Women and Leadership Reception

29 November

Willis Building, 51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ;

We are delighted to announce that our Women and Leadership Reception will take place on Tuesday 29 November 2011 at the iconic Willis Building, London. The evening will be hosted by Sarah Turvill (Law 1975), Chair of Willis International.

Schedule:

We are thrilled that our keynote speaker will be Professor Michelle Ryan, Associate Dean for Research and co-leader of the 'Glass Cliff' research group, who will host an interactive lecture:

Think Crisis - Think Female: The Glass Cliff and the Precariousness of Women's Leadership Positions. 

While the ‘glass ceiling’ remains a barrier to women’s progress in the workplace, a recent programme of research conducted at the University of Exeter has uncovered an additional, largely invisible, hurdle that women need to overcome. Extending the glass ceiling metaphor, the researchers argue that women are more likely to find themselves on a ‘glass cliff’, such that their positions of leadership are likely to made in times of crisis and are thus likely to be risky or precarious. Professor Ryan will describe a programme of research which describes this tendency to "think crisis - think female". There will be ample opportunity for the discussion of this newly-found phenomenon that the New York Times named as one of the ideas that shaped the year.
 
The reception is championed by the University's Alumnae Group, who work with Exeter to support our female graduates (alumnae). The evening will provide a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow alumnae and alumni as well as learn about the latest research at Exeter exploring the environment facing women in positions of leadership. The session will explore issues which are gaining prominence in public debate, as demonstrated by the recent launch of the 30% Club.