[Applause] so I found myself at a Scottish wedding
so I found myself at a Scottish wedding
so I found myself at a Scottish wedding recently and was delighted to find that
recently and was delighted to find that
recently and was delighted to find that there was a whiskey tasting when I went
there was a whiskey tasting when I went
there was a whiskey tasting when I went over to find out about the whiskey I was
over to find out about the whiskey I was
over to find out about the whiskey I was quickly dismissed by my Scottish male
quickly dismissed by my Scottish male
quickly dismissed by my Scottish male host as a woman and God forbid
host as a woman and God forbid
host as a woman and God forbid Australian how could I have any whiskey
Australian how could I have any whiskey
Australian how could I have any whiskey knowledge or appreciation this was a bit
knowledge or appreciation this was a bit
knowledge or appreciation this was a bit of a first for me and I’m not one to be
of a first for me and I’m not one to be
of a first for me and I’m not one to be dismissed so I found myself in a fairly
dismissed so I found myself in a fairly
dismissed so I found myself in a fairly colourful exchange demonstrating my
colourful exchange demonstrating my
colourful exchange demonstrating my extensive whiskey knowledge the next day
extensive whiskey knowledge the next day
extensive whiskey knowledge the next day we chatted and he actually apologized
we chatted and he actually apologized
we chatted and he actually apologized saying he’d underestimated me I think it
saying he’d underestimated me I think it
saying he’d underestimated me I think it was kind of a compliment whiskey yes
was kind of a compliment whiskey yes
was kind of a compliment whiskey yes whiskey I know a lot about it from the
whiskey I know a lot about it from the
whiskey I know a lot about it from the science of distilling to flavor profiles
science of distilling to flavor profiles
science of distilling to flavor profiles in the most remote part of Scotland but
in the most remote part of Scotland but
in the most remote part of Scotland but unless I shared this with you how would
unless I shared this with you how would
unless I shared this with you how would you know this is a challenge we face in
you know this is a challenge we face in
you know this is a challenge we face in the workplace we can’t always see the
the workplace we can’t always see the
the workplace we can’t always see the value that people can bring or the
value that people can bring or the
value that people can bring or the knowledge that they have and often our
knowledge that they have and often our
knowledge that they have and often our blind spots can be holding us back three
blind spots can be holding us back three
blind spots can be holding us back three years ago I was sick of hearing there
years ago I was sick of hearing there
years ago I was sick of hearing there was a lack of women leading companies
was a lack of women leading companies
was a lack of women leading companies because there was a pipeline issue
because there was a pipeline issue
because there was a pipeline issue so basically no women at the top because
so basically no women at the top because
so basically no women at the top because they weren’t moving through an
they weren’t moving through an
they weren’t moving through an organization to that senior position I
organization to that senior position I
organization to that senior position I thought this was a lazy excuse and quite
thought this was a lazy excuse and quite
thought this was a lazy excuse and quite frankly a cop-out having spent a number
frankly a cop-out having spent a number
frankly a cop-out having spent a number of fantastic challenging and
of fantastic challenging and
of fantastic challenging and enlightening years in these businesses I
enlightening years in these businesses I
enlightening years in these businesses I was pretty sure I knew why women were
was pretty sure I knew why women were
was pretty sure I knew why women were not staying I also felt that technology
not staying I also felt that technology
not staying I also felt that technology could change their experience so I spent
could change their experience so I spent
could change their experience so I spent my time meeting with business leaders
my time meeting with business leaders
my time meeting with business leaders around the world in their head offices
around the world in their head offices
around the world in their head offices trying to get to the bottom of what
trying to get to the bottom of what
trying to get to the bottom of what worked what didn’t what were the real
worked what didn’t what were the real
worked what didn’t what were the real issues and could I help solve them could
issues and could I help solve them could
issues and could I help solve them could we maybe build something that dealt with
we maybe build something that dealt with
we maybe build something that dealt with the issue of women moving through the
the issue of women moving through the
the issue of women moving through the pipeline and if women just needed better
pipeline and if women just needed better
pipeline and if women just needed better sponsorship which was often an area of
sponsorship which was often an area of
sponsorship which was often an area of discussion maybe we could help with that
discussion maybe we could help with that
discussion maybe we could help with that and then in 2016
and then in 2016
and then in 2016 heaven’s gates opened and poured gifts
heaven’s gates opened and poured gifts
heaven’s gates opened and poured gifts upon the earth
upon the earth
upon the earth academics consultancies and banks
academics consultancies and banks
academics consultancies and banks release some of the strongest and most
release some of the strongest and most
release some of the strongest and most conclusive evidence to date it turns out
conclusive evidence to date it turns out
conclusive evidence to date it turns out the more women and diverse talent you
the more women and diverse talent you
the more women and diverse talent you have leading your business the higher
have leading your business the higher
have leading your business the higher the profits finally finally it seemed
the profits finally finally it seemed
the profits finally finally it seemed like an absolute no-brainer earlier this
like an absolute no-brainer earlier this
like an absolute no-brainer earlier this year I met with a global leader who told
year I met with a global leader who told
year I met with a global leader who told me he didn’t think people believed the
me he didn’t think people believed the
me he didn’t think people believed the business case for diversity
business case for diversity
business case for diversity he had a big job and a big remit um so
he had a big job and a big remit um so
he had a big job and a big remit um so you’re telling me you don’t think that
you’re telling me you don’t think that
you’re telling me you don’t think that your leaders and your colleagues believe
your leaders and your colleagues believe
your leaders and your colleagues believe there’s a business case for this nope
there’s a business case for this nope
there’s a business case for this nope nada nothing it was mental it was a bit
nada nothing it was mental it was a bit
nada nothing it was mental it was a bit like saying 2+2 doesn’t equal 4 and you
like saying 2+2 doesn’t equal 4 and you
like saying 2+2 doesn’t equal 4 and you know at first I was dumbfounded but then
know at first I was dumbfounded but then
know at first I was dumbfounded but then I felt rage what business leader or CEO
I felt rage what business leader or CEO
I felt rage what business leader or CEO would not want to deliver more profits
would not want to deliver more profits
would not want to deliver more profits isn’t that better for everyone and
isn’t that better for everyone and
isn’t that better for everyone and whether you work in a corporate or not
whether you work in a corporate or not
whether you work in a corporate or not there is always a knock-on benefit these
there is always a knock-on benefit these
there is always a knock-on benefit these returns impact pension funds which can
returns impact pension funds which can
returns impact pension funds which can benefit even the smallest freelancer
benefit even the smallest freelancer
benefit even the smallest freelancer right through to more taxes being paid
right through to more taxes being paid
right through to more taxes being paid which benefits all of society the rage
which benefits all of society the rage
which benefits all of society the rage it actually started to subside and I
it actually started to subside and I
it actually started to subside and I started to feel grateful for this rare
started to feel grateful for this rare
started to feel grateful for this rare moment of honesty because it allowed me
moment of honesty because it allowed me
moment of honesty because it allowed me to go deeper I had certainly bought into
to go deeper I had certainly bought into
to go deeper I had certainly bought into these powerful marketing messages
these powerful marketing messages
these powerful marketing messages believing that with this new evidence it
believing that with this new evidence it
believing that with this new evidence it would be the change needed but to be
would be the change needed but to be
would be the change needed but to be fair after years working in these
fair after years working in these
fair after years working in these corporates deep down I knew the cultural
corporates deep down I knew the cultural
corporates deep down I knew the cultural and behavioral change it was hard I had
and behavioral change it was hard I had
and behavioral change it was hard I had experienced the best and worst of humans
experienced the best and worst of humans
experienced the best and worst of humans in these workplaces I mean sometimes I
in these workplaces I mean sometimes I
in these workplaces I mean sometimes I had felt like an 80s rock star the
had felt like an 80s rock star the
had felt like an 80s rock star the teamwork the music the lights the air
teamwork the music the lights the air
teamwork the music the lights the air guitar other times
guitar other times
guitar other times stuck in some tribal homogeneous group
stuck in some tribal homogeneous group
stuck in some tribal homogeneous group think like a scene from Lord of the
think like a scene from Lord of the
think like a scene from Lord of the Flies without the wall painting Spears
Flies without the wall painting Spears
Flies without the wall painting Spears and what was clearer to me than ever
and what was clearer to me than ever
and what was clearer to me than ever before was that as humans we don’t just
before was that as humans we don’t just
before was that as humans we don’t just do something because it is good for us I
do something because it is good for us I
do something because it is good for us I too am human and I actually recently
too am human and I actually recently
too am human and I actually recently took my parents to Provence now I have
took my parents to Provence now I have
took my parents to Provence now I have this particular
this particular
this particular leaning towards cured meat cheese and
leaning towards cured meat cheese and
leaning towards cured meat cheese and fine French wine now every day my mother
fine French wine now every day my mother
fine French wine now every day my mother would helpfully remind me that I needed
would helpfully remind me that I needed
would helpfully remind me that I needed to have two and a half cups of
to have two and a half cups of
to have two and a half cups of vegetables a day now even though I was
vegetables a day now even though I was
vegetables a day now even though I was on holidays and my holiday diet does not
on holidays and my holiday diet does not
on holidays and my holiday diet does not reflect my normal diet and I have closer
reflect my normal diet and I have closer
reflect my normal diet and I have closer to the age of 40 than I am five mum now
to the age of 40 than I am five mum now
to the age of 40 than I am five mum now I know I should have two and a half cups
I know I should have two and a half cups
I know I should have two and a half cups of vegetables a day I know what is the
of vegetables a day I know what is the
of vegetables a day I know what is the right thing to do I know the health
right thing to do I know the health
right thing to do I know the health benefits of a long life then healthy
benefits of a long life then healthy
benefits of a long life then healthy clear skin but because I’m an adult and
clear skin but because I’m an adult and
clear skin but because I’m an adult and I generally do what I want sometimes I
I generally do what I want sometimes I
I generally do what I want sometimes I don’t feel like this so I get busy and I
don’t feel like this so I get busy and I
don’t feel like this so I get busy and I don’t eat this just being aware does not
don’t eat this just being aware does not
don’t eat this just being aware does not make me apply this knowledge you know
make me apply this knowledge you know
make me apply this knowledge you know what I’ve been preparing for this talk
what I’ve been preparing for this talk
what I’ve been preparing for this talk I’ve been pumping out Beyonce’s who run
I’ve been pumping out Beyonce’s who run
I’ve been pumping out Beyonce’s who run the world girls and then only to read
the world girls and then only to read
the world girls and then only to read that there are more men named John
that there are more men named John
that there are more men named John leading US companies than women CEOs in
leading US companies than women CEOs in
leading US companies than women CEOs in total and then I start to hear who run
total and then I start to hear who run
total and then I start to hear who run the world John and I gotta say it look
the world John and I gotta say it look
the world John and I gotta say it look it just doesn’t have the same ring to it
it just doesn’t have the same ring to it
it just doesn’t have the same ring to it the good news is there’s never been a
the good news is there’s never been a
the good news is there’s never been a better time for this change even as our
better time for this change even as our
better time for this change even as our political environments are radically
political environments are radically
political environments are radically changing and not always progressively
changing and not always progressively
changing and not always progressively the corporate world is coming together
the corporate world is coming together
the corporate world is coming together we have leaders John’s Jim’s vivexx
we have leaders John’s Jim’s vivexx
we have leaders John’s Jim’s vivexx Jorge’s signing up for the UN’s he for
Jorge’s signing up for the UN’s he for
Jorge’s signing up for the UN’s he for she campaign holding up signs on social
she campaign holding up signs on social
she campaign holding up signs on social media to signal their support for
media to signal their support for
media to signal their support for hashtag gender parity now this is
hashtag gender parity now this is
hashtag gender parity now this is powerful stuff and a real public
powerful stuff and a real public
powerful stuff and a real public commitment it is progressive and an
commitment it is progressive and an
commitment it is progressive and an important part of the journey but how do
important part of the journey but how do
important part of the journey but how do we take this beyond the hashtag hashtag
we take this beyond the hashtag hashtag
we take this beyond the hashtag hashtag real action hashtag getting it to work
real action hashtag getting it to work
real action hashtag getting it to work hashtag starting with gender how do we
hashtag starting with gender how do we
hashtag starting with gender how do we hack the workplace use everyday
hack the workplace use everyday
hack the workplace use everyday technology to change everyday behavior
technology to change everyday behavior
technology to change everyday behavior use everyday technology to help us see
use everyday technology to help us see
use everyday technology to help us see past the blind spots use everyday
past the blind spots use everyday
past the blind spots use everyday technology to help change who corporate
technology to help change who corporate
technology to help change who corporate leaders see and what they do how do we
leaders see and what they do how do we
leaders see and what they do how do we do with it the human parts of that
do with it the human parts of that
do with it the human parts of that change well we need to make it
change well we need to make it
change well we need to make it how do I get that two and a half cups of
how do I get that two and a half cups of
how do I get that two and a half cups of vegetables deliciously prepared and in
vegetables deliciously prepared and in
vegetables deliciously prepared and in my belly
my belly
my belly smartphones they’re changing our
smartphones they’re changing our
smartphones they’re changing our personal lives and our working lives now
personal lives and our working lives now
personal lives and our working lives now I’m not saying that being on all the
I’m not saying that being on all the
I’m not saying that being on all the time is necessarily a good thing however
time is necessarily a good thing however
time is necessarily a good thing however I do believe we can be smarter with the
I do believe we can be smarter with the
I do believe we can be smarter with the devices we literally have to hand so
devices we literally have to hand so
devices we literally have to hand so here’s something I prepared earlier meet
here’s something I prepared earlier meet
here’s something I prepared earlier meet John John is a general manager of a
John John is a general manager of a
John John is a general manager of a corporation with about 10,000 people now
corporation with about 10,000 people now
corporation with about 10,000 people now he is committed to supporting female
he is committed to supporting female
he is committed to supporting female talent at his firm but you know
talent at his firm but you know
talent at his firm but you know sometimes John gets busy and he only
sometimes John gets busy and he only
sometimes John gets busy and he only sees the people that are in front of him
sees the people that are in front of him
sees the people that are in front of him the company also has talent programs so
the company also has talent programs so
the company also has talent programs so surely someone else is looking after
surely someone else is looking after
surely someone else is looking after this corporate commitment anyway right
this corporate commitment anyway right
this corporate commitment anyway right meet Zoe Zoe is a computer science
meet Zoe Zoe is a computer science
meet Zoe Zoe is a computer science graduate in the same organization fresh
graduate in the same organization fresh
graduate in the same organization fresh to the corporate world in her day to day
to the corporate world in her day to day
to the corporate world in her day to day she does not meet with John but if we
she does not meet with John but if we
she does not meet with John but if we can get her access and visibility to
can get her access and visibility to
can get her access and visibility to senior leaders not only will she develop
senior leaders not only will she develop
senior leaders not only will she develop her skills she is more likely to stay
her skills she is more likely to stay
her skills she is more likely to stay and move up through the organization
and move up through the organization
and move up through the organization into a leadership position so here’s
into a leadership position so here’s
into a leadership position so here’s John getting a little nudge to help him
John getting a little nudge to help him
John getting a little nudge to help him do the things that he’s actually signed
do the things that he’s actually signed
do the things that he’s actually signed up to do so take him along to the next
up to do so take him along to the next
up to do so take him along to the next senior meeting he’s having over to Zoe
senior meeting he’s having over to Zoe
senior meeting he’s having over to Zoe she’s being notified what’s been set up
she’s being notified what’s been set up
she’s being notified what’s been set up this is an example of a bot where we’ve
this is an example of a bot where we’ve
this is an example of a bot where we’ve used geo location gender data and
used geo location gender data and
used geo location gender data and calendar availability what we’re doing
calendar availability what we’re doing
calendar availability what we’re doing here is it’s an experience that feels
here is it’s an experience that feels
here is it’s an experience that feels familiar so we’re helping John see the
familiar so we’re helping John see the
familiar so we’re helping John see the world and the people in it a little
world and the people in it a little
world and the people in it a little differently by getting John to do
differently by getting John to do
differently by getting John to do something we’re broadening and
something we’re broadening and
something we’re broadening and positively reinforcing his neural
positively reinforcing his neural
positively reinforcing his neural pathways and his association with Zoe
pathways and his association with Zoe
pathways and his association with Zoe this is not a training program where you
this is not a training program where you
this is not a training program where you take a box when it’s done this is a real
take a box when it’s done this is a real
take a box when it’s done this is a real action and visibility we’re changing who
action and visibility we’re changing who
action and visibility we’re changing who John sees and what he does so many times
John sees and what he does so many times
John sees and what he does so many times I’ve had leaders tell me that it’s the
I’ve had leaders tell me that it’s the
I’ve had leaders tell me that it’s the frozen middle of an organization that’s
frozen middle of an organization that’s
frozen middle of an organization that’s stopping
stopping
stopping change and it’s not that winter is
change and it’s not that winter is
change and it’s not that winter is coming it’s that it is here technology
coming it’s that it is here technology
coming it’s that it is here technology can take us to a brighter warmer and
can take us to a brighter warmer and
can take us to a brighter warmer and fairer workplace we can use technology
fairer workplace we can use technology
fairer workplace we can use technology so that the best and different people
so that the best and different people
so that the best and different people get that next promotion we also need to
get that next promotion we also need to
get that next promotion we also need to be able to point to more than a few or
be able to point to more than a few or
be able to point to more than a few or the same role models technology can help
the same role models technology can help
the same role models technology can help us with that trickle-down effect through
us with that trickle-down effect through
us with that trickle-down effect through the organization my work plays half not
the organization my work plays half not
the organization my work plays half not only shines a light on blind spots it
only shines a light on blind spots it
only shines a light on blind spots it makes it easier to manage measure and
makes it easier to manage measure and
makes it easier to manage measure and scale this change and in this case
scale this change and in this case
scale this change and in this case gender balance but how do we hack our
gender balance but how do we hack our
gender balance but how do we hack our way to evolution you and the people you
way to evolution you and the people you
way to evolution you and the people you work with are already using technology
work with are already using technology
work with are already using technology in this way last month I met with a
in this way last month I met with a
in this way last month I met with a chairman of one of the world’s biggest
chairman of one of the world’s biggest
chairman of one of the world’s biggest banks and during our discussion we spoke
banks and during our discussion we spoke
banks and during our discussion we spoke about innovation and in particular
about innovation and in particular
about innovation and in particular startup accelerators where they
startup accelerators where they
startup accelerators where they basically work with a third party to
basically work with a third party to
basically work with a third party to support startups when I asked him did it
support startups when I asked him did it
support startups when I asked him did it change the culture at the bank his
change the culture at the bank his
change the culture at the bank his answer was no not really but it did make
answer was no not really but it did make
answer was no not really but it did make them cool cool
them cool cool
them cool cool banking cool oh yeah I pondered this as
banking cool oh yeah I pondered this as
banking cool oh yeah I pondered this as I left the meeting and walked out into
I left the meeting and walked out into
I left the meeting and walked out into Canary Wharf running into a group of
Canary Wharf running into a group of
Canary Wharf running into a group of about a hundred people and you know at
about a hundred people and you know at
about a hundred people and you know at first I thought someone must have been
first I thought someone must have been
first I thought someone must have been giving something away maybe doughnuts I
giving something away maybe doughnuts I
giving something away maybe doughnuts I mean who doesn’t love doughnuts but then
mean who doesn’t love doughnuts but then
mean who doesn’t love doughnuts but then I realized there are in small groups
I realized there are in small groups
I realized there are in small groups moving between each other and
moving between each other and
moving between each other and frantically tapping their phones they
frantically tapping their phones they
frantically tapping their phones they were in fact catching pokémon and as I
were in fact catching pokémon and as I
were in fact catching pokémon and as I walked past this group what really
walked past this group what really
walked past this group what really struck me was the diversity old young
struck me was the diversity old young
struck me was the diversity old young black white male female that suited in
black white male female that suited in
black white male female that suited in the booted and even the hipsters Pokemon
the booted and even the hipsters Pokemon
the booted and even the hipsters Pokemon had enabled online to offline and had
had enabled online to offline and had
had enabled online to offline and had brought together an incredibly diverse
brought together an incredibly diverse
brought together an incredibly diverse group of people this change it’s not
group of people this change it’s not
group of people this change it’s not just for gamers it’s time to tool up and
just for gamers it’s time to tool up and
just for gamers it’s time to tool up and help help our corporations evolve we
help help our corporations evolve we
help help our corporations evolve we know the stuff it works all too well
know the stuff it works all too well
know the stuff it works all too well smart technology and our mobile phones
smart technology and our mobile phones
smart technology and our mobile phones helps us buy things we don’t really need
helps us buy things we don’t really need
helps us buy things we don’t really need get to the bus on
get to the bus on
get to the bus on time and meet new people which can be
time and meet new people which can be
time and meet new people which can be very fun we a single we need to take
very fun we a single we need to take
very fun we a single we need to take this hack this and use it in our
this hack this and use it in our
this hack this and use it in our workplaces
workplaces
workplaces let’s change who really runs the world
”
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