THE GIFT OF BEING
VISIBLE
THE ART OF STEPPING GRACEFULLY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Kath Walters
L
ast year, former journalist and
entrepreneur Amanda Gome
stood before 50 women leaders
at the ANZ bank ready to ruffle some
feathers.
they are often involved in community
activities and looking after elderly
parents. Sometimes, unless the value of
an idea is immediately obvious, women
think: ‘I will get to this later’.”
As the head of social and digital media
at the bank, Gome’s goal was to inspire
the women to start using social media.
But these 50 women had been
personally invited by the CEO of the
bank, Mike Smith, to attend Gome’s
training sessions. They’d made it a
Before her, she saw women sitting with priority. Now, it was up to Gome to
their arms crossed and their mouths set. win their interest.It was time, she told
They did not look entirely receptive.
them, to become more visible.
Gome knew why: women leaders are an INOCULATED AGAINST FEAR
extremely busy group. After all, she’s
one of them.
Women are not used to the spotlight.
They often struggle to put themselves
“The female leaders at the bank have
forward – for projects, for promotion,
got families and children,” she says. “As for praise.
well as leading thousands of people,
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GLOSS JULY 2015