Diversity

March 6, 2023  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (March, 2023)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Chris Glover and Elmer Kim, talking the closure of Nordstrom stores in Canada, increasing cell roaming charges, and Tall Poppy Syndrome (what’s that?, you ask; keep reading).  You can watch our segment here.

Some thoughts on our discussion.  As much as the business world is changing, there is always a degree of humbling when large companies (or parts of them) fail.  As Nordstrom announced the closure of its Canadian stores this week, perhaps the most telling aspect of this development is the fact that its operations here have never been profitable.  This suggests that what is at play is more than the impact of relatively recent factors such as inflation, COVID19, and the changing face of retail.  Business fundamentals are important for companies of all sizes, including conducting targeted market research, comprehensive business planning, identifying the right business model, and rolling out the launch properly.  Nordstrom is not the first large US chain to fail in Canada (Target stores may be the most pronounced example), raising the question of how well they really understood the Canadian market prior to entry.

Increasing roaming charges are another expenditure facing Canadians on the move, in terms of cell phone fees that are already much higher than what is the case in other countries; numerous studies have confirmed this fact. Although much has been said about the geographic realities of Canada, it would be helpful to bring some innovation and collaboration to this issue, as well as the initiative to meaningfully address this matter.  Given the “infrastructure” nature of cellular communications, it is a reasonable expectation that fee and lack of competitiveness issues raised by consumers should be addressed.

And, finally, although you might not have heard the term Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) before, if you are a woman in the business world, you may have experienced it.  According to a recent study conducted by Women of Influence, TPS occurs when people are attacked, resented, disliked, criticized, or cut down because of their achievements and/or success.  The study’s findings indicate that almost 90% of respondents, including thousands of women from all demographics and professions in 103 countries, experienced this phenomenon at work.

On a personal level, I found it important to participate in this study, as respect, fairness, and equity are integral to a successful workplace.  Speaking from experience, although the majority of organizations and people do not exhibit these behaviors, too many do (and when it happens to you, someone else in your workplace, or a close colleague, it is evident).  To be clear, these behaviors should not be confused with “competition” (ambitious women say “bring it on!”); this conduct is about bias.

Related to this point, unacceptable or unprofessional conduct by others in the workplace is not the fault of the women who are subjected to it; rather, inappropriate behavior defines those who exhibit it.  Why?  Simply because it does not represent the norm or what is acceptable, and those who treat others in this manner might be surprised to learn that their conduct does not fade into the overall work experience.  Women should not be criticized for raising this issue either; doing so is another way of minimizing an important issue that needs to be addressed.

There is a cost associated with TPS, on both a personal and organizational level.  Business leaders, owners, boards of directors, and shareholders should care about inequitable treatment and bias in the workplace, not only from a cost perspective, but also in terms of reputation.  Keep in mind that this behavior can and does also happen in places where it might not be expected, including in large companies and those associated with “prestige” or brand recognition.  Learn more about TPS and the study findings from the infographic below.

Thanks for watching and see you again soon!

in Media / News / The Diversity Files 1 comments
February 8, 2021  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (February, 2021)

Always great to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel to discuss “the week that was”, alongside Mark Warner and John Northcott.


Here’s an overview of the topics we discussed.

As Canada is in the midst of its coldest months and a number of provinces have put enhanced COVID19 restrictions in place, is it really that surprising that a significant number of jobs continue to be lost?  With job losses in January reaching 213,000, industries that have been impacted include hospitality, retail, tourism, and other services.  Although it is a reasonable expectation that the recovery from COVID19 will not be a straight line, what also comes to mind is how many companies might have simply closed up shop after Christmas or at the end of 2020, resulting in permanent job losses.  This situation relates to a range of factors, including the abundance of small businesses that have delayed the succession process, companies that are no longer competitive, and those who have simply had enough, in terms of trying to operate in a COVID19 world.  Keep in mind, these will be permanent job losses, and consider this important question: what does it take to “grow” a job?  The simple answer is a lot of time, effort, and money; ask anyone who has built a business from scratch, starting with their own job.

Anyone who has been following the GameStop trading saga should keep some basic lessons in mind: speculative trading is risky and can result in significant losses, as was seen this week.  For those who only see the upside, remember that for many investors, it is something that occurs only in theory, as timing the market is next to impossible (don’t confuse hindsight with real time).  Perhaps, more importantly, is the need for regulators to catch up to scenarios where social media plays such a significant role, given that financial services is such a highly regulated industry (ask anyone who has ever worked in it, as the penalties can be significant).

Developing content is something that takes far more time, effort, and expertise than most would appreciate (for example, ever written a book?), and one of the biggest venues is the credible news media.  Australia plans to take a bold step in requiring companies such as Google and Facebook to pay local media companies for content, given the significant imbalance between these two sectors.  While these companies have claimed this arrangement is unworkable, the unimpacted Microsoft has indicated support for the plan, as well as a willingness to step up its Bing search capability, in the event that Google follows through with a reduced presence in the area.  A bit of the clash of the titans, perhaps, but it will be interesting to see where other countries go with this train of thought.

And, finally, as Jeff Bezos plans to step down from the CEO role, it is disappointing to see Amazon miss an opportunity to bring diversity to this position, particularly from a gender perspective.  The vast majority of large tech companies are led by men, representing significant wealth at both a corporate and leadership level.  There are qualified women to lead companies, including at a CEO and Board Chair level, and in 2021, we should not be having this same conversation over and over again, in terms of how underrepresented female leadership is.  Customers and employees are watching, and a lack of diversity is noticed more than many would expect; obvious oversights have long memories.

Thank you for watching, and see you again soon, CBC!

 

in Media / News 1 comments
June 29, 2020  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (June, 2020)

How fortunate am I to enjoy another Saturday morning, live, on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel; this time, alongside Elmer Kim, Dennis Mitchell, and John Northcott.

On a busy news week, as we approach the mid-point of 2020, here’s some of what we discussed:

  • Travel bubbles and opening up the economy.  As Atlantic Canada launches its new travel bubble and provinces take their next steps to open up their economies, what can we expect to see and experience?  Will tourism and hospitality finally catch a much needed break (as in, some good news)?
  • Airlines bring back the middle seat.  It’s no secret that airlines have been highly impacted by COVID19, with travel down almost 100% in some cases.  As Canada’s airlines seek to increase capacity, will travelers be on board?
  • A new fund promoting diversity.  A group of Black executives is launching a new fund to invest in Black-led companies.  As we take a first look, how can this approach impact diversity going forward?

Canadians are certainly feeling restless, with much of our communities and local economies having been locked down for months.  As COVID19 rates stabilize, an opportunity exists to re-open parts of Canada; a new example being the travel bubble in Atlantic Canada (count me in!).  As tourism and hospitality have suffered immensely, locales with well managed COVID19 rates represent an opportunity to bring much needed traffic to these industries, in a manner in which travelers feel comfortable; this is key.  I will be watching this coastal bubble very closely, with fingers crossed for good news and results, in terms of both business recovery and COVID19 rates that stay under control.

Speaking of travel, Westjet and Air Canada recently announced that they will be ending the middle seat moratorium in order to increase capacity on flights (I’m sure that a lot of travelers were hoping that these seats would be permanently removed, but that’s another discussion).  Part of the rationale relates to travelers being subject to temperature checks and masks, as well as the enhanced aircraft cleaning and reduced food service on board.  Everything I have seen or read in recent months indicates that air travel levels are down by as much as 98%, year over year, with current activity remaining slow.  I can’t help but wonder why this move is desirable for all flights, as an absence of consumer confidence will not fill airplanes.  Couple this with the nostalgia of Summer road trips, RV’s, and drive ins, suggesting that Canadians have an interest in trying something new (old, actually) over the next couple of months; it’s back to the future, for some of us!

Diversity has made news on a global level in recent months, particularly in terms of the stories coming out of the United States involving racism against members of the Black community.  The launch of the Black Opportunity Fund, investing in Black-led companies, is an important development for Canada and has the potential to help grow a sector of the economy that has been relatively overlooked.  Diversity is an issue of importance across many groups, and we all have a role to play in combating systemic bias; are you doing your part?

It’s a privilege to bring the week in business news to our audience across Canada and streaming globally.  Thanks for watching and see you again, soon, CBC!

in Media / News 0 comments
July 22, 2019  by

They Used to Call it “Sexist”: Taking action against systemic gender bias

I’ve been in the business world long enough to remember the days when a person or organization that didn’t treat women fairly was referred to as “sexist”.  This term took a wide path; be it a lack of promoting women to more senior roles, paying them fairly, making inappropriate comments, or worse.  Although the terminology has advanced from this simple reference, the journey to reaching gender parity has made far less progress.

Statistics and research findings are readily available to support a lack of gender parity; be it the inequity of women in senior roles, Board of Directors positions, equal pay, or investment capital for female led companies.  While some have approached the issue with a musing of “we must do more” or claim that “mentoring young women and girls is the answer”, such commentary is woefully inadequate and off the mark.

As a former executive and venture capitalist still active in the industry, I have spent more time than most working in traditionally male dominated fields and certainly know what it’s like to be the only woman in the room; doing so has never bothered me.  I am bothered, however, by the relative lack of progress that has been made in advancing women to a point of parity in a range of senior areas over the last quarter of a century.  I recall unequal pay and the “glass ceiling” being regular topics of conversation when I was completing my university degree, which was some time ago.  In 2019, these issues are still very much a reality.

Given that there is an abundance of women who are qualified to hold executive roles, run companies, serve on Boards, and seek investment capital, the lack of progress is not due to insufficient supply; something else is at play.  Although there are certainly exceptions, this suggests the presence of a “systemic bias” that has not allowed women to progress as equally as men in some areas.  An example is as simple as filling a Board or senior executive vacancy by utilizing a “who do we know?” approach to identify possible candidates, drawn from the current members of the group and their network; we know that the majority of these are men.  The result, too often, is a disproportionate candidate pool that under-represents some groups, as well as inclusion of those who are less than ideally qualified.

Changing this reality requires more than wishing it away or “giving it time”; tangible action is needed on various levels.  Whatever the vantage point, there’s a role to be played in eradicating systemic gender bias:

  • If you are a member of a Board of Directors:
    • Refrain from relying solely on the “who do we know?” approach to fill senior roles and cast a wider net when seeking candidates. Ensure that the network that is approached has a balanced gender mix and engage an experienced advisor to draw candidates more broadly (don’t forget to request information about their diversity mandate).
    • Ask the business leader for a copy of the Company’s diversity policy (if this is met with a blank stare, engage a qualified advisor to help), set milestones, and monitor progress.
    • Ensure that Board and Committee meetings are kept at a professional level and that proceedings are respectful and comfortable for all. Diverse perspectives actually improve a group; studies have shown that the presence of women in corporate leadership generates better results.
    • If you see gender or any other type of bias, call it out.  A Board represents an important part of an organization’s leadership, and if this represents an area of discomfort, think twice about holding the role.
  • If you are a CEO or Senior Executive:
    • Ensure that the Company has a diversity policy in place and that equity is present, in terms of compensation and access to senior roles. If this is not the case and/or “we can’t find qualified women” seems to be a common complaint, seek advisory assistance.
    • When implementing strategies to enhance diversity, ensure that the approach that is being taken isn’t “tone deaf” to those that it is meant to help.  Too often, poor or less than thoughtful implementation results in the process backfiring, leaving a situation worse than it was in the first place.  Seek feedback from those who are skilled in the area of diversity initiatives and/or a sample of the target group, in advance, to avoid costly and embarrassing mistakes.
    • Track diversity progress and recognize that an organization that is gender balanced, viewed as “fair”, and comprised of diverse views will lead to better performance and be more appealing in the marketplace. Companies that achieve this in a meaningful way can showcase their accomplishments, while others face the prospect of being unfavourably labeled and less attractive to qualified candidates.
    • Remember that a company’s diversity reflects on its leadership in the Executive office.  Ask the hard questions: are you proud of what has been achieved in this regard during your tenure?
  • If you are responsible for managing the human resources function:
    • It is incumbent upon you to ensure that this functional area is managed fairly, regardless of whether you are a human resources professional or a manager who has been assigned this responsibility (such as a CFO). Where additional knowledge or expertise is required in order to do so, request it.
    • If the Company lacks a diversity policy, equitable compensation, workplace respect, or has other problems, it is not acceptable to stay the course and relegate the situation to a talk track of “it’s always been this way”. Meet with the business leader to discuss these areas and make an assessment of where progress can be made.  Be sure to seek professional guidance in situations that are truly unacceptable.
  • If you are a human resources advisor or consultant:
    • Have a diversity policy that guides recruitment and selection activities and be prepared to educate those who view this approach as “giving unqualified people jobs”. In many, if not most cases, there is a diverse range of qualified candidates.
    • “Walk the talk” with candidates and ensure that a diverse range is contacted on a regular basis. Situations where women, for example, are added to a candidate database so that it can be promoted as “diverse”, only to never be contacted or put forward for a role, is a legitimate complaint.  Rest assured that word travels quickly through the very network that is being sought.
  • If you are a business association or organization:
    • Although it might seem dated to make this statement, associations and organizations that have traditionally been targeted at men also need to walk the talk when it comes to diversity. Adopting a “we need to find more women” mantra, without doing the work to make a service offering diverse or to actively engage female participants is unacceptable.
    • In this type of situation, women are left with the perception of “being on a list” or having been “hoodwinked” to demonstrate an organization’s progressiveness, with no real intention of engaging them in a meaningful way. Not only does this represent a service delivery failure, it is also unprofessional and biased.
  • If you are a staff member:
    • In the event of inequitable treatment of others, speak up. Initial referral points can include a human resources officer, through a corporate “whistleblower” or code of conduct policy, or an employee assistance program.  A lack of respect or professionalism should not be tolerated.

And, if you are a qualified woman (and there are many of you!), the last word is for you:

If you are not being treated fairly, speak up; If you are qualified, but not given an opportunity, show up; When an organization proves to be a “dead end”, move along.  There are places that will value your contribution, progressive leaders that you can learn from, organizations that will promote your talent and ability, equally. Seek them out and pursue what they have to offer.

Recognize that the problem is not you and those who are stuck in the days of “sexism” don’t (and won’t) appreciate your ability.  For so many years, the future has been regarded as distant and aspirational, but in many aspects of our world, it is now.  Never forget that you are not alone; numbers brings comfort, perspective, strength, and a better path forward.

in Career / Insights / Leadership / Management / The Diversity Files 1 comments
September 19, 2017  by

MEDIA: The Diversity Files

I was recently interviewed by CBC News Network Radio regarding a story about an organization devoted to the advancement of women in the workplace having selected a man as the Chair of their advisory board. Although I’ve never been one to point to my gender as impacting my career progress, it served as a reminder of what an important issue this is.  I’m taking the opportunity to discuss this topic in a new blog segment, The Diversity Files.

Having women in leadership positions provides a tremendous role model opportunity, in terms of what can be achieved in the business world.  I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I believed that anything was possible, in terms of the career that I could have.  It was not until I was much older that I appreciated the fact that not all girls (and boys, for that matter) have this experience.  There are also many points in a person’s career where discouragement could set in; being passed over for an advancement opportunity or pay raise, encountering difficult co-workers, or the boss who doesn’t support your efforts (or, perhaps, has the audacity to take credit for your work!).  These moments can call into question if it’s worth the effort, if that lifelong goal is really achievable.

It’s no secret that, even in 2017, women are still underrepresented in a number of senior level roles, including that of business owner, the executive ranks, and on governance Boards.  In too many cases, women are so badly underrepresented, it is difficult, if not impossible, to explain.

Studies have found that companies who employ more women in the C-Suite are more profitable, and those who have women on their Boards generate better performance at the governance level.  Since strong financial results and better corporate performance are integral to building shareholder wealth, it begs the question: why are there not more women in the senior ranks of so many companies?  Why?  Based on these findings alone, it doesn’t add up, not to mention what it means on a human level; the very thought that one being is somehow lesser than another.

This reality points to the business world itself.  Could there be something systemic that makes it less likely for women to progress to senior levels?  Unlocking the code to resolve this problem isn’t a casual matter; rather, it is integral to driving better results and fostering inclusion.  It is also simply the right thing to do.

It is not as if there is a lack of qualified women, educated in business and in the corporate world, to fill these roles.  Solutions lie in more women pursuing senior level positions, being supported when they do, as well as given their fair amount of the opportunity; they have earned it!  Women, without question, have the ability to perform well in senior roles, and doing so just doesn’t drive results; it represents a powerful opportunity to set an example for the next generation.  Heaven knows, they are watching.

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