Governance & Leadership

It's an undeniable fact that New Zealand lags behind many other developed nations in terms of women's participation in the top jobs and governance positions across both the business sector and professional services.  

If this statement surprises you, then spend some time in the articles in this area to read the facts for yourself.  We take great care to ensure the content we have here is backed by up to date research to support informed discussion.  

If you already know the rather gloomy situation, then what you'll find here are many and varied articles on the topic of governance and leadership.  We have book reviews, research summaries and relevant statistics and interviews with some of New Zealand's most impressive leaders, both men and women.  These include, to name but a few, Justice Lowell Goddard and John Palmer, Chair of Air New Zealand.  

We hope to, stretch, enlighten, provoke (in a good way) and inspire you as well as to provide you with practical tips on being an effective leader and a governor.

Latest articles

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  • 09 December 2011 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 2
    Busting Biases - "No one wants to work for a woman boss

    Events have recently made Galia confront the fact that gender bias against professional women is alive and well. In true Professionelle fashion, Galia reviews the research to test the source and mettle of the bias. This piece looks at “No-one wants to work for a woman boss.”

  • 24 November 2011 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 0
    Unconscious Gender Bias - the Basics

    For professional women who aspire to build their careers towards positions of leadership, unconscious gender bias poses a persistent disadvantage that has only recently begun to be more widely acknowledged. Here Sarah explains the basics of this challenging phenomenon

  • 01 September 2011 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 1
    The Gender Productivity Gap

    There's an economic prize for bringing more women into paid employment and lifting their productivity, say Goldman Sachs. It's an argument that interests the Government and has the power to bring important policy changes for working women to the table. So Sarah wants to believe it - but struggles with the economic logic. Can wiser heads help her understand?

  • 16 August 2011 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 0
    The Business Case for (More) Women in Top Management

    Companies with more women on Senior Leadership Teams typically have higher financial returns and greater satisfaction with leadership. This article is a refresh of both the seminal pieces of research and the latest findings. Never again be short of a killer piece of evidence in your debates about the business case for women at the top!

  • 26 July 2011 By Galia Barhava-Monteith and Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 4
    Professionelle on the Pay Gap

    This is a fresh, long, and fact-based look at the issue of the New Zealand gender pay gap and its causes.

  • 17 July 2011 By Jen Dalitz, Australia's thought leader on gender balance Comments: 1
    Unconscious Bias - 10 Signs to Watch For

    What is unconscious bias, really, and how can you know if it's happening in your workplace? Jen Dalitz explains why it's still a live issue for professional women's careers and lists 10 tell-tale signs that middle and senior managers are making decisions based on familiar, but outdated, assumptions and mental shortcuts

  • 16 July 2011 By Sally Mabelle, the 'Voice of Leadership' specialist Comments: 1
    How Being Assertive Can Save Your Life!

    Have you ever stopped to consider that your speaking up, particularly to your bosses, could mean the difference between success and failure? As highlighted in these examples, you should never underestimate the power of assertiveness. The price of diffidence can be appallingly high.

  • 14 May 2011 By Sarah Wilshaw-Sparkes Comments: 2
    A Question of Quotas

    Quotas for women on boards have been in the news again recently. Not much has changed: neither the stats on senior women nor the vehemence of opinions on both sides! But Sarah has gradually moved from one camp to the other. Here she reviews why.

  • 19 October 2010 By Angelique Jurd Comments: 12
    Protect the Precious

    Integrity: can you sleep at night knowing what you've done during the day? In a world where social and professional boundaries are blurring, as social media speeds word of mouth reports, it's more important than ever to act in a way we are proud to own. Our good names are at stake.

  • 23 July 2010 By Sally Mabelle, the "Voice of Leadership" specialist Comments: 0
    Staying Focused on ‘The Big Picture’ as a Leader

    How do you manage to stay focused on 'the big picture' of your vision and purpose in your organisation? Your primary job as a leader is to be a wayshower and guiding light, helping others to stay focused on the mission and reason they’re doing what they’re doing.