Women into Leadership: Investing in your own happiness

September 20, 2023

The latest Women into Leadership event brought its upbeat positivity to the grandeur of Central Hall

in Westminster, creating a supportive environment helping women overcome the challenges

they face in advancing their civil service careers.

The event was chaired by the FDA’s Vice-President, Margaret Haig – who has already hosted previous Women into Leadership events in London and online.

In her opening address, Haig highlighted a number of role models and how 13 years of Women into Leadership have helped her learn from them. Special mention was given to Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, who holds ministerial responsibility for Haig’s day job in the Intellectual Property Office. Haig shared her admiration for Donelan taking ministerial maternity leave. Taking an extended period of time off to have a child is expected across the country – apart from in Westminster, where ministers have too often felt unable to do so.

Currently three out of four of the FDA’s Honorary Officers (President, two Vice Presidents and Honorary Treasurer) are women. Haig spoke of how proud she is of this, given how women have sadly been underrepresented in the past within the trade union movement.

FDA Vice President Margaret Haig chairs Women into Leadership

When the FDA, alongside media and events specialist Dods, developed Women into Leadership we aimed to provide a platform for senior leaders from within the civil service, and beyond, to share advice gained from their experiences.

At Central Hall Haig introduced and welcomed Permanent Secretary from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, Sarah Munby.

Despite starting her career as a civil servant, Munby has spent most of her working life in the private sector. She told the 700-plus attendees that “the private sector would kill” for the sense of purpose held by civil servants: “Good leadership is harnessing this sense of purpose and using it to help teams produce their best”.

Discussing practical ways for women to enter leadership roles, Munby praised job shares as a way to help part-time staff, who are predominately women, to reach the most senior roles.

Describing Women into Leadership as “investing in your own happiness”, Munby believes that if you and you staff are happy at work “you are more confident and more likely to succeed”.

Women into Leadership also allows attendees to choose from a number of breakout sessions, where smaller groups have the opportunity to discuss specific topics more interactively.

The FDA’s Assistant General Secretary Lucille Thirlby and Head of Organising and Learning Deri Bevan led one of these breakouts on wellbeing.

The main causes for individuals taking time off work are mental health and musculoskeletal issues. Bevan highlighted that although there is now more discussion of wellbeing by employers, the emphasis can sometimes fall too heavily on the individual to manage their own wellbeing – however, the employers clearly have a responsibility to the wellbeing of their staff.

40% of employees across all sectors have considered leaving their role in the last 12 months due to wellbeing and mental health issues. This shows the business case for investing in the wellbeing of your staff, argued Thirlby: “If you and your team have a good working culture productivity will be higher, there will be less sickness absence, staff turnover will reduce and creativity will

thrive.”

Want to know more?

Women into Leadership events take place across the UK and online throughout the year, with 2024 dates for Liverpool, Cardiff, Belfast and Birmingham already arranged.

As an FDA member, you’ll receive a significant discount on the registration fee. View the agendas for upcoming sessions and sign up at the Women into Leadership website.