Management School hosts online event on women’s leadership
In recognition of the School achieving the Bronze Athena Swan award and the relaunch of the Women’s Leadership Professional Interest Network, the School was delighted to host an online event focussing on women’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic last week.
The event, titled ‘Women’s Leadership Better or Just Different? A COVID-19 Test Case’, attracted over 100 viewers across the globe and highlighted recent research undertaken by Dr Supriya Garikipati. Dr Garikipati’s research found that female national leaders locked down earlier and suffered half as many COVID-19 deaths on average as male leaders, according to analysis across 194 countries. She said: “The results clearly indicate that women leaders reacted more quickly and decisively in the face of potential fatalities. In almost all cases, they locked down earlier than male leaders in similar circumstances. While this may have longer-term economic implications, it has certainly helped these countries to save lives, as evidenced by the significantly lower number of deaths in these countries”.
This research prompted questions around whether gender has had a role to play in the successful leadership during the pandemic and whether female leaders, in general, are better or just different?
Chaired by Professor Liz Parsons, Dr Garikipati and Professor Parsons were joined by a panel of experts who contributed their views to a lively discussion. Stephanie Fillion (journalist and contributor to Forbes Women) highlighted the ongoing difficulties women still face in reaching leadership positions in politics, Francesca Rhodes (Senior Advocacy and Policy Adviser at CARE International UK) gave an insight into the importance of diversity in the decision making process, whilst Paul Amann (Principle Officer Employment and Skills at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) offered thoughts from a local perspective including the challenges women in the Liverpool City Region face particularly with regard to earning a secure wage alongside caring responsibilities.
The School would like to thank the panellists for taking part in the event. If you would like to watch the discussion you can do so via the University’s Facebook page.
All are also welcome to join the Women’s Professional Interest Network LinkedIn group where you will be able to find news of upcoming events and activities.