Introducing the Ambition Debate

“There is much comment that women will be a transformative growth engine for economic recovery globally – some say THE single most influential force in that recovery. First of all, do we agree? Secondly, assuming we do, what will/could/should women’s contribution consist of  / look like / add / change?  Getting more women onto Corporate Boards is a valuable element of impact, but is it the most important aspect? In that context, how many women have that specific ambition and if they don’t aspire to such a role, how else might their talent and influence be harnessed socially and commercially? What does Ambition really look like for women in 2012?"

Clare Logie, Strategic Director, Independent Women

On 6th August 2010, Lord Davies of Abersoch was tasked by Vince Cable to develop a business strategy to increase the number of women on the board of listed companies in the UK. Lord Davies today presented his report and has recommended not that we follow other European countries down the quotas route, but that we recommend targets of 25% female board members for companies over the next 2 years.

The call for evidence as part of Lord Davies’ review received more than 2600 responses, along with a detailed response from the CBI. Lord Davies stated on 15/12/10:

“I am pleased to see that this issue has got a strong push behind it from business, but as the recently published Cranfield report highlighted, there has been too little movement on diversity in the boardroom for too long. To see a step change on this, we need everyone to pull together, British businesses and their shareholders, the Government and the headhunting profession, to deliver the changes that will help women to achieve these roles.”

But are we asking the right questions? Are we solving the right problems? Are we giving women the opportunities they want? What DOES “Ambition” look like for women in 2011? Has the financial crisis of 2008 influenced our ideas about aspirations for leadership, desire for behavioural change or from where we would choose to, or can best, influence?  Is getting more women on boards the Holy Grail?  Is that what our most talented women would strive for? What are the alternative ways in which we could be engaging brilliance to benefit the economy and the country?

At Independent Women we feel a responsibility as an organisation to look at how and where we can support women to live their lives to the full and to achieve whatever they desire: whether or not it is career orientated, there is always a financial aspect to making dreams a reality and we can help make that work.

The Ambition Debate: London 2011 saw Independent Women bringing together 60 of the most interesting, influential, dynamic and talented people around to determine what Ambition really looks like for Women in 2011 and beyond, by means of a top-level panel forum debate at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London to discuss exactly that.

We've since arranged a follow up debate taking place in Scotland, The Ambition Debate: Edinburgh 2012, to measure the response around the country: you can find out more here.

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