Bidiversity

By Christina Ioannidis, CEO, Aquitude

In the past few weeks I set off an endeavour to launch a global survey on Breaking Gender Stereotypes. I have been astounded by the way women have proceeded to support each other. The number of women who willingly distributed the survey to their contacts and ensured the survey achieved the relevant exposure only served to re-confirm that women can, and are, a fighting force to be reckonned with. The only thing that is needed – is to create ways that we can work together.

The female, and some very enlightened, male, twitterers across the planet ensured the message spread like wildfire. On-line, the amazing Women in Technology,  The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), City Women’s Network (CWN), Heels and Deals (Dubai), The International Women’s Federation in Commerce and Industry (Singapore), Womens Views on News, GirlGeek Dinners, SisterSnog, are but a handful of the organisations that have supported in us gathering data and input on a subject that rarely has been investigated.

That subject is the WHY behind women leaving large corporations to become entrepreneurs or run a portfolio career, just at the point in their career when, in traditional management, they would be on their way up to Senior Leadership/Board Level. The stereotype is that women leave because caring responsibilities get in the way; the traditional thinking is that they are less motivated and less ambitious if they have a family, or if they decide to take a sabbatical.

I know that this could not be further from the truth. And we are well on the way to demonstrate that there are multiple reasons that women are chosing to opt out of corporate careers. If you know any women who could contribute to this global survey, or if you would like to take part, please do so here.

And through this activity, we are well on the way to breaking another stereotype that women don’t like to support other women (some refer to it as the Queen Bee syndrome). In this new world order of web-based interconnectedness, this could also, not be further from the truth. Thank you all global sisters (and brothers!) who are serving to prove this global reality (and breaking stereotypes!).