marieclaire.com.au (^) | 93
CAREER
Q: What’s your best advice
for working women?
A: “You can’t have it all. Most
people want family, friends, a
career and health. There is no
superman or superwoman I know
who has been able to make this
happen at the same time. One area
of your life inevitably ends up missing
out at the expense of another.”
Q: What role do men play in helping
women achieve their work goals?
A: “I am part of the Male Champions
of Change, which is about ensuring
men in executive positions make sure
the issue of gender equality is on the
agenda. It’s good business to attract
good women as much as good men.”
Q: What’s the one thing you know
about what women want?
A: “Women want to see themselves.
The one thing I have learnt from the
women who follow me is that women
are looking for someone who’s like
them – someone to inspire them.”
Q: Do you think women and men
are now treated the same?
A: “My husband is home with
the kids, and when he talks about
the difficulties in looking after them,
he has more of an audience than
I ever did! People will say to him,
‘Yes, getting them to soccer is
hard. Good on you for trying.’
Whereas with me, they just say,
‘Big deal. Just do it.’”
Q: What would you like to
see happen next for
working women?
A: “I say, ‘Show me the money!’ I
agree with your survey results [61
per cent of women say the one
thing that’ll make them happier
at work is a higher salary]. It
needs urgent addressing.”
Q: What’s your best advice
for working women?
A: “Don’t be too hard on yourself.
If you didn’t finish the work you
were supposed to do today, then
do it tomorrow. If you miss seeing
your kids today, you’ll see them
tomorrow. [We must] stop putting
this pressure on ourselves.”
“THE GENDER
PAY GAP NEEDS
URGENT
ADDRESSING”
- Hannah Ross,
David Jones’ chief
XjhidbZgdèXZg
T
O
P
T
A
K
E
A
W
A
Y
S
Barber, however, questioned how
far we have come: “For only 51 per cent
of women to say they will now report
sexual harassment in the workplace is
terrible. Everyone should call it out.’’
The panel agreed, saying we all
have a role to play in taking action to
improve the workplace for women.
“As CEO, the key thing is to
educate yourself,’’ Howitt said. “Find
out what’s really going on and then
share it with everyone you can. At
Cochlear, we had some major findingsfrom our talks about everyday sexism
and we wanted to get that out to
as many people as possible in the
business to make change happen.’’
Ross also declared there was
much work to be done, especially in
the area of pay disparity. “We have
not even scratched the surface of the
gender pay gap and I think it needs
urgent addressing,’’ she said.
Barber added, “We talk so much
about what needs to happen. I’m really
looking forward to the time when
gender isn’t an issue. For example,
when there is an all-female comedy
bill and it’s not just to raise money
for breast cancer. It’s just the norm.”
Jo Gaines, area vice-president,
Salesforce APAC, said the company is
proud to partner with marie claire to
take a deeper look at gender equality
issues across Australia. “Empowering,
supporting and investing in our global
community for women with insights,
create a platform for us to discuss
gender equality in the workplace
and beyond,’’ she said.
For all the results of the marie
claire/Salesforce survey, go to page 73.CELESTEBARBERDIGHOWITTHANNAHROSSFROM LEFT The panel
included host Nicky
Briger, Celeste Barber,
Dig Howitt and
Hannah Ross.