Women in Leadership Programme - An Insider's Perspective
We'd love to share this blog with you that first appeared on the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation blog.
We'd like to thank Cerys Humphreys, Healthy Lifestyles Manager for Gwynedd Council, a participant in Sport Wales' Women in Leadership programme, for sharing her story so far...
Thanks again to the WSFF. In case you didn't know, Women's Sport Network has been created as a key element of the charity's focus on increasing the number of women in leadership positions in sport. To find out more about the Network, click here.
We'd like to thank Cerys Humphreys, Healthy Lifestyles Manager for Gwynedd Council, a participant in Sport Wales' Women in Leadership programme, for sharing her story so far...
"About 18 months ago, an email arrived in my Inbox from my line manager, asking me whether I had heard about the Women in Leadership (WIL) programme funded by Sport Wales and did I have interest in applying for it. The aim of the programme was to inspire women to be confident in applying for senior management jobs in sport, due to the present inequity. My initial thought was – ‘Me? Getting a place on such a programme? No chance!’. I left it in the Inbox overnight and by the morning I thought – ‘I’ll give it a go, I’ve got nothing to lose’. So I completed the application form and sent it off and to my surprise, a letter came through the post inviting me for an interview in the National Sports Centre, Cardiff, which would be an all day event. ‘Oh no I thought, I’ll have to be in a room all day, knowing nobody only to be turned down’. There were many aspects to the interview, such as a presentation, a formal interview and a group discussion and when I jumped into the car at the end of the day, I thought I had no chance and carried on with life.
I was very surprised and pleased therefore to be offered a place on the programme, which started in Dec 2012. Skip forward a year and I couldn’t be enjoying the opportunity more, supported by the company of 11 fantastic women whose aim of continuous self development binding us together, through laughter, fun and sometimes tears. The programme is multi-faceted, including WIL days every 6-7 weeks, facilitated by Lucy Falkner and Pauline Harrison, where we discuss particular aspects of leadership, mentor support, networking groups and Inspiring Women Events, organised by the women on the programme. The presenters at the Inspiring Women Events include Huw Jones, ex CEO Sport Wales, Laura McAllister, Chair of Sport Wales, Alison Nimmo, , CEO of the Crown Estate, and Claire Clancy, CEO of the National Assembly of Wales. I was part of the group who organised the event where Alison Nimmo presented and had the role of introducing the event to the audience, something which wasn’t as nerve wracking as it would have been before starting the programme!
We have talked a lot as a group about the importance of networking skills (something which at the start of the programme I really really didn’t like doing!), and we get the opportunity to practice this in Inspiring Women’s Events (there is no hiding place with Lucy and Pauline, who make it look so easy!), as well as in everyday working life. We have asked colleagues to complete 360 degree feedback forms (scary) in order to inform Personal Development Plans (PDP’s) and I have utilised 1:1 coaching within the workplace in order to work towards the actions within the PDP’s. The motto is that we aim to go from ‘good’ to ‘great’ in various self development aspects of leadership and I thoroughly believe that this programme has improved both my effectiveness within the workplace, as well as increase my confidence in applying for senior management posts. I have started to like networking and it’s not as scary as it was at the start!
As I look forward towards the next nine months of the programme, I feel satisfied that I have worked towards getting the most out the programme and have contributed fully. I have really looked at myself internally and asked myself questions which have proved at times to be painful and emotional, but I believe as a result, I have developed into a more rounded leader within work. I’m really looking forward to seeing the women again in February, to share experiences and discuss various aspects of leadership, with Lucy and Pauline guiding us to going from ‘good to great!’. This whole process wouldn’t have worked either without my employer’s support (Gwynedd Council), who have been fantastic about releasing me from work to attend the events. Here’s to the next nine months!
Sport Wales' Women in Leadership Programme aims to:
* Increase confidence and competence in women in a range of leadership behaviours
* Build women's confidence to apply for senior leadership roles
* Further develop the women's commitment to self-sustained learning
* Foster networking between women in sport and women in business in Wales
Thanks again to the WSFF. In case you didn't know, Women's Sport Network has been created as a key element of the charity's focus on increasing the number of women in leadership positions in sport. To find out more about the Network, click here.
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