‘Lets create a shared future’ – Chris Knight

This week’s blog has been designed for inclusion in your organisations leadership and training programs to stimulate discussion on the challenges and opportunities for now and in the future for accelerating gender equality. So what exactly is gender equality? Watch this short video and envisage what your country and organisation could look like if more women and girls were empowered to participate as equal partners in decisions that impact on their lives and in the economy.

Gender equality means empowering women and girls as seen in this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbhjXK2mMe8

Ask yourself:

What are some of the challenges within your organisation for implementing gender equality?
What are some of the real opportunities that exist to make this a reality

The 2018 World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held in Davos, Switzerland during January. The theme is Let’s Create a Shared Future in a Fractured World. Business Leaders, CEO’s,World Leaders, Entertainers and Actors are amongst the delegation highlighting the growing divide between rich and poor, in particular the impact on gender equality, the emergence of new economies and the risks of democracy becoming collateral damage. Do we move with the darkness or do we extend and support the light?

Davos 2018 | Let’s Create a Shared Future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p50OWLS4WBY

Let’s considerthe importance of these global summits and the commitments that our Business and World Leaders are deliberating.

What are some of the key issues that impact on your country?
Do you see these global forums as an opportunity to create real social and economic change for women and girls?
How can we monitor the implementation of recommendations that are made at the summit within our own country?

#MeToo Sexual Harassments

The topic of sexual harassment and the #metoo campaign is being openly discussed at the WEF in speeches by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and in panel discussions with Enra Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway. Seven Women are also Chairing Panels during the Summit – so perhaps the change is happening and will hopefully gain further momentum. Globally however, women in positions of power and influence is not very good with the number of women in national parliaments worldwide around 23% and in the United States, only 6% of Fortune 500 companies are run by women.

Watch the Special Address by Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada – Me Too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJBYkKb1sI0

Even the Prime Minister of Norway has been mansplained too. Click here to watch:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/even-the-prime-minister-of-norway-has-been-mansplained-to/

Ask yourself, what needs to change to ensure more women are encouraged to stand for Parliament and step up into leadership positions within major companies?

Reflections on Inspirational Women

In 2011, Women Unlimited (UK) created this compilation of 100 Years of Inspirational Women. It is a moving tribute to their resilience to raise the status of women, to challenge female stereotyping and to reflect the value and worth of the contribution of women in government, business, education, science and sport. Take a few moments to watch this video and identify other women that you would include. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JwUtvVUSoc

Think about:

the women who influenced you to follow your dreams, many will be the unsung heroes and hidden figures that may never appear on a history page and yet they still left their mark on the hearts that they touched.
who are you mentoring and encouraging to follow their dreams?

I am very proud to be part of the global network of Springboard Trainers that is helping to accelerate gender equality one woman at a time with the support and encouragement of other women and men as we work together to Create A Shared Future and Heal our Fractured World #sharedfutures .

Namaste

Chris Knight

Director Inspirational Connections

Freelance Springboard Trainer – Australia

Member Soroptimist International

Corporate Member Womens Network Australia WNA

Tel: (617) 0403177012

Email: grachris@iprimus.com.au

www.inspirationalconnections.com.au

www.soroptimistinternational.org

The views expressed by the writer are not necessarily the views of the Springboard Consultancy Ltd