Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Resilience in the Workplace
A Blog series by Elise Misse
The LEAD Network connects people who are passionate about driving change in the workplace to leverage the full talent pool. This blog series by Elise Misse focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and resilience at work. Please feel free to reach out and contact me on elise.misse@gmail.com.
June 2021
Returning to the Workplace Following Lockdown
Day by day, people across the world are returning to their conventional workplaces. Lockdowns are increasingly infrequent, retailers and businesses are re-opening, and companies are getting back on their feet.
May 2021
10 reasons to attend the LEAD Network Virtual Conference 2021
We’re living in a brave new world following the events of the last 18 months, but some degree of normality is steadily returning. Many of us are making plans to return to the workplace in some capacity. Whether that’s staggering time between home and the office or finding a new solution, our relationship with work will likely shift once more.
April 2021
When Cassandra Speaks, We Should All Listen
World Book Day falls on April 23, providing an opportune moment to discuss a book that has impacted me recently – Elizabeth Lesser’s Cassandra Speaks: When Women are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes.
March 2021
The Importance of Allyship in the Workplace
Negotiating workplace relationships sometimes feels like a minefield. A workplace is oftentimes like an unconventional family unit, leading to diversity in opinions and behaviours. Whether by accident or design, where people gather, difficult dynamics can follow.
February 2021
International Women’s Day Can Set the Tone for a Better Future
As March approaches, so does International Women’s Day. This is always a trending topic on social media, which is great. Granted, many of those hashtags come from trolls demanding to know why there is no International Men’s Day (short answer, there is – November 19th), but for the most part, the conversation is all about celebrating women. Hurrah!
January 2021
Work, Life and the Elusive Pursuit of Happiness
As we have waved goodbye to 2020, one of the most challenging years in recent memory for many of us, it’s only natural that we start to think about the future. While the world may not have returned to what we previously considered ‘normal’ – and maybe never will – we all have decisions to make.
December 2020
SuperPowersNow Initiative
The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted every industry imaginable, including the entertainment business. Ordinarily, millions of people would seek temporary respite from reality by enjoying the exploits of larger-than-life superheroes on the cinema screen. Naturally, that has not been an option for some time.
November 2020
Value for Men
The search for gender equality in the workplace is lengthy and tireless. Thankfully, an ever-increasing number of people are joining the cause. Passionate and dedicated campaigners are an irresistible force, continuing to butt against the immovable object of institutional sexism.
October 2020
Gender Blindness – A Good Intention That Can Go Awry
The business world is constantly awash with buzzwords. The latest of these is gender-blindness – a promise to base workplace decisions purely around ability, without factoring gender into the equation.
The Wit and Wisdom of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Like many – including, I’m sure, the majority of people reading this – I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last weekend. I have discussed previously how much of an influence and inspiration this astonishing woman was to me over the years.
August 2020
Working Women and the Search for Joy
It’s no secret that a happy workplace leads to productive employees. It is believed that team members who enjoy their work achieve up to 13% more than those that find themselves worn down by the daily grind. In the challenging work climate that we are all currently facing, a sense of contentment is arguably more important than ever.
Earn a Slice of the PIE – Making a Great Impression
There’s an old saying that claims we only get one chance to make a first impression. In the 21st Century, this is even more important. An increase in the availability of further and higher education has opened doors to more opportunities for some. While this is admirable, it has also created more competition for a select handful of roles in the workplace.
Living in uncertain times – How to Motivate and Lead Teams during a Pandemic
We are living in an unprecedented period in human history. This means that it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep our ‘heads in the game’ when it comes to work.
Naturally, we all have a personal role to play in this. We need to, in the words of the British during World War II, “keep calm and carry on.”
All the same, as employers, managers and leaders, we can play a part in keeping our teams motivated. This is a time for encouragement, not finger-pointing and pointing out mistakes or missed deadlines. I would like to discuss how we can go about this.
The Eternal Battle Between the Hearts and Minds of Working Women
No matter what industry we work in, or how high we have climbed the corporate ladder, the performance review sparks dread in the hearts of many. There is something innately nerve-racking about sitting opposite our boss and, to all intents and purposes, justifying why our salary should continue to be removed from the company bottom line.
April 2020
Working from Home is the Future, Not a Fad
Those of us that are working from home during the Coronavirus crisis are fortunate, in many respects. We have an opportunity denied to many. The staff members out there on the front line – stocking shelves, making deliveries and aiding the sick – would presumably love the opportunity to type some words at their home desks. Let’s not pretend that home working is the greatest challenge facing the world during this global pandemic. However, we need senior figures in our businesses to understand the challenges of working and parenting. This is an opportunity to do just that. In essence, we have the opportunity to remould the corporate landscape. My thoughts are with anybody impacted by Coronavirus, and I sincerely hope that anybody reading this rides out this storm, with their family and loved ones remaining safe.
March 2020
International Women’s Day – An Occasion to Savour
International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate women and their achievements, in every field – and to encourage the next generation of women to achieve everything they are capable of. The sad fact is, despite awareness of gender inequality in the workplace arguably being at an all time high, we are further away than ever. The latest World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report for 2020 claims that we are 257 years away from closing the gap. Last year, it was 202 years. What are we going to do change this?
Graduation is an Industry Game-Changer at the School for Leaders
In 2019, I attended the LEAD Network Conference. You can read my report on this critical and eye-opening event here. While I was fascinated and impressed by all the speakers at the conference, one, in particular, piqued my curiosity and left me wanting to know more. I am referring to Rami Baitieh, the CEO of Carrefour Spain. I was inspired by Rami’s speech on Carrefour’s School for Leaders program, and he proved to be equally inspiring company when we caught up for a telephone conversation.
Welcoming Women – Making the Workplace Equally Enjoyable for All
It is no secret that many workplaces experience a gender disparity in terms of staff, especially in senior roles. Countless companies, including my own employer, are taking steps to rectify this. Effective allyship from male colleagues is key. This is not just an issue for women, and it’s not merely a female-centric issue. It’s a problem for business as a whole. Companies are missing out on a wealth of opportunity and ideas by not taking women seriously.
December 2019
Growing a Career in the Face of Adversity, Finding Balance, and Success
Common sense is high on the agenda of Lee Woodruff, the guest speaker at my workplace recently. The conversation was entitled, “Growing a Career in the Face of Adversity, Finding Balance, and Success”. It was an eye-opening discussion with some interesting take-homes.
We need to stop differentiating between male and female leadership. The only thing that matters is good leadership
It’s no secret that there are many advantages to being part of the LEAD Network. For me, one of the major perks was the opportunity to attend the annual network event in Madrid in 2019. The personal and professional highlights were varied. It was a packed day, filled with exceptional and thought-provoking content. To this end, I am keen to capture some of the take-home messages that really struck a chord with me.