Gender Equity: Why it's Essential for Business Success and How to Foster an Inclusive Culture

DIRECTOR of Digital Resources and board member of CEOs for Gender Equity, Caitlin Iustini, talks us through why gender equity is imperative for every business. 

‘Different views and opinions can create different solutions – it really is that simple,’ she explains. ‘Having many thoughts and backgrounds and people in a room creates and environment and culture that not only is more profitable and more efficient but caters better for our clients. We can talk to different clients in different ways, identify and access what they need and find a team member who can fulfil those criteria. That diverse range of opinions gives them different options. That’s what makes companies successful.’ 

So how does a company ensure that diversity? Does it have to be about closed lists and female only recruitment? 

‘Female only recruitment has its place, but it has to be handled correctly to make sure there’s no resentment from existing team members. You’ve got to get everyone on board by being transparent about the process. Explain what the candidates will bring to the role and why it has to be female to make sure everyone is on board. But there’s far more to gender equity than just rolling out a female only list. It has to come from the top down. 

‘It was a steep learning curve for us at first, having started out as a traditional family-owned business. But we realised that creating an environment and a culture where employees were given the flexibility and freedom to do what they needed to bring their best self back to work the next day was best. 

‘It’s not just talking about parental leave or throwing the word flexibility around though. It’s about actually listening to females. Talking to them about what they need, be it different chair ergonomics or better parking to make them feel safer. Creating a culture that supports that and KPIs that are output driven rather than feeling you have to put in face time at a desk. That’s what will make companies attractive to females and will make women want to strive to get to the top of an industry and raise the company up with them.’ 

Learn more here: https://www.ceosforgenderequity.com.au/digitalresources