Corporate network inspires women to aspire

When Jane Swift, Chair of BT Executive Women, came across stories of women struggling globally against violence and suffering, she was hard pressed to see how it might relate to corporate women in the UK. But she knew that there was a connection to be made between supporting women at BT and supporting women worldwide.

Working within a corporate and traditionally male-dominated industry can be lonely for women, particularly those ‘at the top'. This was the impetus behind BT Executive Women (BTEW) – one of ten networks within BT and an offshoot of BT Women’s Network (now in its 21st year). With women making up only 22% of the BT workforce and 17% of senior managers, Executive Women is dedicated to inspiring women in senior management in BT to achieve their aspirations and help other women inside and outside the company. The core activities are led by an executive committee of 14 women.

Its focus is on inspiring and motivating women to share and develop their skills and includes a coaching scheme run in partnership with government agencies and other companies, talks by inspiring leaders and lobbying BT around issues important to members.

Having witnessed BT women transformed by the network, Swift realised the potential for Executive Women to make connections with women externally. Reading the stories of women suffering abroad on charity website WOMANKIND Worldwide, she was struck by the contrast to the enormous privilege experienced by BT women and recognised an opportunity for BTEW’s members to share skills, build leadership, and motivate women outside BT.

Led by committee member Sam McDonald and a team of dedicated volunteers, BTEW has built relationships with charities including WOMANKIND Worldwide; Ogunte Global Tribal Network for social entrepreneurs; the microcredit programme for women StreetCred; regeneration agency East London Business Alliance; Wellbeing of Women, which invests in research into gynaecological health; and Race for Life, raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

Swift is emphatic that support is “not about freebies” but about encouraging members to extend their skills outwards. This includes training in customer service, management and marketing for small businesses, IT strategies, and sponsorship of events.

While BTEW operates on a small budget, the partnership with charities may yield further donations from individual members. The charities have a platform from which to communicate their work to a large number of women.

Swift is firm in her belief of the benefits to women in BT network: “Making links with charities has given our women a vehicle to demonstrate their skills, capabilities and strengths without having to go down the ‘Look at what I'm good at’ route - something many women are uncomfortable with. I know we are having an effect on every woman we touch, both internally at BT and externally through our charity work.”

Ann-Sophie Morrissette has been involved in the development of the UK Women’s Fund for the past two years, most recently as Administrator of its development phase. Previously she worked at the Centre for Creative Communities (CCC) where she led a research study (commissioned by the List Family Foundation) into the viability of the women’s fund. Ann-Sophie also wears the hat of fund-seeker as a fringe theatre Producer.