“DOES WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP REALLY EXIST?”
Catherine Bongain
Executive Business Coach, Strategic, Supporting companies in their transformation Business successions, Innovation
I will try to answer this question, going a little against the grain of what we read today in the national and international press.
Before we begin, I think it's helpful to tell you who I am:
I am an organizational expert and entrepreneurship coaching professional, trainer, specialized in team coaching, innovation, change management, business succession plans, environmental and social sustainability. Accredited auditor since 1994 on organizational systems. Founding member of Time to Mind SA | AG | Ltd , as president of BC plus Sagl
Let's come back to our question: does female leadership really exist?
At TIME TO MIND, we define leadership as a strategic soft skill, which represents the “ability to get consensus and cooperation and to lead individuals or teams towards reaching given objectives”, it is a capacity of the relational and emotional domain that the following diagram allows us to situate in a very schematic representation of our brain areas, the capacity for leadership is activated by the right limbic system, that of the activation of interpersonal relationships and emotional expressions.
This description and this diagram already give us a first answer!
To find out what capabilities or soft skills are and the mental origin of the abilities highlighted by neuroscience, you can find all the detailed information here:
Each professional activity (regardless of gender) needs a level of expression of different capabilities to be effective in its role, here is the detail of the 23 capabilities that can be used to build any professional profile.
Female leadership does not exist, there is only leadership that is a “guide” for both all, women and men, it includes a whole series of resources and methods of action that bring us back to the themes of vision, will, motivation, courage, curiosity, integrity, transmission of trust, involvement and valorization of each person's skills, understanding of conflicts, need to identify the needs for change and obviously the activation of change when it comes to “changing direction”.
Strange way to start this article requested for a women's magazine on the theme of leadership. The testimonials examples from women of different origins and generations cited in this article will allow us to better understand where, how, when and for whom it may be necessary to strengthen our own leadership capability.
Today, women are called upon to fulfill many roles,
and not just those usually allocated within families, today they often need to provide for their families, they live longer than men and their economic independence is also fundamental to supporting society itself. Many women decide to embark on an entrepreneurial journey; it is precisely these women who often need support to develop the necessary skills.
In this regard, I am pleased to inform you of the specific Assessment that we have recently developed, intended for business leaders, members of the Board of Directors, and which we have built to facilitate access to the top management of Women and Men, and enable those who aspire to such roles to improve and strengthen all the capabilities necessary to fulfill these roles, both in private and public organizations.
This is one of the 150 professional profile proposals in behavioral Assessment available today on the platform https://timetomind.global/en/home-page/
In the examples of women that we will cite here, there are women involved in politics, in business management, in creativity, various professionals, scientists, very different profiles, women of contexts, of generations , from different countries who confirm that, supported with the help of tools useful for their professional development, they manage to give the best of themselves, to the point that very often they have decided to "transmit" these proposals to organizations, adults and young people.
The policies in place to encourage women's access to the highest positions in large organizations while being steps to encourage the overcoming of the "glass ceiling" within organizations, are often perceived by many women as a humiliation. Many of them would prefer to be recognized for their merits and not for a simple “accounting” mechanism. Among other things, these policies also have the effect of increasing distrust between the genders themselves, pitting women against men when greater gender integration would be useful, by recognizing the merits of each, between the genders themselves.
The same phenomenon occurs when generations oppose each other, and when they are classified according to stereotypes that favor neither dialogue nor paths of mutual growth, paths which are, on the other hand, favored by the exchange of different experiences.
The most recent policies oriented towards “gender equality” risk further accentuating this distrust if the importance of the roles of each person, women, men, and with regard to generations between young and adults, is not recognized.
It is the responsibility of each of us to encourage dialogue, to encourage behavior useful to the development of each person, to recognize each other in our differences, to encourage respect for others to increase mutual trust. We feel this responsibility even more when, like me, we are an entrepreneur, mother of two young adults and grandmother for several months, as well as coordinator of many women and men.
Many of the women we will cite here as examples of experience also cover different roles, sometimes entrepreneurs, sometimes professionals, sometimes mothers, many have non-linear paths made up of difficulties to face, conflicts to resolve, a lot of determination, courage, mutual support and growing leadership!
Many of them were supported by proposals from BC plus and Time to Mind, some have also become partners of TIME TO MIND by sharing the same values.
Another problem that deserves to be addressed is that of girls dropping out of school. We know that in the past, girls' career paths were largely "determined" by their families and perhaps we have "lost along the way" the potential of women who could have made their way into the sciences, medicine, the arts or other professions precisely because they had not had the opportunity to discover and become aware of their predominant faculties, this phenomenon can today be overcome by giving girls the opportunity (as well as to boys), and to their parents or teachers who have the heavy task of "guiding" young people, of using "neutral" tools which will allow them to identify, for the young people themselves, the intelligences multiple and their learning style, linked to the professions they could pursue, this orientation profile will allow them to be more aware of the professional or study choices they make.
You can find out more about TIME TO MIND SA's proposal for young people here:
To give strength to what I have tried to write for you, I refer you to our code of ethics, where we take up the values that distinguish us and the mission that we have given ourselves to contribute to society and to the success of everyone, by addressing the themes of sustainable and social development in all their areas, and by recalling that our proposals directly or indirectly affect 13 of the 17 objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
Finally, I hope that I have not "overshadowed" the many men who contribute and support our activities, because I believe that this is only if we are capable of recognizing each other in our particularities and supporting each other in our growth that it will be possible to live in a society of mutual respect!
To conclude this article, I am called to talk about Beauty, a theme so vast that it deserves another article, the theme of beauty for me is contained in this little book in Italian entitled “Il mondo salverà la bellezza? Responsabilità, anima, cittadinanza” (Will the world save beauty? Responsibility, soul, citizenship) by Salvatore Settis, where private ethics and the “necessary convergence towards collective ethics” and the challenges that they evoke, to continue to make the world a place where inclusive Beauty makes the difference.
We, in our own way, we try!
The women I have involved here and whom I thank very much for their availability to provide their testimony have very different professional backgrounds, different origins: Swiss, French, Italian, German, Croatian, Polish.
All driven by the same desire to join forces to courageously continue their professional life journey and beyond, with the awareness that each of them can do a lot!
I hope they will inspire other women and “listening” men!
Testimonials
Maria Elena Manzoni – Entrepreneur- FRANCE
Founder at ALIANTE BC – FRANCE - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IS BASED ON HUMAN ASSETS DEVELOPMENT, Domestic & International level, being based in Italy, America and France, developing business and managing teams across EMEA, USA and Asia, deeply experienced in several business functions.
“Leaders… actually, it’s not a question of men or women.
The key is the willingness to take control of situations, to aim high, to take ideas, people and results to the top. And to get personally involved.
Everything else is a question of cognitive methods and approaches.
Positive leadership, full of energy and dynamism, bold and without limits.
Rigorous, persevering, quiet, cooperative and diplomatic leadership.
Strategic or tactical leadership, analytical, sensitive, visionary, structured, creative, Cartesian.
As a management consultant, I have met and analyzed managers of all ages for 12 years.
I see that I am an inner leader, that one can learn to lead, but that the feeling of authority is a spontaneous impulse that arises behind the navel and naturally animates thoughts, words and actions.
And I notice that what we too often forget is that these people are above all motivated by the scale and weight of the responsibilities that they assume and that many others prefer not to assume.
So, I invite us all to look at them, to listen to them, to consider them, with respect and gratitude.
Andrea Marion Kienzle – Entrepreneur -ITALY
Design, Development & Consulting at AMK Creative Services – Italie/ Suisse
I had the chance to meet Catherine as part of her activities for TIME TO MIND SA. She works very professionally and is always up to date with the latest market developments. His executive coaching, including soft skills assessments, allowed me to better organize myself and respond specifically to the current demands of the job market. It is able to provide insight into human resources and underlying work processes. Catherine is French, I am German and we both live in Italy. We have different cultural backgrounds and I like talking to her about culture because we both have very varied professional experiences that derive from our origins from different countries.
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Maya Skupien - Entrepreneur -ITALY – SWITZERLAND
Health&Wellness Concept Developer - Naturopata - Ideatrice del metodo MS Remedy® Body Work System - Titolare MS Ressources Sagl
I had the pleasure of having Catherine as a consultant, she is very professional and incisive and she supported me in developing my business project. His 360° support allowed me to better focus on my objectives and find the right paths for development. His advice is very valuable, as are his kindness and availability.
Marzia Loria - Entrepreneur -ITALY
Social Project manager e CSR manager, Social Project manager e CSR manager – Italia
Catherine was a decisive guide for my work team and very focused on our real needs. His advice was very useful to us and continues to be so even after some time. She is very professional, but also very pleasant.
Lucia Levato - Entrepreneur – FRANCE - SWITZERLAND
Certified coach ACC-ICF and Ph.D. Coaching scientists, technical professionals and teams. Addressing the challenges of the Energy Transition and advancing diversity, inclusivity, and self-management. Certified coach ACC-ICF and Ph.D. Coaching scientists, technical professionals and teams. Addressing the challenges of the Energy Transition and advancing diversity, inclusivity, and self-management. Professional coach and InstructorProfessional coach and Instructor
Navigating Geoscience Careers - Training & Coaching · Freelance
I had the pleasure of meeting Catherine Bongain through the International Coach Federation. With empathy, active listening and insight, Catherine brings out practical solutions that make you want to take action. Entrepreneurs, if you are looking for the right cocktail of dynamism and delicacy to help you achieve your SMART goals, do not hesitate to contact Catherine.
Cinzia Longoni – Entrepreneur - SWITZERLAND
Municipale presso Comune di Paradiso | Fiduciaria Dini Sagl | Oculox Technologies Sagl | MS Ressources Sagl | IOVIAGGIO.BLOG |
Professional, reliable, attentive to her interlocutor, Catherine accompanies you on your own journey, helping you to focus on your priorities and your objectives. It helps you understand in a clear and enlightening way where and what you need to work on to achieve the best results. His great skills in the field of business coaching and management training, as well as his attention to detail and his empathy, lead him to offer a very comprehensive service and support. The tools she uses are very innovative, and thanks to her interpersonal skills she immediately puts you at ease, thus creating an optimal starting point for good work.
Silvia Spalletta – Entrepreneur HR Business Partner - SWITZERLAND
Consulting, formation et développement des ressources humaines, Management, Selection personnel, Coaching- HR Business Partner Centro Studi - Villa Negroni · Vezia - Suisse
“Leadership is an essential skill that transcends gender. The ability to inspire, lead and collaborate is essential to success in any career field. As a trainer, I have been committed for over 20 years to supporting each person in strengthening their leadership skills, by promoting an inclusive and dynamic work environment. Not long ago, women were denied opportunities and freedoms that most of us now take for granted. However, my grandmother and my mother, like many other women who lived in the 20th century, were not able to continue their studies, even if they wanted to: in their families, only the education of their sons was invested, with girls being considered future mothers and housewives. It is important to encourage all women to train and develop their leadership and self-efficacy skills, so that none of us ever again feel limited by "you can't because you are a woman.”
Fabrizia Finotto – Entrepreneur - ITALY
Quality Assurance Consultant & Organizational Counselor – Italy
“I thank BC Plus Sagl and in particular the CEO of the Company Catherine Bongain for giving me the opportunity to give my testimony on the value and benefit derived from the analysis of the results of the Self-Assessment on the “ Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles", as well as the Diverse Abilities Assessments, these tools have allowed me to have greater clarity on my faculties and abilities and this new awareness has allowed me to focus the attention to my improvement by defining and implementing actions and activities aimed at strengthening them, I then decided to share these opportunities with my professional network. With all my gratitude».
Paola Pluchino – Entrepreneur -ITALY
#circulareconomy Strategist | Executive Sustainability Coach | Author | TEDx Speaker | Environmental biologist
“As Executive Sustainability Coach, I am responsible for facilitating the awareness of boards of directors on sustainable development issues, in order to evolve corporate strategies in the direction of the ecological transition and in accordance with the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations.
The “Time to Mind” assessments allowed me to highlight strengths and opportunities to improve my professionalism, with great precision. The platform is as simple to use as it is powerful and full of different perspectives to examine your skills in depth. Reporting provides a systemic framework in which the elements to be strengthened, as well as the relationships between the different areas, are highlighted.
Through this analysis, it was possible for me to specifically invest my resources in improving the points highlighted and improve my performance in terms of customer satisfaction and, just as importantly, internal satisfaction.
Time to Mind” is a very effective professional and personal development tool.
Alessia Papa - Project Manager - SWITZERLAND
Project Manager | Marketing Strategy | Digital Marketing | AI Strategy | Event Management | POS Management | HR | Sales
“Thank you again for your interesting feedback, I really find it very useful to better understand your strengths and weaknesses and also to understand how to act to have a better attitude which then translates into better performance. Time to Mind has enormous potential in many areas and can contribute to the general improvement of the attitude and approach of those involved.”
Giulia Volonté – Professionals - ITALY / SWITZERLAND
Back office Commerciale @ BRC METAL SA
“What I appreciated most about the Time to Mind assessment is its level of depth, the questions are very detailed and also aim to understand soft skills, abilities which are still too often not taken into account. Catherine interprets the results obtained in a charismatic manner, recognizes and values the strengths and gives advice to develop the weaknesses into significant elements”.
Michela Trentin – Entrepreneur - ITALY
CEO & Founder di MTC Consulting – Italy
“I met Catherine a few months ago, as part of my activities within Time to Mind SA. Like his, mine is a story of leadership, determination and dreams realized and yet to be realized. The more than 10 years spent in the company made me realize that I could bring my team vision to organizations to achieve high performance, which is why in 2008 I decided to open MTC, a company consulting that is specifically aimed at business management: supporting a strategic vision of the role of personnel within organizations. I firmly believe that Human Resources Managers must be a strategic partner of business leaders, providing concrete support. Valuing people is crucial, not only by asking them for value, but also by giving back to them", and so little by little we grew, today 8 women work together with common goals and values, my dream of creating my own company where people can grow dynamically, share the passion for what they do and contribute to the realization of projects of human and professional value is today a reality Developing the ability to realize my dreams and make them come true. sharing with a team was a goal for me: to those who ask me what your greatest talent is, I answer: Curiosity".
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