Female Leaders - IWD2022 - Sarah Appleby

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2022, Krishnan interviews Sarah Appleby, Chief Financial Officer at Acer Trust

What does IWD mean to you? 

An opportunity to promote the value that men and women both add in the workplace and why it is so important we find ways to retain talented people in our organisations

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

• Change; in particular a big cultural shift; takes time 
• Lack of availability for part time working/Stigma around part time working where employees are perhaps viewed as less dedicated to their jobs compared with their full-time counterparts
• Assumptions about personality traits - sometimes based on gender stereotypes. Women are often highly collaborative. This might be viewed as weak rather than being the characteristic of a strong leader who can dominate a Board room. But true leadership requires 'followership'. It is about inspiring people and earning their trust and respect so they want to make the organisation a success. An effective board needs a leader who creates an environment which facilitates teamwork, collaboration and robust debate to get the best outcome rather than being dominated by one person. Leadership is not about intimidating others. It is about humility and having the self-belief to feel comfortable being challenged and has the confidence to be honest when we make a mistake or when someone has a better idea than we do. Leaders do not need to have all of the answers - they need to create an environment where the team comes up with the right answers. It is about building relationships, showing empathy, earning trust, inspiring and enabling others and being genuine

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

Gandhi said 'Be the change you want to see in the World' - focus on being brilliant at your job rather than on any inequality you may encounter. The best way to change perceptions and break down stereotypes is by being amazing at what we do and showing our worth 

What initiatives should companies invest in to promote women in leadership and an inclusive workplace?

Mentoring schemes, flexible working for men and women, promoting a culture which values every individual's contribution irrespective of gender or other factors. Valuing our differences... we all have strengths and weaknesses. The more we recognise this in ourselves and each other, the more we can build a team which plays to each person's strengths to get the best possible results

Is there a particular leader / figure you look up to? 

I try to learn from everyone I meet. It doesn't matter about someone's seniority or experience. Everyone has something to teach you and being open to that opportunity to learn means we continue to challenge ourselves and refine our knowledge of the World. I think this is especially important as we progress through our careers and potentially start to think we know everything! 🙂

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

Play to your strengths and be aware of blind spots and weaknesses. We all have the latter and knowing what they are makes us more able to operate effectively. Being honest and open about our weaknesses shows great strength and courage