Some of Australia's emerging female leaders will share their professional stories and tips for success with tomorrow's champions as part of a Monash Business School initiative to give women a greater voice.
The SUE (Speak Up Equally) Talks, held at Monash University on Friday 23 November, will welcome to the stage 25 graduates of the Monash Business School's 'Your Leadership Voice (YLV): Women in Focus' program – diverse voices delivering inspiring stories.
SUE Talks play on the world-renowned TED Talks, with the all-female line up providing women with a brilliant opportunity to command the room. The event was developed to give participants practical experience of presenting in a public forum.
Sharon Longridge, co-director of Monash Business School's Your Leadership Voice program says the SUE Talks equips aspirational women with the communication skills required for leadership roles.
"Women's voices are under-represented when it comes to public forums and even as media talent. Putting themselves forward for speaking at a conference or as a spokesperson in the media is difficult for many women. That's why we founded Your Leadership Voice (YLV) to give them the skills development and confidence to be more commanding," she said.
The Panel Pledge is an initiative across Australia to get equal representation between men and women in public forums so that they have the confidence and skills to put themselves out there and have their opinions heard. Its aim is to amplify women's voices and increase their representation in leadership across Australia.
"It's rare for Australian women to be represented in industry events or in the media, so we felt compelled to give them the tools and confidence to share their ideas powerfully. The event helps close the massive gap in the representation of Australian women as experts and speakers in the media, at conferences and events," Monash Business School's Professor Anne Lytle, the co-director of the program said.
One of the graduates from this year's program, Lisa Lynch, Chief Operating Officer at Adelaide's Women and Children's Health Network, said she was in a place in her career where she had an MBA and all the relevant technical skills but was keen develop the toolbox for tackling those communication challenges facing women in senior leadership positions.
Through the YLV program she learned to master difficult conversations, negotiate deals that deliver, present with purpose and power, and to build her profile through speaking at conferences and to the media.
Ms Lynch said the mentoring process was fantastic and the steps they took her through to create the SUE Talk she uses today whenever she needs to have an important meeting or give a presentation.
"Your Leadership Voice helped me to gain those attributes and gain skills such as negotiation and critical conversations," Ms Lynch said.
You can watch Lisa Lynch's SUE Talk here
SUE Talks event details
Friday 23 November 2018
9.15 for 9.30am– 1pm Followed by a light lunch
The Pavilion, Level 8, Building H, Monash University, Caulfield Campus,
900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East
You can register your attendance at this event, here
Program Directors Professor Anne Lytle and Sharon Longridge and program participant Lisa Lynch are
