Inter-generational conversations about the world of work in action at an AllBright member lunch.
Thanks to everyone round the table for joining me and for stimulating some great debate around the issues to tackle if we want to make things better for younger women on their career or business journey.
Big thanks to Vanesa Pazos Catherine A. Baudino, PhD, MNCP, FRSA Emma Hodges Juliet Shield Querren Makasi Miranda Eyles for your insights and ideas.
This was the first round-table conversation focused on the LUMIN agenda of stimulating inter-generational knowledge sharing and mentoring to tackle inequalities faced by women in the workplace, with the project set to launch early next year. Just some of the stats that set the scene for the conversation :
· women aged 50+ have the biggest gender pay gap at 20.8%
· women who have children earn just half that of men by the time their first child is seven years old
· women secure half the business investment compared to men yet deliver double the return on funds invested
· 48% of women in business say a lack of a mentor holds them back yet women are less likely to mentor than their male counterparts
Author

Maggie Taylor
Founder of Lumin, creating opportunities for women solopreneurs to collaborate, grow, and build successful businesses, fuelled by shared knowledge, mentorship, and real partnerships across generations
“As influencers, our role must be to engage and bring out the best in other people if we are to contribute to society.”
I loved some of the life lessons those round the table would tell their younger selves :
“Learn to say yes, to say no, and to ask for what you want”
“Don’t be afraid to embrace feminine traits in becoming a leader”
“Develop as a whole person and don’t lose your identity to your job”
“Own your own voice and don’t pretend to be someone else”
“A stronger voice builds stronger self confidence”
“Be happy in your own skin and do not be a push-over”
“Be kind to yourself”
And this comment, which neatly sums up our mission:
“As influencers, our role must be to engage and bring out the best in other people if we are to contribute to society.”
If you’d like to take part in the conversation, next on the warm-up agenda is an online open discussion on 13th December.

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