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Spoiler alert: when women leaders leave organisations after having kids, it’s not because they “lack confidence” or “opt out.” But the reality is, organisations are struggling to recruit and retain women in leadership, and women are struggling to stay.
Dr Amanda Sterling’s groundbreaking PhD research exposes how the denial of women’s physical experiences (pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, menopause) creates impossible conditions for mothers in leadership.
As a leadership consultant and neuroscience-trained coach, she’s calling bull on trying to “fix the women” and instead shows organisations how to fix their cultures so women can thrive in leadership positions, not just in support roles where so many of us get stuck.
Her work has been featured everywhere from Global Women to Radio New Zealand, and she’s about to drop some cold, hard truths about what really needs to change to get – and keep – more women in leadership.
I hope you enjoy the episode
In this episode we discuss:
- Her own experience as a working mother, getting sidelined out of interesting work
- The shifting identify of women when we become mothers, and the ‘good mother’ pressure
- Time pressure makes you clear on your values and priorities
- Women that prioritise what’s important to themselves are more connected to ourselves and our families
- Amanda’s PhD research into the embodied experiences of motherhood – pregnancy, breastfeeding and care of young children – for women in leadership
- “Leader” in our culture is a white man, or a childless woman. If you’re not that, you will try to prove yourself as capable, competent and committed
- The pull to perform and be present no matter what else is going on
- Women feel supported when the manager is explicit that the woman is seen and her challenge is understood
- Where companies need to invest to make a true impact – engaging more men in the conversation is crucial
- Individually, women can 1. Recognition of their experience, 2. Resistance of the influence of gender norms and choose not to identify with it, 3. Reformation/rebirth and being intentional about how we show up
- How to assess whether a workplace truly supports women in leadership
About Amanda Sterling
Dr Amanda Sterling is an award winning leadership consultant and neuroscience-trained coach. She combines her decades of experience working in corporate leadership development and culture change, as well as deep expertise on leadership, gender, and inclusion, to support organisations in understanding their gender equity challenges and engaging all their leaders in the cultural changes necessary to build inclusive workplaces, increase the representation of women in leadership, and close their gender pay gaps.
Amanda completed PhD at the University of Auckland in 2023. Her research was a world-first exploring the experiences of mothers in leadership positions. It has been featured in NewsHub, The Press, The Dominion Post, NewsTalkZB, RNZ’s The Panel and by Global Women and the University of Auckland.