It's a business issue, not a woman's issue - Building Gender Balanced Business

It’s a rare thing to hear a General Manager say that gender diversity is one of his top five management priorities. But that is exactly what Laurent Blanchard of Cisco (France) has said. Not so long ago he thought the whole issue was a “nice to have” item. Now he links it directly to his ability to take his business where he wants it to go. Read the interview to find out why he saw the light.

Michel Landel, Group CEO of the food and facilities services company Sodexo is another male leader who has put the issue at the top of his agenda. He says in our interview with him that he is sometimes surprised by the conservative attitude of some of the male managers of the younger generation. The common assumption that men of the younger generation are of the “new man” variety may need to be challenged.

In both cases, Landel and Blanchard are actively pushing for change and believe that it requires drive and energy from the top to make it happen. The really interesting point for other male managers out there, who might still believe that it is a “nice to have”, these leading managers have recognised that gender balance has a serious bottom line impact. Blanchard goes so far as to say that women leaders will help his business division navigate through the tough economic conditions ahead. He says that women are strong in those very areas where we need good leadership today: collaboration, making team members feel recognised and rewarded and leading by example.