Professor Hanneke Takkenberg – Co-executive director Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations at Rotterdam School of Management – Erasmus University

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Professor Hanneke Takkenberg, who is co-executive director of the Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations (ECWO) at Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University. She is also a clinical epidemiologist and professor of clinical decision making in cardiothoracic interventions at the department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in Erasmus University Medical Center. Additionally, she chairs the Dutch Network for Women Professors (LNVH) board, which consists of a network of over 1300 women professors and associate professors. We discuss gender stereotyping and the influence this has on perceptions of leaders, which exerts a limiting effect on women’s advancement in the workplace. Some of the research ECWO is undertaking to help empower women to drive their careers forwards include i) network analysis – to teach women to more effectively navigate both visible and invisible organisational networks; and ii) advocacy and awareness raising – focussing on listed companies, specifically the composition of boards and representation of women as well as imaging and language utilised by these entities. We also consider other factors that contribute to gender imbalances in organisations, such as hierarchy, remuneration, non-financial benefits, promotion, culture and social safety. Prof. Takkenberg reminds us that women are generally underrepresented across the spectrum and to help address this gap colleagues should use opportunities to support and help amplify women’s voices. Tune in for more…