CMI WOMEN CONFERENCE URGES LEADERS TO CREATE MORE INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

Posted on 19th May 2023

Leading figures from the world of business and politics joined delegates from across the UK for The Chartered Management Institute’s second CMI Women conference in London. The conference — titled “Our Inclusive Future” — challenged leaders from across the UK to answer the central question, “What are you going to do to make your organisation more inclusive?”

The event heard from experts on topics including socio-economic exclusion as a barrier to career progression, the value of hybrid and flexible working in creating a more diverse and effective workforce, the role that male allies can play and how to shift the mindset of men who do not see it as their job to help create space for women to succeed.

Sessions also explored the growing risks of digital exclusion and what needs to happen to close the so-called ‘say-do gap’ between what employers say is important in addressing workplace exclusion and what they are actively doing to address it.

Following several cases of serious leadership and management failure in the UK, the event also marked the beginning of a new campaign from the CMI to transform the view of management amongst politicians, the media, and the public.

Ann Francke OBE, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, said: "The CMI Women conference is all about positive action, it’s about what we can all do to turn aspiration for an inclusive future into reality. It was our pleasure to be able to convene so many leading voices from across the corporate, public and political landscape to help us take on this challenge.

"Our Everyone Economy research is clear that women, people with disabilities, people from black and ethnic minority communities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are not represented among the managers and leaders in our workforce. It is up to each of us to play our part in addressing that imbalance".

Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "There are still too many barriers in place – and a misunderstanding of the vital role that women play in our economy, getting us towards securing the highest sustained growth in the G7. Britain has so much potential to grow. Our amazing women in business show we have the talent, and that we have the capacity. Women already do so much to boost growth, and I know hold the key to building a stronger economy."

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "Everybody can lead, and lead with purpose. The defining difference between people who are spectacular and those who do their jobs are those leaders who take on that wider responsibility, their impact on society, and their organisational impact in society. We have to lead with purpose. We're already seeing that when people come into the workforce right now, they don't want to work for organisations that haven't stated what they are doing to contribute to the world".

For more information visit managers.org.uk