Dublin City Women
I recently attended the Dublin City Women in Business Network event on March 8th, which was around the theme of ‘Celebration, Connection and Inspiration‘ for Women in Business in Dublin. The event was co-hosted with the Enterprising Women from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and the Fingal Women in Business Network.
The guest speaker was Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, T.D. Unfortunately, I was late getting to the event so didn’t catch her speech. You can read it here in full.
Guest speakers
The talk by Rachel Mooney, Vodaphone HR Director was interesting. She discussed the New Ways program. How they have totally changed the culture in the organisation. Nobody has an office, a desk or their own area. Everyone has their own smartphone, laptop or notebook. Whilst, it has been a challenge they are seeing greater collaboration and innovation starting to happen.
Women want WIN WIN
She believes that this can only be a good thing for women. She referred to Pat Heim an American who has done a lot of studies on the boy girl factor. Women want win win where as men are happy with win loose.
Rachel went on to say why women when going for a job look at the job description and spec, and think I can only do 80% of that, I won’t go for it. Where as a man will do the same checklist and tick 50% of the boxes and will be delighted that he’s well capable for the job. I can totally identify with that. Can you?
We women are great at nurturing others but have huge discomfort at promoting ourselves. It is like we have no value on our worth in business.
Confident Women or Not
Lastly, Grainne Barry from AnotherFriend.com mentioned something that struck with her from the early days. Someone said to her randomly the difference between a small business and a big business is confidence.
Nearly all the women that spoke this evening started their talk off with some sort of apology or negative comment. For example, Grainne Barry’s introduction to her talk was all about whether she should do it or not when she was apporiached to speak at the event. That is one thing I learnt from the womenonair sessions. The producers researchers would often ring a woman to speak and she would say I have to think about it or say no. Where as they find that the men would say yes straight away.
Books To Read
To finish some books as recommended by the panel that have inspired them along their journeys
- The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working by Tony Swartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine Mc Carthy
- The Help by Kathryn Stokett
- The Corporate Athlete by Jack Groppel and Jim Loehr
- The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
- How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran