“I don’t believe protesting will move things forward at my level”, explains Nathalie Brodard, CEO of the Brodard Executive Search recruitment firm.
“In some companies, it is still extremely difficult to reconcile your work life, your private life and a desire for professional growth”, says Nathalie Brodard.
Rather than protest, the businesswoman has decided to take concrete action. In support of the equality movement, she will be hosting a women-only open day at her company’s Geneva-based headquarters and Zurich office. “Only by sharing can we make the situation change.” This is her strongest belief as a CEO.
On Friday, twenty or so women will be offered a free half-hour meeting with a senior consultant. This will give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the professional world. “These aren’t necessarily just people who are looking for a job”, adds the CEO.
A rightful place
Nathalie Brodard is considering making this a quarterly event, the aim being to share information and advice for women in the workforce. “Women have a rightful place in today’s working world. They shouldn’t be scared of promoting themselves”, adds the company owner, who actually employs her husband. “It happened very organically, about five years ago. Actually, the fact that my husband works under me raises more questions outside the company than it does within”, explains the CEO.
Part-time work and working from home
Brodard Executive Search specialises in the recruitment of bank staff, which is a predominantly male field. “However, as a woman, I have never felt disadvantaged working in this world.” With over twenty years experience in the recruitment industry, Mrs Brodard founded her own company ten years ago. While the HR specialist concedes that women have to work harder to prove their abilities compared to men, she adds that it also offers many opportunities. She has been receiving more and more requests for files compliant with gender equality. And female applications are given priority in scenarios where two individuals are equally qualified.
In her opinion, the fact that the working world is moving towards part-time positions and working from home is a positive thing; however, there is still a long way to go. “In some companies, it remains very difficult to evolve career-wise while working part-time”. We also still need to change mentalities in certain, predominantly male, sectors.
