The Gender Pay Gap round table event was organised by TeamExecutive and hosted by Siemens.
Providing businesses with the tools to tackle the gender pay gap and promote women in the workplace was the aim of a round table event organised by South coast-based executive search recruiter TeamExecutive.
Guest speaker was Diana Parkes, a leading authority on women in the world of work, who gave up a corporate career to help women secure equal recognition in the workplace.
The round table was held at the Poole HQ of Siemens, the world’s largest engineering business, which also sponsored the event.
The delegates, all senior HR professionals, heard Diana report on the findings of her annual Women’s Sat Nav to Success online, highlighting the gender pay gap.
Based on meticulous research, the survey provides employers with a clear picture of what they need to do to help women progress in their careers.
Diana’s corporate career progressed through global organisations including Mars, Coca Cola and Carlsberg. It was after she was twice overlooked for board positions which went to men who had no experience and were less qualified that she decided her path lay in fighting gender inequality.
She said: “That motivated me to try to make a difference so that fewer women face these challenges. There is no reason why women can’t be as effective as men.
“My mission is to enable women to realise their potential across every stage of their career, working with the realities of leadership decision-making.”
Diana added: “We know there is a gender pay gap and now we need to shift the debate to finding the solutions.
“Getting the message across about what matters most and makes the most difference at events like this is vital – the HR leaders are the people with the hardest task, the practicalities of making things change.”
Diana’s work in mentoring and training career women results in them securing pay rises and promotions when previously they may have not been bold enough to ask.
Sponsor Siemens’ Head of Commodity Management Victoria Sargeant also addressed the event.
Victoria leads Siemen’s Women @ Mobility network which aims to help the male-dominated company attract, retain and grow women in their workplace.
Siemens has a programme called Male Allies, in which men lead by example in supporting their female colleagues and challenging inappropriate behaviour.
Event organiser Sally Bennett, Executive manager of TeamExecutive, said: “These round table events are an ideal way for HR leaders to come together to discuss common causes and create debate.
“We’re grateful to Diana for providing an academic approach to tackling the gender pay gap, and the insight into Victoria’s best practice was extremely useful.
“This was our first such event bringing Dorset business leaders together and we are looking forward to building on this foundation.”
This year’s Women’s Sat Nav to Success survey has just been launched and can be accessed at womenssatnav.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/2019
For more information on TeamExecutive phone Sally Bennett on 01202 037 999.
Media information: Debbie Granville, Deep South Media, on 01202 534487. Email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
