Background
The Talent Development Programme (TDP) was set up by Chief Executive Women to help organisations create an environment that is successful in developing and retaining talented women leaders. The programme began in 2004 and 14 organisations and 124 women have taken part.
Participation
Organisations are invited to join the programme for a minimum of three years and each year they nominate four senior women to participate. The programme is running in Sydney and Melbourne and the following organisations are participating in 2009 – ANZ Bank, Australian Army, Australian Stock Exchange, BHP Billiton, Bluescope Steel, ING, Jetstar, Mallesons, Origin Energy, Qantas, Telstra, Transport Accident Commission Victoria, UBS, and Worksafe Victoria.
The Programme
The Programme comprises ten sessions and runs from February to November. Sessions are designed to stimulate thought and discussion and to challenge participants so they step up to senior executive roles with confidence alongside their male colleagues for the benefit of the organisation, shareholders and the community.
Active and regular participation of Chief Executive Women members is acknowledged as one of the most important benefits of the programme. Participants have the opportunity to listen and learn directly from Chief Executive Women who have been in CEO and Board roles and pose questions and raise issues in an intimate and supportive environment.
Purpose
The Programme aims to provide participants with new insights into organisational culture and provide them with practical strategies to increase their effectiveness. By gaining the support of their organisation and CEO, we encourage participants to assume a leadership role within their organisation and to encourage the implementation of specific retention plans to halt the attrition of female managers.
Specifically the programme aims to
Challenge participants to think beyond the obvious when considering issues affecting the success and career progression of women and men within organisations.
-
Gain a better understanding of organisational cultures and how to operate successfully in different environments.
-
Create a constructive and supportive learning and networking environment where participants have the opportunity to work with colleagues from other organisations.
-
Encourage participants to take a leadership role in encouraging the support and development of women within their organisation.
Content
The programme aims to be topical and challenging and this year includes topics such as Stress Testing your Business, Moving from Management to Leadership, Creating Partnerships and engaging the Politics, Working with Gen Y, Developing Organisational Presence, The Communication Challenge – medium, message, gender and politics, The Role of Metrics in Organisational Best Practice.
Benefits
Chief Executive Women believes that personal commitment by the CEO is essential to the success of this programme. The CEOs involved with the programme have realised that action is required to stop the attrition of senior female talent from their organisation and by supporting their talented women managers to attend this programme they are gaining valuable feedback on the issues facing women in the workplace as well as suggestions as to how these may be overcome for the benefit of the organisation, staff and shareholders.
Participants have commented on the value of the programme including- Great to hear from speakers with real experience, Participation has given me the courage to try different paths, I have developed the confidence to network more effectively, The personal stories from senior CEW members have been invaluable as role models, Interaction with other participants is extremely valuable.
The Alumni Network
An Alumni Network for participants of the Talent Development Programme was established in 2007. This year three alumni network sessions are planned for Sydney and for Melbourne. These sessions provide an opportunity for TDP participants and their organisations to maintain and further develop their partnership with Chief Executive Women and each other. The alumni network sessions are held in the evening and in Sydney they are hosted by Mallesons and in Melbourne by Deloitte. Chief Executive Women would like to thank Mallesons and Deloitte for partnering with us in this important initiative.
Further Information
If you would like further information about these programmes please contact Michelle Woolven at talentdevelopment@cew.org.au .
|
