with Simona Scarpaleggia

In the last episode of the season, I talk with Simona Scarpaleggia, an international business leader, author, board member and former global CEO.

It was under her leadership that IKEA Switzerland has achieved worldwide recognition for reaching gender equality, both overall and in management. In just 9 years, the company has increased the proportion of women in management positions from approximately 4% to 50%.

In this conversation with Simona, we delve into the topic of how to create sustainable change in the workplace, why she thinks part-time shouldn’t be a career killer, and whether the DEI policies she advocates for are harder to implement in smaller companies.

This episode is gold for both high-level insight and incredibly practical advice. Simona highlights specific areas of action, common setbacks you’re likely to encounter on your DEI journey, and how you as a leader can become a role model for your team.

Learning Points:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion policies are key to creating change, but it won’t last if the policies only rely on certain individuals to make them work. They need to have systems built around them that are independent from leadership.
• A workplace with general equity not only gives you better reputation as an employer, it can also be a competitive advantage because you become a representation of the diversity in the market, meaning you  can understand and serve your clients better.
• The winners of tomorrow will be those who can effectively utilize the potential of a hybrid work environment. This requires challenging  deep-rooted assumptions about the role of leadership and what you think of as the key traits of a great employee.

Tips:

• Use role models and success stories to show your employees they won’t get penalized for taking advantage of policies like paternity leave and part-time work.
• Don’t use the same leadership style with all of your employees. Learn to distinguish between situations where clear direction is needed versus ones where your role is to inspire, then just let your team do their job.
• When considering someone for a promotion, focus on the results of the person and what they bring to the table rather than their  availability to be physically present all the time.
  

Find Simona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sscarpaleggia/