Questions to Sara Campbell, Regional Account Director APAC Barclays – ISS

To celebrate International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month, Krishnan asked a few questions to Sara Campbell, Regional Account Director APAC Barclays – ISS

What does IWD mean to you? 

It makes me stop, acknowledge, and reflect the part I play in ensuring equality now and in the future.

Why haven't we achieved equality, despite legislation in place regarding pay?

I believe it sits around the fact that the current laws in place rely on the individuals that have suffered to raise, fight and prove their own cases, this means in the situations where they win they are only winning for themselves which creates a limited shift change in the company and not a profound culture change within society. We shouldn’t be relying on single women chipping away and accept that it is ALL our responsibility to drive the change needed. I believe we should take women raising complaints in the same way we treat whistle-blowers with valid complaints being independently investigated and tribunals heard to rectify.

How would you advise young women leaders on how to build confidence in their ability as a manager and leader? 

You are not always going to have the answers straight away and that’s OK, but always do what you commit to and if you act with confidence and integrity people will respect and follow your lead – never compromise on your personal values, trust yourself and make sure you take time to reflect on your day / weeks.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 

Have the confidence to be yourself and to be the difference, keep learning from everyone and every situation…  and don’t be disheartened if something didn’t go how you wanted to. Often the mistakes are where we learn the most and they are what shape you and your career 

What initiatives should companies invest in to promote women in leadership? 

Mentorship has been key for me and my career so I think that would be a good place to start, mentoring has built my confidence and my ability to believe in myself and my abilities, 9 times out of 10 I knew the best approach even when it was different to proposed process but I needed someone to confirm with. Other things I consider now, which are more female centric are competitive maternity leave packages as well.

Do women in our sector have a hard time getting promoted? 

I don’t feel that I have ever had a hard time getting promoted or that I have been disadvantaged in the process, but I have seen situations where colleagues have been on maternity leave and not considered for roles. Also often in major companies you don’t see many women in really senior (board level) roles, this has changed greatly in the 10+ years I’ve been working in the industry but it’s a slow change. I feel there are so many unconscious biases around job roles and the places women and men hold in society that the change that’s really needed is from childhood, at the grass roots. Not when people are already in the workplace.

If you could choose one recommendation for HR leaders to help promote women in the workplace, what would it be? 

Create a community and culture that is inclusive and diverse so people feel confident being themselves and speaking up

How are you paying it forward?

I am actively involved in CoreNet Singapore chapter on the Young Leaders Committee, in which this is a focus. I also ensure that development and succession planning are at the forefront of the leadership of my own teams and I have one external female mentee I have been working with for just under a year. I believe in the workplace and work environment to be equal and I ensure that starts with me.

Is there a particular leader you look up to? 

Angela Ahrendts and Debra Ward, having worked in companies they were leading these two females have been the most influential and inspiring people I have worked for, I look up to both of them and try to bring the best elements of their management styles into my own leadership. 

What advice would you give your younger self? 

Don’t feel that you need masculine qualities to succeed, you bring a unique and different perspective that can really make a difference so make sure you raise that respectively…. Then listen! 

Sara Campbell

ISS - A/S