Page 14 - 2018 Powerlist
P. 14

Letter from




                                                  the Publisher









                                                  As you will see, this edition of the Powerlist has a strong focus on the
                                                  achievements of women. Why? Well, we became aware that over the years we
                                                  were becoming rather male-centric, particularly in terms of the ratio of men to
                                                  women on the list. Last year it was 65/35 in favour of men and it had been similar
                                                  in the four or five preceding years.
                                                  As an organisation that is founded on and believes in the basic principles of
                                                  diversity and equality, we simply had to do something about it.
                                                  We realised, quite quickly, that the problem lay in the fact that not enough
                                                  women were being nominated for the list in the first place, so that’s where
                                                  we started. We made a conscious effort to ensure that when we approached
                                                  potential nominees for this year’s list we explained to them our problem and
                                                  asked them to keep an eye out for more female candidates. We spread the
                                                  word on social media, too. And it worked. For the first time we were able to
                                                  present the judging panel with a choice of more new candidates who were
                                                  women than were men.
                                                  We then decided that, in order for us to ensure that our efforts paid off, we
                                                  would throw in some positive action. So if two candidates were considered
                                                  equal – one man, one woman – the woman would be chosen. Not positive
                                                  discrimination – positive action.
                                                  The net result is that we have the highest number of women on the list ever,
                                                  and in the top 10, women outnumber men for the first time. All that and several
                                                  women who made last year’s list, still didn’t make this year’s. So from a quality
                                                  standpoint, the list is just as good as it has ever been, if not better.
                                                  If only so many of the organisations that shout so loudly from the rooftops
                                                  about wanting a diverse workforce, particularly at senior levels, realised that the
                                                  problem can be solved by using the same methods: put in a big enough effort to
                                                  find people and you will be successful. Simple.
                                                  The difference, and it’s a crucial one, between us and them is one, perhaps, of
                                                  approach. Our view was that the women we sought are out there, ‘let’s go and
                                                  find them’; what I hear far too often is the refrain, ‘they’re simply not there, what
                                                  can we do?’
                                                  Negativity never got anyone anywhere. You’re defeated before you even start.
                                                  The moral of our story: ‘Positive action, combined with positive thinking, brings
                                                  positive results.’
                                                  Next year, I’m pretty certain we’ll hit  50/50. Why? Because I know that there are
                                                  enough women who are influential enough to enable us to hit our target. Simple
                                                  as that. If only everyone else in this space could follow our lead.

                                                  Michael Eboda
                                                  Publisher















                  10  Powerlist 2018
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