Nine empowering resources to help women succeed in business
Advice, tips and tactics from UQ's business experts
Imposter syndrome. Lack of confidence. Unconscious bias. Gender pay gaps. Pressure and stress. Women face many barriers as they carve out a career, which can feel exhausting and unrelenting. But they don’t have to be a stumbling block to success.
The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School has a strong community of mentors, alumni, advocates and cutting-edge researchers proudly supporting women in business.
We’ve collated five must-read articles, three insightful videos and an information-packed podcast featuring a wealth of practical strategies, winning tactics and proven advice from UQ business experts to help women at all stages of their career journey.
1. A seat at the table: Female ASX board members share their top tips for landing a board position
A boardroom can be a lonely place for a woman. UQ alumnus Andrea Staines was the first female CEO of an Australian airline company before trading her high-flying job for a seat at the (board) table – often as the only female board member.
Encouragingly, the representation of women on boards reached new heights in Australia during 2021, according to a report from UQ Business School, supported by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC). Yet, while women account for almost one-third of ASX200 board members, they still face corporate challenges to achieving gender parity. The rewards of pursuing a career as a board member are worth it according to Andrea, who shares valuable tips for women seeking to land a board role.
Researchers: Dr Terrance Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor UQ Business School; Dr Miriam Yates, Postdoctoral Research Fellow UQ Business School within the AIBE Centre for Gender Equality in the Workplace; Professor Victor Callan, Professor of Management and Leadership UQ Business School.
Experts: Andrea Staines OAM, UQ Bachelor of Economics graduate; Marina Go, Chair and Non-Executive Director.
Image: Prostock-studio / Adobe Stock
2. Pitch perfect – How to pitch to any industry regardless of gender or bias
Even in the progressive and innovative world of startups, gender bias remains a silent barrier to female founders pitching for capital. What some investors call “gut feeling” could be unconscious gender bias, particularly if female entrepreneurs are pitching in a male-dominated industry.
The good news is there are proven strategies for overcoming gendered hurdles in any industry. UQ alumnus and founder of Women in Digital and recruitment company Hunt & Co. Holly Hunt reveals she had to “work twice as hard” to secure capital as male peers and shares her winning tactics for beating bias. Holly is joined by UQ Business School organisational culture researcher Professor Tyler Okimoto to share their four pitch-perfect tips.
Researcher: Professor Tyler Okimoto, UQ Business School, Deputy Head of School.
Expert: Holly Hunt, UQ Bachelor of Business Management, Graduate Certificate in Business Administration graduate.
Image: Elnur / Adobe Stock
3. Female-identifying business, economics and law staff share career advice
Why is education so important in advancing a woman’s career? What’s the most significant barrier to female leadership?
If you're hoping to excel in your career and have asked yourself these questions before, this collection of profiles is for you. Be inspired by the stories of staff working in the UQ Faculty of Business, Economics and Law including the Centre for the Business and Economics of Health and the Australian Institute for Business and Economics and their advice for taking your career to the next level.
4. Addressing the gender inequality caused by COVID-19: 8 crucial tips for organisations
New research published by UQ gender equality and management expert Terry Fitzsimmons has revealed the pandemic in Australia had an overwhelmingly greater financial and psychological impact on women than men, significantly affecting their overall employment, hours of work, domestic labour arrangements, mental health and wellbeing.
The pandemic has provided many workplaces the opportunity to address traditional assumptions about employee productivity at home and persisting gendered inequality. Terry’s research calls for the Australian Government to initiate a national strategy addressing gender equality, but also outlines 8 tips all organisations can implement themselves to reduce gender inequality.
Researchers: Associate Professor Dr Terrance Fitzsimmons and Dr Miriam Yates.
Image: Prostock-Studio / Getty Images
5. The information systems expert challenging gender imbalance
Dr Ida Asadi Someh
Dr Ida Asadi Someh has spent her career battling gender imbalance and breaking down barriers for other women in the process.
The tenacious and celebrated UQ business information systems researcher has defied cultural and corporate norms from the moment she pursued and landed her first job, advertised at the time for male applicants only.
Image: martinedoucet / Getty Images
In this frank and fearless discussion, Dr Asadi Someh shares her experience as a leader in a male-dominated field, her practical advice for stepping outside comfort zones and how good education and strong mentoring can lift and inspire women.
Expert: Dr Ida Asadi Someh, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems and Master of Business Analytics program leader at UQ Business School.
Dr Ida Asadi Someh
Dr Ida Asadi Someh
Image: martinedoucet / Getty Images
Image: martinedoucet / Getty Images
6. Top tips to help leaders perform under pressure
Clarity, calmness and compassion are ideal traits in a leader. But when pressure is mounting and stakes are high, it can be hard to keep cool and lead effectively.
UQ experts Dr Jemma King and Associate Professor Remi Ayoko lift the lid on common situations that can lead to stress – from managing a remote workforce to workplace conflict. Watch as these two experts share practical tips to help leaders harness their stress and gain the confidence to perform under pressure in any environment.
Speakers: Associate Professor Remi Ayoko, Management Discipline Leader UQ Business School; Dr Jemma King, Honorary Fellow UQ School of Psychology.
7. Three simple tips to overcome imposter syndrome
Ever felt guilty for receiving an award or accolade? How about that niggling feeling that you don’t really deserve your role or promotion?
Imposter syndrome affects people on all rungs of the corporate ladder but is disproportionately felt by women, holding many back from achieving their career goals.
In this insightful video, social entrepreneur Runali Maniya details her experience of imposter syndrome and shares three pieces of advice to help others overcome the false perception of inadequacy.
Speakers: Runali Maniya, UQ Master of Business graduate; Dr Terrance Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor of Leadership UQ Business School.
Image: Axel Bueckert / Adobe Stock
8. COVID-19 and investing
Investing in yourself isn’t just a feel-good sentiment, it’s grounded in sound financial theory. It’s one of several valuable nuggets of practical advice unearthed in the first podcast of the UQ Young Alumni Series.
Personal finance experts and UQ alumni, Effie Zahos and Andrew Courtney, join UQ Business School Professor Shaun Bond to explain how to navigate the uncertainties of COVID-impacted financial markets and how to curate a diversified investment portfolio.
Effie Zahos, UQ Master of Commerce (2012)
From salary sacrificing to dipping your toes into the stock market, this podcast targets early-stage career professionals, but its timeless wisdom and general advice applies to anyone wanting to invest in their future.
Moderator: Andrew Courtney, UQ Master of Commerce graduate.
Speakers: Effie Zahos, UQ Bachelor of Economics graduate; Professor Shaun Bond, Frank Finn Professor of Finance UQ Business School.
Effie Zahos, UQ Master of Commerce (2012)
Effie Zahos, UQ Master of Commerce (2012)
9. How women are combatting obstacles to seize leadership opportunities in business
What is the biggest barrier you face in moving to the next level in your career? For some, it’s not having the right skills or confidence. For others, it’s the challenge of being able to find the right balance between work, family and other commitments.
For this group of women, the key to unlocking the tools and confidence to achieve career success was through further education. Read their stories to feel inspired about your own.
Speakers: Business School MBA graduates Julia Chun, Athena Manley, Stephanie Elwin and current MBA student Kelly Morgan.
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