The problems of leadership and gender equality

2. “Too often, parents feel they have to choose between being a good parent and a fulfilling leadership career. We’re here to change this.” Verena Hefti, Founder, Leaders Plus

3. The problems of leadership and gender equality • Childhood penalty: Between the ages of 30-40, the gender pay gap increases by more than 10 %, with every child the pay gap increases by 3%1 • Double standards: 4 in 10 people feel that women are less committed at work when they’ve had a baby. The effect is the other way round for men2 • Stigmatised: Bain & Company found that fathers’ careers suffer when they ask for flexible working or parental leave3 • Progress too slow: Many diversity initiatives exist – yet parents with caring responsibilities are still underrepresented in senior leadership roles 1 Lionel Wilner 2017 2 Fawcett Society 2016 3 Bain & Company 2016

4. We support future leaders The Leaders Plus Fellowship is an award-winning programme designed to help talented individuals stay in the leadership pipeline and continue to develop their careers while enjoying their young families. This unique programme offers high quality training, mentoring, peer support and access to inspiring role models. We aim to build a positive movement for change so that new parents can thrive in leadership roles. Men, women and all genders welcome. All of our events and sessions are baby-friendly.

5. Awards we’ve won: From The Observer and Nesta Our Supporters: Certified by Social Enterprise UK:

6. Our Fellows We’ve supported individuals from a diverse range of sectors and industries.

7. Who is it for? The programme is for middle managers and leaders with significant childcare responsibilities for children under two. Candidates may be pregnant, on maternity/shared parental leave or have returned to work recently. This is a cross sector programme and open to women and men.

8. Selection criteria • Leadership: Interest and potential to advance to senior leadership roles in the long-term • Relevance: we’re looking for candidates who can demonstrate how the programme will be useful to them • Commitment to peer support: Willingness to support other leaders with young children and engage in peer support during workshops • Change agent: Ability to drive positive change for others in their organisations or beyond • Responsibilities: Candidates should have significant childcare responsibilities for at least one child under two. They may be on parental leave. • Application: Candidates will be selected through an application form and a phone or skype interview.

9. Why is it unique?

10. Benefits to employers "The Leaders Plus programme has made such a positive impact on one of my senior leaders over the last year.  She is exceptional at her role but was unclear about future direction and where her career could take her, whilst raising a young child.  Attending a session for Fellows and their managers at the end of her Fellowship I was overwhelmed with her clarity and vision for the future, she was able to verbalise her ambitions and effectively plan to realise them.  This not only has an impact on her own career, but role models to others in similar positions what is possible."  Jo Moseley, HR Director, Salvation Army • Retention of top talent • Intervention to increase gender parity at leadership levels and address a root cause of the gender pay gap • Keeping key individuals engaged while they are on parental leave • Targeted intervention for parent leaders and their line managers during a critical time when many individuals drop off the leadership pipeline • Engage at the forefront of gender equality work by partnering with an innovative, award-winning Fellowship programme

11. Benefits to Fellows • "The fellowship has been life-transforming. This is the first time I have found a space where I didn’t have to apologise for being a worker with children or a mother who works. At Leaders Plus, it suddenly felt okay to be both a present and engaged mother and massively ambitious at work. That feeling of being confident and comfortable in  this identity has stayed with me both through maternity leave and returning to work. Leaders Plus has also made me more ambitious and driven than before and made much more self confident in the workplace. I feel so lucky to have done the Fellowship.“ • Dr Susie Minson, Consultant Paediatrician Barts Health NHS Trust • Feel inspired to continue to progress your career despite the challenges • Access to senior leaders who combine leadership careers with looking after young children • Senior leader mentor who combined a leadership career with looking after young children • Build a cross sector peer network • Gain confidence and develop your vision • Tools to develop your career while being a parent to young children

12. Fellowship elements Paying it forward: supporting other leaders with babies - half day This workshop supports Fellows to consider how to use their learning to support other leaders with babies within their organization and beyond and shape positive change.

13. Fellowship elements

14. Line manager engagement • Contribution to selection process via recommendation letter • Line manager workshop, focusing on best practice on how to support top talent with caring responsibilities • Guided exercises for line managers to complete with Fellow in two structured 1-2-1 sessions between Fellow and line managers, one at the start and one at the end of the programme.

15. Senior leadership engagement • Opportunity to network with other senior leaders interested in the issue of gender equality at the top • Access to recommendations emerging from the Fellowship • Invitation to final Fellowship graduation event to hear positive solutions from Fellows on how to support career progression of leaders with caring roles

16. About the founder Verena Hefti MA FRSA Verena has a successful career of designing and running highly successful leadership development programmes for ten years in Switzerland, Denmark and the UK, most recently as South East Director at Teach First. After giving birth to baby Naira, Verena decided to help more new parents stay on the leadership trajectory and founded Leaders Plus. As part of her MA in Social Anthropology at Manchester University, she studied gender equality in depth. She volunteers as Chair of Trustees at Lewisham Citizens Advice.  Verena has been awarded the prestigious New Radical Award by The Observer and Nesta well as the WeAreTheCity award for her work with Leaders Plus.

17. Our PatronTulip Siddiq MP "I passionately believe that every parent should be able to continue their leadership career if they want to do so after having children. Having a toddler myself, I know how important targeted support, networks and programmes like those offered by Leaders Plus are to support parents to continue to progress their careers." Tulip Siddiq is MP for Hampstead and Kilburn and has two young children herself.

18. Cost £2990 plus VAT per Fellow. A small number of places are available at £2590 plus VAT for charities and companies defined as small by Companies House. A small number of places are available at £1990 plus VAT to self funders. “Leaders Plus is a forward thinking way to engage with and support leaders and aspiring leaders of the future. Verena’s vision and energy are just what we need to harness and need to be involved in as we need to move more flexibly to support our staff to make their careers work for them as well as the business. Enlightened and refreshing approaches to talent management are just what we need for a future-focussed NHS.” Jane Galloway, Deputy Director NHS London Leadership Academy

19. Contact us to find out more www.leadersplus.org.uk verena@leadersplus.org.uk @Leaders_Plus