Challenge: building the ultimate LEAP-list!
Sat 20 November 2010
, Alberta Opoku, LEAP
First off, my congratulations to Anette Stolvoort, senior IT Architect with IBM Netherlands! She was awarded Best Female ICT professional of the year by WomeninIT. I’m proud of Anette’s award, but what irks me is the fact that this was a women only prize.
The jury comprised a man and two women. Even though I’m not too thrilled about all-female prizes, I was proud when I noticed that one of the jurors was Wouke Lam, a LEAP-member.
Men always win?
This award illustrates in detail a point I brought forward earlier this year in the piece ‘And the winner is…a man, again!’ What it boiled down to is that men take home all the prizes while it is scientifically proved that women are equally good as men, and sometimes even better leaders.
Forum discussion
To my pleasant surprise, Lydia Duijvestijn started a forum discussion on ‘Personal branding versus lists’ a few weeks ago. It’s the first topic in the ‘LEAP Connected Ambition Event discussions.’ Lydia wrote: “Organisations today make frequent use of lists. Lists implement a form of admission control. Being on the right lists will add to your visibility and create opportunities to perform. The big question is ‘How to get on the right lists and what can you do about it yourself.’
Influence
Lydia put her money where her mouth is and nominated her colleague Anette for IT professional of 2010. It’s no surprise I couldn’t agree more with Lydia’s decision to do this. I think a practical way to influence who's on the lists is to start nominating other women for awards like CEO of the year, IT-specialist of the year, Lawyer of the year and so on.
LEAP challenge
So ladies, here’s the LEAP CHALLENGE for the coming weeks, or even months. Let's build the ultimate LEAP list by lining up as many -relevant- lists as possible, and let's get nominating LEAP-members! This may sound a bit old school and not so new-leadership-like, but let’s give it a go all the same. Wouldn’t it be great to see a LEAP-member on the list of some of these prizes? And wouldn’t it be grand if indeed she takes home the prize?
Your suggestions, please!
Lydia Duijvestijn kick-started the revolution by nominating Anette Stolvoort, let’s continue it by being part of the ‘lists movement’. Please mail your suggestions to Alberta.opoku@leapwomen.com or office@leapwomen.com.
Print
