Ep. 201 - Gill Whitty Collins spent 26 years with Procter & Gamble (P&G), latterly as Senior Vice President, running leading global brands such as Olay, Always, and Pantene. What Gill has experienced, witnessed, and learned about gender equality as a woman in senior management will resonate with people, whatever their gender, wherever they are working. She now does consulting, coaching, and workshops to drive gender equality and diversity as a key lever to build stronger businesses and stronger societies. Listen in to learn why you need to leave the inequality umbrella as a woman and make yourself and your work visible and known. You will also learn why we need to join together and support each other as women to bring equality into the business world and at the workplace.
Key Takeaways:
- Why you shouldn’t care much about being likable as a woman at the workplace
- How to make our unconscious behaviors conscious to start on the path of inequality elimination
- Learn to recognize your strengths in the male-dominated culture and show up with genuine confidence
- Why you should commit to teaching younger women about equality as an older woman
"We get more power as women together if we use it." - Gill Whitty-Collins
In this episode you’ll discover:
Gill on her experience in the male-dominated culture and how it fascinated her [3:14]
The invincible, unconscious, and unintended forces causing gender inequality at the workplace [6:11]
How to start promoting yourself and your work as a woman without the fear of judgment [10:04]
The scientific differences between men and women and how they impact their behaviors [13:36]
How to know your strengths and confidence as a woman leader in a male-dominated culture [18:30]
Why we should suck it up and stand up for change without caring for likability as women [24:19]
How to make supporting each other as women conscious to drive for the change we want [28:14]
Identify your strengths and be aware of the inequality and the umbrella theory as early as you can [31:59]
Why you should have a group chair that understands the dynamic of the non-dominant group [38:50]
Why it is ridiculous to think that a woman is too passionate about her job or opinions [44:00]
Understanding why overvaluing experience is a driver of inequality [47:19]
Stop accepting that men run the world and instead take action to ensure equality happens [49:59]
CAREER
Gill Whitty-Collins spent 26 years with Procter & Gamble (P&G), latterly as Senior Vice President, running leading global brands such as Olay, Always, and Pantene.
She was born near Liverpool, to a Scouse Catholic family, the youngest of 3 sisters. After attending the local comprehensive school, a love of language and steely determination took Gill to study Modern & Medieval Languages at Selwyn College, Cambridge University.
Upon graduating and with a baby son in tow, she joined P&G, where she quickly progressed through the ranks, earning a reputation as a world-class Brand Architect and Business Renovator.
Gill thrived in the highly competitive business environment and her success in business saw her move swiftly up the career ladder to Marketing Director, General Manager, and finally Senior Vice President. This was when she started to see the impact of gender diversity issues on women and their careers and saw that it is affecting and defeating talented women everywhere.
What Gill has experienced, witnessed, and learned about gender equality as a woman in senior management will resonate with people, whatever their gender, wherever they are working.
She now works to drive gender equality and diversity as a key lever to build stronger businesses and stronger societies. Her story and vision will inspire you to join the force to make inequality history.
AWARDS
Gill was selected as Mo2vate Magazine's as their 2021 Inspirational Woman.
She has been seen in The Guardian, Forbes, Sunday Times Style, Daily Mail, Red, Vanity Fair, Financial Times, and BBC News Business.
HER BOOK
JOIN PURSE POWER!
Donna Miller is the founder and CEO of Purse Power, Let's Share the Journey. Purse Power promotes women-led, women-owned businesses by providing a Google extension that allows everyone who visits your website to locate nearby businesses.
Let's Share the Journey holds calls at 10 AM Central every Friday to learn from national leaders to share expertise, ideas, and support. One week a month features Zoom Room networking. We support Donna's endeavor and have provided the speaker calls in a podcast format. Please join her on Friday mornings! You can register for the calls here.