Helena described a conference she had attended on ‘Empowering women in leadership’, which had encouraged her to reflect on some of the specific challenges women may face as they begin to prepare themselves for, and actively seek out, promoted posts in the world of education. Helena questioned the extent to which some of the barriers were, perhaps, a result of some women’s tendency to “criticise, judge and limit themselves and each other”. She urged both women and men to champion aspiring women leaders in education, and, despite the sensitivity and potential controversy of the subject, to engage in active debate about it. #Womened was born.
A lively #SLTchat was held on the subject in July, ably chaired by Hannah Wilson, who subsequently reflected on why the subject was so contentious: http://staffrm.io/@misswilsey/b6WNbhLQAU The determination to continue and widen the debate led to the organisation of a Women in Educational Leadership day conference on Saturday 3rd October 2015 in London, spear-headed by Vivienne Porritt from the Institute of Education and a wider team of organisers, including Helena and Hannah. The conference is to be hosted, generously, by Microsoft at their offices near Victoria, from 9.30am to around 4.00pm. Several of us will be speaking about, and running a range of workshops on, subjects such as authentic leadership, diverse leadership, confident leadership, wider leadership and juggling leadership and life. The focus of the day will be on debate and networking, sharing perceptions and ideas, rather than the dissemination of the views of ‘experts’. We look forward to a dynamic, interactive, stimulating and productive conference.
We know this is only the beginning of the conversation, but feel strongly that this is an important conversation to have.
Come and join us?
Further information available on this link: http://www.womened.org/womened-unconference-3rd-october-2015.html