How companies can encourage their women more effectively with special guest Jess Taha.

 

Re-sharing this amazing interview.  Jess has moved on since the first release of this episode and is now the Board HR Director for Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd.

 

#Takeaways

• The important part that companies can play when it comes to women being more visible.

• The company culture is vital to identify and empower the top and emerging talent.

• Being able to be themselves allows women to step up and find their own ways to be more visible.

• Companies need to give women the platform to shine.

• Organisations need to start by talking to their people.

• The drive starts at the top and isn’t all down to HR to solve the gender gap. 

 

Today on the No More Hiding podcast I am talking to an amazing and super inspiring woman all about how companies have a responsibility in providing their female top talent a platform to help them be more visible and own their ideas and opinions.  

Working Mum. Essex girl. Committed feminist. Jess Taha has spent her career working across multiple industries for a number of household names and most recently with Swan in social housing. Her extensive experience as an HR professional has seen her deal with people, talent and policy and the challenges those bring for women progressing their careers. Promoting, pioneering and advocating for fairer working environments for all, Jess is unapologetically a woman on a mission. 

So listen in to this incredible conversation that will give you insights into how companies can support women’s career progression and self promotion and how women themselves can start owning their expertise.  Love love love this conversation and could have chatted all day to Jess! 

“I got massive imposter syndrome and didn’t feel like I fitted in where I was working...I felt like I had to fit in with that ‘boy’s club” - Jess

“I got into HR because I wanted to fight injustice and I am a huge feminist and I believe in equal pay” - Jess

“As we get older we tend to stop giving a shit about what people think” - Jess

“Part of my role is un-training women everything they have learned as a child about being a good girl, about being accepting about having to fit in and having to please people and wanting to be liked” - Jess

“I am a senior manager in my organisation and I still make sure I have those conversations with people on the ground regardless of their level to really get to know them and that's when you start to realise oh my goodness we have got a good girl on our hands we need to make them more of a rebel” - Jess

“People can look at me and think god she's so confident and actually I am not - underneath it all I am actually just a girl from Essex … and people don’t always know the fight or the struggle I have been through to get to be this confident woman” - Jess

“I am working with companies and these group coaching programmes and what comes up time and time again are all these amazing ideas and opinions and that they haven't shared any of them outside the group” - Gemma

“It’s all about unleashing her capabilities and getting her confidence up.  For me it’s all about giving that individual the platform.  I don’t do anything she shines on her own. She is amazing” - Jess

 

#Resources

 

• “5 Steps to being more visible at work” one page guide mentioned in the episode - get yours here:

 

https://www.gemmastow.com/5-ways-to-be-more-visible-at-work

• Get the White Paper ‘Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women’s Career Progression:

https://bit.ly/WP2020podcast

 

• Book a call with Gemma - http://bit.ly/2t8bTJ1

 

Connect with your host Gemma Stow:

Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

 

Connect with guest Jess Taha :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-taha/

#nomorehiding #leadership #selfpromotion #femaleleaders #leadershipdevelopment #visibilitymatters #personalbranding