Rising up the career ladder
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By Laura Hailstone
MORE THAN three-quarters (77%) of the women attending the Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Leadership Academy in Daventry last month said they had faced challenges in their career progression. Delegates at the one-day event, entitled Accelerate Your Career Progression, were asked a number of questions about their roles in the industry.
The 77% who had faced a challenge said their four biggest ordeals were: operating in a male-dominated environment; achieving work/ life balance; lack of confidence/coming out of their comfort zone; and taking the next step. Although the majority of respondents (52%) said the challenges were personal, others did say that poor line management, hostility from others and a male-dominated management structure were responsible. Asked what senior management could do to support the progression of women in their organisations (see pie chart), 25% of delegates said they needed to openly discuss the opportunities for women and support them in their career progression; 20% said they could provide access to forums/groups and training; and 17% wanted more feedback. Only 7% felt no improvement was needed. "With 53% of our attendees stating that they are accessing fewer than two days of personal development opportunities a year, it is not surprising that stretching themselves
out of their comfort zones can be a daunting prospect," said Maxine Benson, co-founder of Everywoman.
"What has transpired through the research this year is that women in the sector are looking for more feedback, guidance and career clarity, proving what we already know: many women would prefer a senior level stamp of approval before requesting access to opportunities such as a promotion, new projects and self-development." Barriers to achievement
According to Everywoman, a lack of flexibility, work/life balance and working in a male-dominated environment are still coming to the fore as barriers to women achieving their aspirations.
"These factors have featured consistently over the past three years of our survey of delegates. Whether they are perceived or real barriers, there appears to still be a way to go in order to make the sector more female-friendly," said Karen Gill, co-founder of Everywoman.
The good news is that 93% of delegates said they felt they could achieve their career aspirations in the transport and logistics industry. "Evidence from the delegates and attendees that join us at the Leadership Academies and FTA Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards certainly indicates that they find a career in the transport and logistics sector rewarding," added Gill.
The delegates were from a mix of firms in the logistics sector — third-party logistics, supermarkets, hauliers, retailers, post and parcels, pallet networks, rail and construction. • For more information, log on to everywoman.com