Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/134780
:jewel citizen of perspective. Do you believe gender equality is still a problem in New Zealand or the USA? If so, how are you contributing to "putting women on the map"? According to a recent newspaper article the pay gap between women and men in New Zealand is actually getting worse so, yes, there is clearly persistent gender inequality. In both countries women remain seriously under-represented in the most senior levels of management and on corporate boards. New Zealand has certainly made much more progress than the USA with respect to women's political leadership. Americans are often surprised when I point out that New Zealand has already had two female Prime Ministers while the USA has yet to elect its first female President. That said, I think there is very little belief now in either country, by men or women, that women are somehow less competent than men as corporate or political leaders. The inequalities are more systemic and cultural than based on real beliefs about women being innately less capable of management and leadership roles than men. That's a huge change from when I started my career. I have been actively involved in women's equality on a global basis since attending the United Nations NGO Forum on Women in Beijing. That led to a board position, and eventually becoming Chair of the Board of CEDPA, an international organization focused on women's rights and health. I also launched the One Hundred Heroines Project, as part of the 150th anniversary celebration in New York of the first women's rights convention in the USA. We identified and gave grants to 100 women from around the world who were taking personal risks to achieve equality for women in their countries. At a local level I have for many years provided a scholarship to my former high school for a female student who is going on to university to study science, engineering or business. If you could offer one piece of advice to other businesswomen, what would it be? My advice would be to take risks and grab hold of new opportunities whenever they arise. Never let doubts about your own capabilities or experience hold you back from accepting a new assignment, launching a new business idea, or taking the lead to solve a problem. You are more likely to regret the things you didn't do in life than the things you did. 10 | www.h e rmagaz i n e . c o. n z WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THE TOP FIVE QUALITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE: The top five qualities I look for and value in an employee are: 1. Dependability – show up, when and where you are needed, and deliver on your commitments 2. Honesty – demonstrate high ethical standards and expect the same of your colleagues 3. Creativity – don't settle for the status quo, constantly offer up new ideas and better solutions 4. Teamwork – focus on the shared mission and helping the whole team be successful 5. Initiative – if you see a problem or opportunity, take action; never say "that's not my job" BEST TRAVEL TIP If you can't carry it yourself, don't take it. In general, take half what you think you will need but be sure to have high quality clothing and gear for cold climates. My second travel tip is to not sweat the small stuff when things go wrong. It's usually the unexpected parts of travel that lead to the most interesting experiences. As long as you come back alive, it's all good. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME "I still love to swim in the surf and bodysurf when back in New Zealand. Needless to say there was no opportunity to do that living in places like Chicago, upstate New York, and Anchorage. When visiting New Zealand I also enjoy tramping (I did the Milford track a couple of years ago) and visiting vineyards to taste and purchase New Zealand's incredible wines." Clockwise from top: Meeting with food service employees at an oil field camp in Alaska, Dressed for Winter in an Arctic Village. On boat in Prince William Sound, Inupiat Elders at NANA Shareholders Meeting, Riding Floor Cleaners during employee training at a high school in Alaska.