I hate to cite the old cliché and say it's a man's world, but for young women making their first steps along their career path, it can sometimes feel that way. I aspire to reach the boardroom – one day, maybe 15 or 20 years down the line - but when I look at the higher echelons of leading UK companies, many of the faces I see are male.
After joining Accenture in September 2010, while I noticed more of a gender balance among junior ranks such as analysts, there are fewer women at executive levels. Women are clearly smart, empowered and driven, so what is it that hinders equal representation on the route to the top?
I've often thought the key could be women's perception of themselves – women are characteristically diligent, but there's a need to strike the right balance between this hard working ethic and shouting about your achievements. Personally, I feel I must have all the requisite skills before I push myself forward for certain projects, but I've seen men do the same without ticking all the boxes. This seems to be a fundamental gender difference and, ultimately, I recognise that it needs a change in outlook and approach.
As a more senior colleague once told me: "The only person who can really push your career forward is you." Company culture is as important as individual drive and is one of the reasons why I chose to work at Accenture. The company has a really strong inclusion and diversity programme to support women in achieving their career goals and progress. This commitment to an inclusive culture is important at all levels and its impact is wide-ranging, from seeing more female faces in the boardroom to changing the macho emphasis evident at some networking events.
Senior male staff at Accenture are well-versed in the challenges and opportunities associated with gender, which comes not only from diversity awareness training, but also from the maturity which enables them to see the value women add. Of course, the culture shift is not yet complete, and attitudes still need some work – it would be naive to think otherwise – but I'd suggest that for young female graduates looking for a job, it's important to look for potential places of employment with advanced attitudes to diversity, as well as company sponsored schemes, which demonstrate that these businesses not only want female employees to do well, but are also willing to invest to ensure it happens.
Culture alone though is not enough. Young women like myself need coaching, networking opportunities, sponsorship and role models to inspire us, encourage the sharing of experiences and smooth the route to the top. Initiatives like Accent on Women, a women's network at the firm, have proved invaluable, and I've taken an active part in organising networking events tailored towards women, which create an environment where they're comfortable putting themselves forward. It may be daunting to manage your career and put yourself out as a leader, but women have to take some responsibility themselves for overcoming challenges and lead the charge in driving change.
I'm new to climbing the corporate ladder, but it's refreshing to see businesses nowadays willing to invest in their people, and create the opportunities for them to develop. I feel that for women in particular, guidance from mentors and the presence of strong role models, both male and female, factors into the equation in a big way. Tips, support and advice from my mentor at work have been invaluable to me – they've kept me focused and on track to reach my goals.
Already, there is evidence of the glass ceiling breaking. Accenture, for example, has 30% women on its UK leadership team, so on balance, there's no reason why I couldn't one day break through to take my seat at the top table. For those out there like me who harbour similar ambitions, the same will be true, but it comes down to managing your career correctly, seeking out employers with a clear commitment to female development and taking full advantage of all the opportunities that will provide. It may still be a man's world at the moment, but it doesn't look like it'll stay that way for long.
Nicole Donnachie is an analyst, management consulting, at Accenture
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