To celebrate International Women’s Day we spoke to some inspiring women leaders here at Alberts from various industries, about their experiences and advice for younger women. We are proud to have these strong leaders as our members, setting examples for younger women across the network. Let’s find out what they said…
Sue Channon
Evolution Healthcare, Chief Executive Officer
- What first drove you to your industry?
- I was trained as a nurse and went into operating theatres, which I enjoyed so much that I obtained my certificate in operating theatre management at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital School, which eventually led me into my management roles.
- What motivated you to step up and become a leader in the organisation?
- I’ve always enjoyed leading people, I love bringing the team together and doing something really meaningful in healthcare. It’s about bringing the team on a journey with you to be proud of what you’re working towards, whether it’s managing operating theatres, small or large hospitals. I enjoy being with people, seeing them succeed, and celebrating their success. I always say, you give people wings and they’ll fly, you can help people be the best they can be.
- Describe your leadership style and how you “lead” others.
- I’ve been told by others that I’m very transparent and collaborative, so people are very clear about what’s happening. I always make sure everybody is on board with strong and clear communication, we are all on this journey together, working towards a common outcome. I’ve also been told by others that I have a very inclusive management style, showing empathy and understanding that there is more to a person than the work they do.
- What inspires you and why?
- When I started as a nurse, I loved the day-to-day nursing and caring for people, as I’ve gone up through management, naturally you get a bit further away from the patient focus. You have to remind yourself that the decisions you’re making at the top level are helping people working on the ground, they are providing the best care they can to the patients, whether it’s the nurse, the doctor, or the cleaner. Everybody has a part to play in the whole organisation, one doesn’t work without the other. Seeing people succeed, seeing patients get the care they need, and providing great technologies for our doctors to do the work they do and do it better each day, are the sort of things that get me up every morning and keep me going.
- What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
- I would say being a respectful leader, everyone brings something different to the workplace, and you have to respect what they bring. Most people come to work to do a good day’s work, and they get satisfaction out of that, if they’re not performing in a role, you might just have them in the wrong position because the work they do might not inspire them, you have to recognize that and support them to do the work that does inspire them. It’s important to find the right fit for people, and operate with honesty and integrity, we hear those words often but they’re actually meaningful words in the way you should operate and interact with people. Show people respect and really listen to what they’re saying, use what they’re saying to help you in the way you manage and lead others.
- What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organisation?
- You need to love what you do, if you love what you do, it’s easy to get out of bed every morning. I don’t think I’ve ever had a day where I wake up and think “oh I don’t want to go to work.” We spend a lot of time at work and you’ve got to feel inspired by what you do.
Melanie Harding
Lockton, Chief Operating Officer
- What first drove you to your industry?
- That’s an easy one, I studied insurance in college, along with a couple of languages. I chose insurance because it was one of the closest options to business and the job prospects at the time were quite good.
- What motivated you to step up and become a leader in the organisation?
- Most leaders want to effect change of some sort, to be in a position where you could make meaningful decisions that would have a beneficial impact on other people.
- Describe your leadership style and how you “lead” others.
- I’ve had some great inspiration throughout my career, so I would describe my leadership style as open. I’m approachable and I’m very much solution-focused, if there’s a problem, you figure out the solution collectively, as a team effort, good leaders are down there and understand what the problem is, it’s not about making a decision and having other people carry it out. One of the things I learnt in my current job was the importance of having regular meeting rhythms, to meet with people regularly even if you think there’s nothing to talk about, as things often do come up, and when they do, you can work on the solutions together and make a team effort, which I find very effective and important.
- What inspires you and why?
- I’ve been inspired by lots of different leaders in my time, I worked in New York for 3.5 years and worked with a couple of great leaders over there. One of them was my boss at the time, who would always make time and space for you if you took the time to go see him, even if he didn’t have much of it, I think that’s very important. You can draw inspiration from anywhere, and I believe that people take on what appeals to them, whether it’s from their peers or mentors.
- What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
- Get a good mentor, really draw on someone that can be a sounding board and just help you when you are either having doubts or questions. Talk to people, get yourself out there, and find something you’re passionate about.
- What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organisation?
- Historically, insurance has been very much male-centric but that’s changed a lot, there are lots of opportunities and we need more women in insurance.
Sonya Cowen
Winsborough, Head of Research and Development
- What first drove you to your industry?
- I was in navigation at the navy and thought that what the psychologists were doing in the military was more aligned with my skillset and what I’m interested in.
- What motivated you to step up and become a leader in the organisation?
- I had a rewarding experience leading the psychology department within the navy, I had a great team and the work kept me involved with a lot of people. A big part of what I do now is leadership consulting so it’s helpful to have a leadership strand.
- Describe your leadership style and how you “lead” others.
- At Winsborough, we help people grow strategic self-awareness, to understand the good and not-so-good things about their leadership style. Through that exposure, I know quite a lot about myself – what I like, what my style might be like, and what’s important to me at work. I’m described by people who know me well as optimistic, driven, ambitious about getting things done, approachable, and caring. The style I try to bring to the team encompasses those things, I value my connection with people, and doing great work with great people is what’s important to me and it’s what we do at Winsborough.
- What inspires you and why?
- We have wonderful clients and we are in a very privileged position to be helping them achieve some of the things they do, that is what inspires me daily.
- What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
- Knowing what matters to you and finding a work environment that fits your values so you can be yourself is very important. If your job aligns with your values then work is a pleasure and not a chore.
- What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organisation?
- Psychology typically has a lot more women than men compared to other professions, it’s great in that regard because you’ve got an interesting field of work and lots of colleagues that provide great support. Psychology is also an evolving discipline and new research comes out every day, where you can allow yourself to keep learning and growing instead of settling down, try and stay curious.
