Quick Reads to Support Your Career

We feature articles, interviews, coaching tips, and expert opinions on achieving gender equality in the workplace.

Bridging the Gap Between Boards and Executives

Professor Charlotte Valeur shares her insights on why it’s important to have a diverse Board, her experience as a neurodivergent Board member and how to bridge the gap between Boards and executives.

Why Inclusive Leadership Matters

Inclusive leadership and diverse teams are no longer just ‘nice-to-have’ options – they’re integral cogs in the production of successful businesses. So, what does authentic inclusive leadership look like?

Gender Diversity in the Era of AI

AI in business isn’t just about smarter tools and increased productivity; it has the potential to reshape how businesses run, including how we address gender dynamics.

5 Game-Changing CEO Insights for Women Leaders

Only 5% of CEOs globally are women. We’re seeing more women in C-suite positions, but by no means have we reached gender equality in the Boardroom. So, what’s happening? And what can we do to change it?

Women In The Workplace: Stats That Debunk Myths

A popular opinion among hiring managers is that women aren’t getting senior jobs because they ‘don’t want them enough’. McKinsey’s report reveals that women are just as ambitious as men, with women of color showing even greater ambition.

Do You Have Too Much Resilience?

Resilience is often seen as a strength. In fact, according to statistics, the majority of women in senior-level jobs say they feel resilient. But when we push ourselves too hard without taking a break, our well-being can (and likely will) suffer.

The Water Cooler Revolution

When Activision Blizzard – the company behind two of the biggest game franchises ever – was sued by California State for breaking workplace protection laws, it went on the attack. Only after shares dropped did they reverse their response.

Is Ambition a Dirty Word?

The VP of a large UK listed company lowered her eyes and whispered, “I want to be the CEO of this company”. It was as if just speaking her ambition out loud was wrong. Why?

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Do you risk losing the goodwill and relationships you’ve built over years? What if you make a wrong move and it doesn’t work out? How do you decide? One of the most common questions we get asked is “Should I stay or should

World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report 2022

What we suspected was the case post pandemic has been confirmed by the World Economic Forum: the progress towards gender parity is stalling. The new figures out this month, which come from research in 146 countries worldwide, show that at the current rate it will take 132 years to reach

Think Tank Diversity Special: ‘The Great Resignation’

At our Think Tank event on June 30, 2022, Emma Codd, Global Inclusion Leader of Deloitte, presented the findings of the “Women @ Work 2022” report, which she co-created.  The data reveals a critical need to look at how we lead, how we’re led, and the culture in which we exist

5 Tips on How to Execute the Perfect Career Plan

No matter where you are in your career, it never hurts to look at where you are going and how you want to get there. At the start of the summer, I was asked to speak at a TEDx event about my experience as the Founder of WeQual.  In the

G7 Manifesto for Gender Equality

Actions always speak louder than words? Sometimes. Though it can often depend who the messenger is. Take the fine words of the Gender Equality Action Committee – an independent group of experts assembled by the UK Government to champion freedom, opportunity, individual humanity and dignity for women and girls around

WeQual Global Members Speak at Conference on Future of Brands

WeQual believes that to make a difference you have to get involved in the conversation. We need to share valuable information to enhance the business world around us by engaging with others. Club members share experiences with each other within the WeQual network, but it is always worthy of note

Breaking the Last Glass Ceiling

by Bob Fesmire, ABB Houston, 2018. ABB’s Oil, Gas and Chemicals (OGC) business is looking to build its position with EPC (engineer-procure-construct) firms and taps Group Strategic Projects Manager Heather Cykoski to lead the effort. A 13-year veteran of ABB at this point, Heather has recently managed some high profile OGC projects

A People-Powered ‘Inclusive Diversity’ Approach

Putri Realita, Global Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Danone, gives WeQual a fascinating and exclusive insight into the ‘Diversity Inclusive’ approach that the global consumer goods giant has implemented over the last five years. Coming from Indonesia to the headquarters of Danone in Paris 5 years ago was a big

Diversity Has to Include a Seat at the Top Table

What I have learned about DEI from the WeQual Awards process Companies that are serious about diversity, equality, and inclusion, need to keep their DEI Chief out of the HR department. Because, if you believe in the importance of DEI, then your diversity and inclusion lead has to have a

After Regulation: Finding Balance in Compliance

An exclusive interview with Holly Kulka, Global Chief Risk & Compliance Officer for S&P Global Ratings.  When Holly Kulka arrived at S&P Global Ratings in August 2015, the company was just beginning to grapple with the storm of regulatory requirements growing out of the subprime crisis which had come into

The Buck Stops with CEOs When it Comes to Women at the Top

Forget quotas and so-called “realistic” targets for gender diversity at Executive Committee (ExCo) level. Let’s be absolutely clear: what we are aiming for is a 50/50 split. Why? Well, it’s not rocket science! That is the gender split in the general population, therefore that should be the gender split on any executive

H.A.P.P.Y System: 5 Steps to Picking the Best Executive Coach

You’ve decided to get some help from an Executive Coach. That’s great news because all the evidence shows that working with a good Executive Coach can positively transform your leadership effectiveness and results. But what makes a good Executive Coach? And how do you find a coach that is a

Gender Equality on Executive Committees is a Top Priority Goal

Yesterday, the Hampton-Alexander Review – which was set up to shine a spotlight on the representation of women in senior leadership positions – reported that the number of women on boards has risen 50% since the first review five years ago. The Review was my inspiration for the WeQual Awards. The visionaries

Rebecca Navarro on Future Proofing

Rebeca Navarro, Chief Transformation Officer for Europe and Head of Procurement at  Aryzta explains that there is no better time than right now to put sustainability at the core of your business. That means that almost half of the corporate world is not meeting the needs of their customers. And,

Interview with WeQual Global Member Isabella Panizza of Enel

This article is a translation of an interview by Valeria Arnaldi with Isabella Panizza. The article first appeared in the Italian national newspaper, Il Messaggero, on Tuesday January 12 2021. You can view the original article here. Culture, commitment, constancy. These are the principles on which Isabella Panizza has based her career.

Financial Times – Decades of Advances Under Threat

The Financial Times interviewed a number of WeQual Global members about the effects of the coronavirus on senior executive women. The award-winning international newspaper reported that the global pandemic has put back longstanding efforts to increase their representation at mid and senior levels. Others reported a rise in senior women 

Irish Times – Is the Covid Crisis Taking Women Back to the 1950s?

… Cindy Rampersaud, senior vice-president, Btec and Apprenticeships at Pearson UK, says this period has opened up discussions about women and work in her networks, including WeQual, an executive group, and has enabled managers to “see a more human side of people – they talk about their lives, it allows

DiversityQ – WeQual Awards Identify FTSE Women Future Leaders

Katie Litchfield is the brains behind a new awards scheme to help aspiring businesswomen to achieve their executive potential. Together with Organisational Psychologist John Amaechi OBE, she talks about the challenges of getting more women in the boardroom. She was shocked to hear some women say they didn’t feel able