It might be a new year but I’m still asking the same question … what do we need to do to close the gender pay gap? 

Particularly for women in technology.

What’s so special about women in technology? Everything and nothing.

Everything because technology has been my chosen sector for the past 30 years. Nothing because the gender pay gap is rampant across all sectors.

So what’s the story that your organisation is telling about the gender pay gap in National Storytelling Week which runs from 30 January to 6 February?

You might think of National Storytelling Week as a campaign for school children, however storytelling is an important part of our cultural heritage. And it’s a great opportunity to try something new and different to tackle the gender pay gap.

Since the beginning of time, we’ve always enjoyed storytelling. Think of the cave paintings from 80,000 years ago. Or the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt.

So how does telling a story help you to retain and develop your female talent so that you can close the gender pay gap?

Storytelling can make a significant contribution to internal communications and employee engagement. It can be a highly effective change agent to help you introduce and advance organisational change.

Stories can stimulate people to think differently. It gives your female talent an opportunity to project a different vision of themselves in the future so that they are more likely to put themselves forward for promotion or to apply for leadership roles.

Storytelling also gives your leaders and managers a better understanding of how and why to do things differently, by providing concrete examples rather than abstract concepts, which means that you can accelerate organisational change.

If you’d like to explore how storytelling can help retain and develop your female talent, let’s talk. Whether or not this is a new concept for you, your organisation has a fabulous opportunity to use storytelling to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March.

If you’d like to discuss what your organisation is doing to develop and retain its female talent and close the gender pay gap, let’s talk.

Get in touch with me HERE to book a call.

According to Carolyn April, senior director of industry analysis at CompTIA, increasing diversity is one of the 10 trends to watch in the IT industry in 2021.

As reported in the IT Industry Outlook 2021 report, it’s time for companies to move beyond awareness of increasing diversity to public accountability on deliverables.

We know there have been 100s of initiatives and yet progress in many parts of the IT industry is painfully and embarrassingly slow.

One of the reasons that I’m writing a white paper (to be published March 2021) is to explore what is working and what is not to increase diversity in the IT sector.

Is it time for a new approach?

Will your organisation be setting public goals for diversity? And if not, why not?

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss your 2021 diversity plans.

If your current mantra is New Year, New Career, you’ll love my series of Career Conversations starting on Monday 6 January 2020.

When you’re job hunting or thinking about getting started with the job search, it’s really helpful to hear the real stories and challenges that other women dealt with.

It’s good to know you’re not the only one with fears, worries and doubts.

It’s even better to know that you CAN deal with those challenges.

My Career Conversations series is a sample of what to expect when you join the Career Club online membership community.

To join the Career Conversations (for free), come and join us in the Career Conversations Facebook group.

p.s. who else do you know who’s job hunting or thinking about it? please do share the news about my live 2020 Career Conversations

Never let go of your dreams.

On Saturday 16 November 2019 I was elected as NCT President. It’s a role I’ve been thinking about and dreaming about for many years.

It finally came true. It wasn’t a straight line from “Yes I want this role” to “Yes I have this role“. There have been many twists and turns. I first ran in 2015 and was unsuccessful that year.

However I truly believed I could be a good President. And I absolutely believe in this charity and what we do.

My husband has joked for years that I’m NCT to my bones.

Which goes to prove that when you really want something, keep going.

Stay strong.

Be determined.

Brush yourself down and pick yourself up when things don’t go the way you want the first, second or third time ….

Take on board the learnings then try, try, and try again.

Sign up to join the Priority waitlist <<HERE>>.

The LinkedIn Kickstart is for you if you want to

• create a powerful LinkedIn profile that gets you noticed
• make a bigger impact at work and take your career to the next level
• understand what employers or potential clients expect to see on your profile
• develop your expert authority to showcase your experience and achievements
• build strong relationships and network without being pushy
• enhance your personal and professional brand

You’ll get 12 modules – each with a short video and a worksheet with a bite-sized task (plus a ‘when you’ve got more time‘ extension task too).

You’ll get invited to a private Facebook group where you can share your thoughts, ask questions, get feedback and be inspired.

In the meantime I’ll add you to The Confidence Guide which is published weekly, jam-packed with tips and tricks for ambitious women who want clarity and confidence. And we’ll talk again when we get started.

Click <<HERE>> if you want to get noticed on LinkedIn today!

If you know already that you want more personalised help than I can offer in a group programme, or you want to get started right away, a one-to-one personalised LinkedIn Profile review could be what you’re looking for.

Ready to get started?  Join the priority list today so you don’t miss a thing when the next live round starts.

I can’t wait to share my knowledge and insights with you and hopefully you’ll learn to love LinkedIn as much as I do.