Image © Syed Abdul Basit Dr Clare

Workshop outline Me talking (10 minutes) You doing (40 minutes) Me talking (5 minutes) About me… What are strategies for success? Do women need different strategies for success? Identifying role models 1.Identify your own goals (what is success?) 2.Identify how to get there (the strategies) 3.Identify challenges & strategies to deal with them What can we learn from those in leadership positions You doing (5 minutes) Write the goals for your goals for the next 6 months

GCSEs A-levels (science & art) MEng Engineering (with a placement year AND year in France) Engineer in industry (6 years, 3 different jobs) 6 months travel (& conservation work) Open University Biology MRes Biology (Uni St Andrews) PhD Marine Biology (whales, dolphins & porpoises!) 2 post-docs (& 2 children) Lecturer in Marine Ecology Passion for subject Pure determination & hard work! Time for hobbies & looking for job passion (not progression) Desire to travel Following passion Following passion & location LUCK! (at the right place at the right time) Forward thinking, networking, social media profile Making sure I ticked all boxes ?! My career & strategies

Image © Syed Abdul Basit

Where I want to be How do I get there? (STRATEGIES) Where I am now

Me now – Lecturer in Marine Ecology Future me goals 1.Work-family balance 2.Promotion! Reader in Marine Ecology My challenges Time challenged! Self-doubt (‘imposter syndrome’) Balancing research & teaching Inability to say ‘no’ Interested in everything! My strategies

Do women need different strategies for success? Women are more likely to suffer from lack of confidence → Ignore the voice that tells you you can’t do it! Women tend to be less aggressive & pushy → Speak up & work to your strengths Evidence of unconscious bias – women judged more harshly → Make sure you sell yourself & have a stellar CV! Women tend to take on the bulk of childcare → Push for equal sharing of childcare → Time management & strategy incredibly important… → Fight for flexible working …however many men have similar characteristics so need to adapt the same strategies (not all men are ‘alpha male’!) …

Identify a role model (& mentor) My role model Dr Beth Scott Characteristics I admire & want to emulate: Passionate about her research Managed to raise 2 children at same time as having a successful career (she was main carer) …and has a dog & academic husband… Become forefront of her field & wins lots of research money Supportive of flexible working She’s a really nice person, very supportive, AND a bit scatty at times Characteristics I don’t want to emulate: She works A LOT so has little work-life balance (& is a bit scatty!)

Now over to you – in groups: Three stages: 1.Identify what you define as success (goals)10mins → feedback to group (1min per group) 2.Select one goal & list some strategies 10mins → feedback to group (1min per group) 3.List potential challenges & counter strategies 10mins → feedback to group (1min per group) Aim: to build your own ‘strategies for success’ toolkit Introduce yourselves BRIEFLY – name, post, faculty/company

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What can we learn from our leaders? Challenges & strategies from interviews of male & female staff in leadership positions in Plymouth University

Background Sent questionnaires to 16 staff in leadership roles (mainly in STEM) → equal numbers of males & females → received 8 responses (5 women, 3 men) Interesting facts: 4/5 women said they think it is harder to succeed as a woman Women in leadership positions with children (3/5) all shared childcare equally with partner (3/3) 2/3 men in leadership positions had partners who took on responsibility of childcare (all had children), 1 shared equally with partner (except in early years)

Female challengesMale challenges Time management (work-life balance, research-teaching balance) Managing competing work demands Self-doubt, over-sensitivityInsecurity Finding job in same place as partner Travel/time-away required for successful career (regardless of family, relationships suffer) Travel/time-away required for successful career Getting desired jobs, research funding & promotion Lack of female role models or mentorship As a woman being taken seriously in a male-dominated environment Not single-minded enough Managing peer perceptions

Female leader strategies for success Childcare related: Sharing childcare Pushing for flexible working (but consider that if you choose to work part-time then can be looked down on) Minimise maternity leave Research fellowships (& potentially post-docs) can allow freedom to work part-time through maternity leave Relationship related: Equal importance of career between partners Sort out one partner’s career & other may need to be flexible (e.g. re-focus into alternative discipline)

Female leader strategies for success Flexibility & conscientiousness (work hard over broad area) Ignore the voice saying you can’t do it Negotiate & choose battles carefully (win over people) Prioritise (research v teaching, important travel) Time management Develop strong mentor relationships Networking – professionally & with fellow female scientists + “perseverance, enthusiasm, love of job, honesty, trust & don’t get lost in the detail”

Male leader strategies for success Strategic focus & prioritise tasks Greater time management & organisation Good working relationship with colleagues & networking (keeping colleagues ‘on-side’) Broad interests & interest in what others are doing Not bothering to sleep… Sense of humour… Ignoring instructions & going with gut Childcare related: Partner able to take on caring commitments General: Note: on the whole general very similar to many points raised by women

Tips for dealing with biases inherent in being a woman (or man with female traits) 1.Speak up! & give measured responses (not emotional outbursts), respond with empathy, play to skills – don’t emulate male traits! 2.Appear confident – squash down that ‘imposter syndrome’ and ignor the voice saying you can’t do it 3.Develop your network (with men & women) & get a mentor 4.Stand up to your boss when needed Remember, being a leader is about relating to people as individuals & those that can do it are better leaders (women tend to have more empathy) Be passionate

Over to you… Write down some goals for next 6 months on a postcard & I will post it back to you in 6 months!