Leading Women

Good morning to you all on this gorgeous sunny day! Don't know how it is where you are but today right here the storms have taken themselves off somewhere else. Yesterday was wild and wet, and in the wild wetness I went for a walk with my husband through the quarries. When the wind belted into us we laughed like kids and marvelled at how fabulous it all felt. Sometimes we experience similar stuff in life, the body blows do not make us grin like maniacs, they may make us ultimately stronger but at the time they can reduce us to pulp. Today I am very proud to be able to publish a story from a wonderful woman who has experienced the body blows of life, but instead of them finishing her off she is using them to help other women realise their dreams. This is the story of Laura Locke, University Lecturer from the South of England.

Leading Women by Laura Locke

Back in the 80s, I made a frustrating attempt to balance a career in travel and tourism with childcare, and suffered from discriminatory practice, as I was made redundant from my part-time job with a day’s notice; I subsequently discovered that my job share partner had been given a full time position.

Following divorce I struggled to study towards a drama degree while supporting two young children working, child rearing, studying, with an intention to work in the theatre eventually in some form.  However, I soon found that I could not commit to the regime of late rehearsals, and had to change path, in order to meet the needs of parent-hood.  Although the father and I had joint custody, the responsibilities for after school child-care were mine and I had to accept defeat and transferred to study a literature and media degree, with a research focus on gender and identity in literature and film and I graduated at 40.

Following graduation I worked in the business media, but was drawn back to education as a researcher in online and distance- learning. I undertook a post-graduate teaching qualification and started teaching on HE programmes, specialising in adult learning initially and then in Event and Tourism management. I have recently revisited my passion for the arts, in a MA in Arts Management, and I am now struggling and juggling again, trying to complete my dissertation, whilst in full-time work, with added responsibilities.  My two boys are now grown and one has left home, but as a mother I find it hard to detach from the needs of my offspring, and as is common for older women, there is an aged parent to consider.

But at nearly 60 I am still driving forward and I am currently undertaking research on the topic of Women in Leadership in the Arts.  And it has all come back to me in a flood; my survey of working women in the arts, and the issues they are encountering in the quest to succeed has presented anecdotes of struggles that are so familiar and  I am  full of admiration for the sense of determination, and drive of the women that are talking to me. 

I am now an educationalist in Higher Education, as a course leader on a degree programme which currently supports a high ratio of female students, and I have an opportunity to help and support the raising of aspirations, to assist in the empowerment of young people into management, and to  promote partnership and gender balance in the work-place.  A team of final year degree students are currently project managing a conference to celebrate International Women’s Day on 7^th March 2014 and the business community and sixth form students will be invited to hear a range of inspirational speakers on the topic of ‘Inspiring Change’.  

It is time for women to climb over the obstacles and say ‘yes I can’ rather than be trammelled and tripped up by ‘ifs and maybes’.  To be focused on our goals does not mean that we have to become self-serving or  iron ladies. Emotional Intelligence and empathy are great attributes for effective leaders, and we must learn to drive through barriers and keep our resolve, and draw strength from each other. 

 And for all of you women out there take heart from Laura's story and like Laura and myself on the gorgeous sunny day watch the diva that is Beyonce on the link below.....come on women you can do it....don't ever ever give up.

 

                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2I17eFqIdQ