Commission report published last year found that women in 30 European countries are paid on average 15% less than their male counterparts doing the same job in public sector employment and 25% less in the private sector.

"We have a long way to go in Belgium," explains Christine Van Nuffel, Jump's project director and an expert on female entrepreneurship. "When I ask women if they negotiate their salaries, nine out of 10 reply that they don't. They just accept what they are given."

Being able to talk yourself into a better pay packet doesn't shift the responsibility of employers to offer equal wages, but it is one of the skills women need to cope with today's work culture, says Belgian entrepreneur Isabella Lenarduzzi, the forum's creator. "We need the tools to empower ourselves and exploit our own talents," she says. "Often we have better professional qualifications than men, yet the number of women in high management positions is very, very low."

There are distinct reasons for the under representation of women in management, according to Anne Van Lancker, a Belgian member of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament. Involved in analysing equality issues since 1994, she is one of the 50-strong advisory committee of "wise women" in the forum. "Women work fewer hours when they have children, while men work more. Part-time work also counts against them, so when it comes to promotion, they hit a glass ceiling," she says. "We really have to encourage men to care more for their children, and take paternity leave."

But that's not the only reason. "Women also tend to network less than men," says Anne. Whereas men will be encouraged to go and socialise after work, women think of others and tend to go home and take care of their families. When it comes to promotion and the glass ceiling, men get through it because of their networks."

That is why networking for women and forums such as Jump have to be encouraged, says Anne. "If women invest less in networks than men, they will never get promoted."

Having women in management positions is better for business, explains entrepreneur Ine Mariën, who is on the board and executive committee of BECI, Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry, and chairs the forum's "wise women" advisory committee. "Surveys carried out by Credit Suisse, Cranfield and Catalyst show that companies with more women in senior management positions perform around 35% better. The total return for shareholders also goes up by roughly the same amount," she says.

"Not only that, we have a shortage of labour," she says. "Women could make up 50% of the population's workforce. They are already 80% of the consumers, so it makes good business sense for companies to encourage them."

To this end, the forum will be running sessions on recruitment and best practices for head-hunters and human resource professionals interested in developing their workforce.
Judging by the success of the first forum held last year, women are already realising that they need to be more proactive. Opened by Princess Mathilde, the forum attracted 1,400 participants. "This year we expecting anywhere between that and 2,000 participants" says Lenarduzzi.

Article by: Saffina Rana

Source: www.flanderstoday.eu

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Women who mean business