The Privilege Eruption Kami & Ishreen

Today, we continue the insightful conversation between Ishreen Bradley and Kate Janssen, Director of Organizational Design and Learning at Wilmot Dixon. The episode delves into the challenges and successes of achieving gender balance in the construction industry, highlighting the efforts of Wilmot Dixon in striving for equal gender representation. Kate shares personal insights and tips for women navigating change in male-dominated industries, emphasizing the importance of building a support network, investing in others' growth, and prioritizing family amidst career demands. 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The podcast highlights the challenges faced by women in the construction industry, such as stereotypes, gender biases, and lack of visibility, making it difficult for them to envision successful careers in this male-dominated field.
Wilmot Dixon, a top family-owned construction company, set a goal of achieving equal gender representation across all roles in their business. The leadership team, led by chairman Rick Wilmot, successfully implemented this goal, breaking new ground in the industry.
Kate Janssen emphasizes the importance of building a supportive network, normalizing challenges, and investing time in helping others to create change. She also highlights the significance of prioritizing family and not being a "ladder grabber" in career growth.
Kate shares a personal anecdote where she had to choose between attending her daughter's nativity play and her job, showcasing the challenges faced by working mothers in balancing work and family responsibilities.
Kate emphasizes that the ultimate resource for creating an equitable organization is not just about money or resources but stems from a shared vision, passion, and drive to create change among individuals who are invested in realizing that vision.
BEST MOMENTS
"Women still earn up to a third less than their male counterparts and additionally 72% of women in the sector have reported experiencing gender discrimination at work."
"You can't do it on your own. You can't do it on your own. So that's really key."
"I think it is the worst quality in us when we're growing our career is that we think it's all about our career and it's just not."
"It's not about going to the ends of the world to find the people. Because for me, that comes from your heart." 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com

This episode of the Privilege Eruption podcast discusses the evolution of breakthrough thinking around power, privilege, and purpose in the workplace. It highlights the challenges faced by women in the construction industry, with historical context and recent statistics showing progress towards gender parity. The episode aims to inspire leaders to create a culture of inclusion and belonging for all employees.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The construction industry has historically struggled with gender balance, but progress is being made towards achieving equal representation.
Setting bold goals and having genuine leadership support are crucial for driving systemic change towards diversity and inclusion.
Creating a culture of collaboration and inclusivity requires not only focusing on individual women but also on transforming the entire organisational ecosystem.
Having sponsors who advocate for and support women's career growth is essential for achieving gender balance in leadership roles.
Embracing flexible and agile working practices can help attract and retain diverse talent in traditionally male-dominated industries like construction.
BEST MOMENTS
"You want to create success through connection and belonging, and you're unsure about how to make it happen." - Ishreen Bradley
"The big driver for the business was having the best talent around the table, to have cognitive thinking around the table, and encouraging the best talent to come through the door." - Kate Jansen
"One woman on a board can be more destructive than no women at all if I'm honest." - Kate Jansen
"The beauty of a complementary team is where you don't have the skills, you build the people around you that do." - Kate Jansen
"It doesn't take a lot for them to be able to step back, gain the confidence and let go." - Ishreen Bradley
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kate Jansen, FCIPD, Director of Organisation Development & Learning for Willmott Dixon Ltd.
Kate has been with Willmott Dixon for over 18 years, always in a people focused role, developing and protecting the culture that evolves from the deeply laid roots of the company’s family values. In her latest role, Kate is responsible for developing a learning environment that supports technical advancements and modern leadership methods, developing talent and succession for the future. In 2022, Kate led the campaign that awarded Willmott Dixon as the ‘Best Large Company’ to work for in the UK and introduced the Willmott Dixon University. Kate has a passion for early careers and women in construction, both of which she leads as an Industry advocate and mentor.
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com

In this episode Ishreen speaks with Kate Jansen, the Director of Organisational Design and Learning at Wilmot Dixon, a top 10 family-owned construction company in the UK. Kate discusses her career journey, starting from her early days as an apprentice to her current role where she has played a pivotal role in achieving gender balance within the male-dominated construction industry. She shares her experiences of facing challenges as a woman in leadership positions within the construction sector and discusses the significant milestone Wilmot Dixon reached in 2023 with 15.8% female representation in the workforce.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The construction industry has historically struggled with gender balance, but progress is being made towards achieving equal representation.
Setting ambitious goals, such as aiming for 50-50 gender equality in every role, can drive meaningful change and push organizations to work towards a more inclusive environment.
Women in male-dominated industries like construction often face stereotypes, biases, and discrimination, making it crucial to actively work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive workplace.
Creating a support network of senior women within the organization can be instrumental in driving change and breaking down barriers for other women to advance into leadership roles.
Having the strategic leaders of the organization fully support diversity and inclusion goals is essential for driving meaningful change and creating a culture of equality and belonging.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think the big turning point was probably only about five years ago, four or five years ago, when the business came forward and set a big audacious goal."
"It wasn't an ambition that was wholeheartedly embraced. And even I questioned it a little bit at the start."
"What we did, we took the seven, as it was, senior women in the business and we got together and I said, right, what are we going to do here to really make a change?"
"You want to create success through connection and belonging, and you're unsure about how to make it happen."
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com

In today's eipsode, Kathy Morrissey, the Director of Planning and Insights at Stansted Airport, discusses the importance of attracting more women to science and engineering fields. Kathy shares her insights on creating a supportive organizational culture to empower women in these industries. She emphasizes the need for measuring diversity, providing mentoring and coaching tailored to women's needs, and taking chances on potential. Kathy also highlights the significance of showcasing successful women as role models and building peer support networks. 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The importance of measuring and understanding gender diversity within organizations to promote equity and inclusion.
Highlighting the significance of tailored mentoring and coaching programs to support women in overcoming confidence barriers and showcasing their abilities.
Encouraging organizations to take chances on individuals based on their potential rather than just their current skills, fostering growth and diversity.
Emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer support and showcasing successful women as role models to inspire and empower others.
Suggesting the value of providing opportunities for secondments and diverse experiences to enhance skill development and career progression.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think having mentoring and coaching is really important in programmes. And also having those programmes and how they can be tailored more towards where women perhaps are less confident in their abilities."
"I think the other thing is, you know, really taking a chance on women the same that we would do with men. If somebody has the potential but not the skills, why don't you give them a shot?"
"Use your talents, and use your women's networks, your male networks and take the support."
"To create a six month secondment into another department or another role that you may not have actually done, or you might have been supporting externally, can you justify providing that experience?"
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com

In this episode, Ishreen and Kami continue their conversation with Kathy Morrissey, the Director of Planning and Insights at Stansted Airport. Today's discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding gender balance in the field of engineering, particularly focusing on attracting and retaining women in science and engineering careers. Kathy shares initiatives she has implemented to promote gender diversity in the workplace. 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Privilege is a conundrum that dilutes the culture of fairness at work, and leaders need to recognize the need for more inclusivity.
Encouraging more girls to pursue careers in science and engineering requires creating a supportive organizational culture and addressing systemic barriers.
Providing role models and early exposure to STEM fields can inspire young girls to consider careers in science and engineering.
Organizations can support gender balance by establishing women's networks, offering professional development opportunities, and addressing the gender pay gap.
Structural and systemic issues in the engineering field, such as lack of credibility for women and limited access to affordable childcare, need to be addressed to create a more inclusive environment.
BEST MOMENTS
"Women shouldn't have to adjust their behaviors and adjust the way they act to suit the environment. The environment needs to change."
"I think there's a number of different levels of ways in which we could make the engineering world more inviting to women."
"I think there's the kind of cultural piece as well around how the environment that you work in is conducive to succeeding."
"I think it's so important to have role models and to amplify women who have done well in the science arena."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com

In this episode, Kathy Morrissey, the Director of Planning and Insights at Stansted Airport, shares her inspiring journey from the oil sector to environmental management and eventually landing in her current role at the airport. As one of the most senior female engineering directors in the country, Kathy discusses the challenges and successes she has encountered in balancing the scales of gender in science and engineering. The episode delves into Kathy's advocacy for women in engineering, her experiences in male-dominated environments, and the importance of planning ahead in the airport industry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Kathy Morrissey, a senior female engineering director at Stansted Airport, has made significant progress in balancing gender in engineering, showcasing the benefits of diversity in financial and social aspects.
Kathy's journey from the oil sector to environmental management and eventually to her current role at Stansted Airport highlights the importance of purpose-driven career transitions.
Stansted Airport is working towards a more planned focus, aiming to be proactive in their operations rather than reactive, which can lead to a less stressful environment for both staff and passengers.
Kathy's advocacy for women in engineering stems from her experiences as the only female in male-dominated environments, emphasizing the need for more women in the field to bring diverse skills and perspectives.
BEST MOMENTS
"We need more women in science and engineering."
"I was often the only woman out there, generally the only technical woman they did have for the bigger rigs."
"I quite liked being the only woman because you were treated with a lot more respect and you were more special." 
"I was really fortunate to get a position of director to kind of move up into the director of engineering and facilities role."
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Privilege Survey  https://intelligentlinking261447.typeform.com/to/SNkQvD0v
Website: https://belongingpioneers.com/privilege-research-and-podcast
Email: equitychampions@belongingpioneers.com
Useful links: https://linktr.ee/BelongingPioneers
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ishreen Bradley, a Strategic Pioneer, excels in guiding Professional Leaders through complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage. She focuses on cultivating inclusive cultures and authentic leadership, offering senior leaders advice, consultancy, training, and coaching.
Kami Nuttall, a workplace culture expert with over 20 years of experience, delves into governance, risk management, and the human experience in organizations. Trained by the Anti-Discrimination Foundation and a qualified hypnotherapist, she's passionate about fostering psychologically safe, inclusive workplace cultures. Kami champions accountability, believing organizations should prioritize both employees and customers, creating environments grounded in inclusivity and trust.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminuttall-cultureguru-cultureauditor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishreenbradley/
Privilege, Eruption, Culture, Diversity, inclusion, Equity, diverse, cultural, impact, power: https://privilege-eruption.com