Click to download
Any questions please let our team know.
According to Barbie’s creator Ruth Handler, the “whole philosophy of Barbie was that, through the doll, the girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices. What’s more, Barbie has risen to the top of her profession time and time again. She made it to the C-suite in 1963, (nine years before any woman became a CEO of a Fortune 500 company), landed on the moon (four years before Neil Armstrong) and has been on the presidential ballot six times since 1992. Speaking of the President…how great was it to see the racial diversity within the Barbie film as Barbie has previously been controversial for its idealisation of the ‘White Blonde Female’. Despite Barbie's appearance having evolved to reflect a more realistic and inclusive standard of ‘beauty’, it is important to acknowledge that what she represents is not perfect and there is still work to be done.
The recent release of the Barbie movie got us thinking about how women are positioned in the corporate world today…. (without *spoiling* the movie) Barbie is confronted by a sad reality upon entering the ‘real world’. She learns of the ‘patriarchy’ and how women must tirelessly contend with limitations on female power. Albeit shocked and frustrated, Barbie soon figures out how to navigate the ‘real world’ and begins defeating the stereotype that women are weak or less capable than men. As a problem solver and a natural leader, she empowers women to rise to the challenge, fearlessly pursue their ambitions, and excel in any field they choose.
When speaking to our colleagues, it is clear that having a representation of men, women, non-binary and other trans identities is important for a variety of reasons. Here are thoughts from the members of our Balance network:
“I appreciate having a female manager because it makes me feel at ease discussing aspects of my personal life that may be influencing my work. I have also had similar experiences whilst being managed by a male when they had a high level of empathy and compassion.” –Nicole Parker, Consultant
“I have been lucky enough to be managed by both male and female managers. Both have taught me empathy, and commercial awareness that has developed throughout my career. I suppose with some male leadership often the conversations are quite direct and to the point, with more of a business focus. With female leadership, the conversations can be much the same but also more personal. In my experience, some female leaders tend to dive deeper and can be easier to have a more vulnerable conversation with them. It’s easier to walk away from those chats with a different perspective, motivation, and direction because that leader has taken the time to understand you more/vice versa. – Senior Consultant “
As a male and a manager of a team myself, it has been very beneficial for me to be managed by a woman. It has allowed me to talk things through at times and be more open on certain topics and understand motivations, aspirations, and fears that people on my team may have. In a social setting, the vast majority of my friends are male (with <5% of those conversations being serious or more meaningful) but in a work context, the vast majority of my team is female. Having a female leader has been very helpful around topics that my knowledge or comfort may not have been there on” – Hamish Harmer, Manager
“For me it’s been beneficial to have a manager who has faced some of the same battles / struggles that you face as a female in the workplace, having someone who encourages you to push past those things is great” – Grace Broad, Manager
“I love having so many incredible female leaders to look up to! How cool to have your role models sitting all around you each day!! If they can do it, then I can too.” – Senior Consultant As wonderful as it is to have role models such as Greta Thunberg, Serena Williams and Hunter Schafer in the public eye, it is important to also have everyday role models that we can learn from.
Click here to learn about all the initiatives our D&I Networks have put in place so far.
