More women on board - Virgin Blue & UGL trend setters

I went to a conference on the weekend to see some great speakers. But where were the ladies? I think the event organizer definitely could have found women of the same caliber as Tony Robbins, Richard Branson and Mark Bouris, but did they even try? On stage came instead one average man after the other…

Australia is a macho society, especially compared to Sweden, where I grew up. But things are changing, and I predict it will happen quickly once it´s started. We have now females on several important positions – prime minister, premier of NSW, Governor-General… And good news right now is that the corporate giants on the stock market are starting to use the female resource.  In 2010, 36 women have been appointed to S&P/ASX 200 boards, compared with only 10 in 2009 and 10 % of company board positions are now held by women, which is much to be Australia.

I don´t think women should be appointed just because they are women, but because women are just as intelligent as men, and that companies are missing out if they close the door for females. Women are just as educated, just as experienced and we can upon that bring on another perspective, being more intuitive and focused on relationships – traits that are valuable in a market.

Brands are often told to target women since they are in power of most family spending. Men bring in the bucks, women decide where to spend them… But tapping into the female energies on leading positions is another thing. Don´t bring a girl on board to attract girl´s as customers. The power of women is valuable for both genders, and this will change the dynamics of Australian work places, increasing productivity in a new softer way.

When will Tony and Richard say NO to a conference without female speakers? It´s time to react.

To read my book about Life Liberalism (2004), a libertarian view on non political threats to freedom and individuality, click here: http://bit.ly/bN432S (in Swedish)