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Alice Asks... Belfast Event Explores Women’s Position in Leadership

As part of Alice’s 10th anniversary celebrations, we were proud to return to the Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics for another year of powerful discussion. Following last year’s engaging discussions about AI, misinformation, and democracy, this time we turned our attention to ‘Women’s Leadership and Privilege: Who Gets a Seat at the Table?’

A Dynamic Panel Discussion Our expert panel featured:

Our panel discussed how, while the number of women in leadership positions is increasing, leadership opportunities need to be accessible for all women -women from marginalised backgrounds – including women of colour, those from working-class communities, and women with disabilities – are still significantly under-represented in leadership positions.

Our panel explored how society can address these hurdles to create more inclusive leadership across politics, arts, culture, and business. They also reflected on the role of privilege in shaping their own careers.

Our Key Takeaways

Empowering Young Women in Entrepreneurship

The school curriculum could do more to encourage young women to pursue entrepreneurship. Roseann Kelly proposed, if young women had access to the equivalent of a student loan to start businesses after school, could this boost women-led enterprises across the island of Ireland?

Support Networks for All Women, Overcoming Doubt and Bias

Nisha Tandon highlighted that while women form the global majority and possess the necessary skills to be in positions of leadership, they need supportive platforms to rise into leadership roles. Reflecting on past challenges, Nisha Tandon recalled being told by another female leader that her venture, ArtsEkta, would not succeed. Her reply? "Watch and wait."

Teresa Buczkowska explained that everyone grows up with biases, but it is our responsibility to recognise our biases and challenge them. She said that migrant women do not need ‘capacity building’ support, they already have the skills and the capacity, what they need are platforms and equal treatment.

The Impact of Class on Women’s Progression

Women from working-class backgrounds remain underrepresented in politics and business. Teresa emphasised the importance of intersectionality, acknowledging her own privilege as a white woman who can "pass" as Irish. Roseann noted that many current women leaders come from middle-class backgrounds and must take responsibility for opening doors for others.

Global Influences on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

The elephant in the room (or across the Atlantic) couldn’t be ignored for long and the discussion opened up to how attitudes across the pond are already having an impact on initiatives for diversity and inclusion in Ireland.

The panel agreed that men have an important role to play in creating a more equitable society for all. Teresa encouraged discussion on men’s role in supporting gender equality, noting that many want to be allies but need space to engage in these conversations constructively. Roseann agreed, “we need allies, we need advocates, women’s voices need to be heard and amplified.”

Weaponisation of Language by the Far Right

During the Q&A section of the event an audience member said he had witnessed incredible misogyny in his role mentoring leaders and board members, he asked- does the language used around diversity and inclusion distance us from human reality, particularly in politics? The panel thought so.

“They use the simplest words, the simplest language”, Martina addressed the challenges of communicators encounter in the face of much repeated three-word slogans, which stir up the hatred and bias, with Roseann adding that words also need actions - what we say and when we say it matters.

Our ‘Alice Asks…’ event series was designed to give our clients and friends access to acclaimed speakers who are working to make the world a better place. Read more about previous events in the series here.